The Biographies of Ordinary People: Volume 1: 1989-2000

A story of family, friendship, and art--and the past thirty years.

The Biographies of Ordinary People is the story of the Gruber family: Rosemary and Jack, and their daughters Meredith, Natalie, and Jackie. The two-volume series begins in July 1989, on Rosemary's thirty-fifth birthday; it ends in November 2016, on Meredith's thirty-fifth birthday.

Written for fans of Betsy-Tacy, Little Women, or A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, the story is an episodic, ensemble narrative that takes us into intimately familiar experiences: putting on a play, falling out with a best friend, getting dial-up internet for the first time. Drinking sparkling wine out of a paper cup on December 31, 1999 and wondering what will happen next.

At the heart of the story is Meredith Gruber, the oldest Gruber sister and the one determined to figure out how "ordinary people" should live--because all the biographies she's ever read are about famous people. She wants to write and act, and her younger sister Jackie wants to sing opera, and the two of them pursue their goals with both ambition and limitations.

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The Biographies of Ordinary People: Volume 1: 1989-2000

A story of family, friendship, and art--and the past thirty years.

The Biographies of Ordinary People is the story of the Gruber family: Rosemary and Jack, and their daughters Meredith, Natalie, and Jackie. The two-volume series begins in July 1989, on Rosemary's thirty-fifth birthday; it ends in November 2016, on Meredith's thirty-fifth birthday.

Written for fans of Betsy-Tacy, Little Women, or A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, the story is an episodic, ensemble narrative that takes us into intimately familiar experiences: putting on a play, falling out with a best friend, getting dial-up internet for the first time. Drinking sparkling wine out of a paper cup on December 31, 1999 and wondering what will happen next.

At the heart of the story is Meredith Gruber, the oldest Gruber sister and the one determined to figure out how "ordinary people" should live--because all the biographies she's ever read are about famous people. She wants to write and act, and her younger sister Jackie wants to sing opera, and the two of them pursue their goals with both ambition and limitations.

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The Biographies of Ordinary People: Volume 1: 1989-2000

The Biographies of Ordinary People: Volume 1: 1989-2000

by Nicole Dieker
The Biographies of Ordinary People: Volume 1: 1989-2000

The Biographies of Ordinary People: Volume 1: 1989-2000

by Nicole Dieker

Paperback

$19.99 
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Overview

A story of family, friendship, and art--and the past thirty years.

The Biographies of Ordinary People is the story of the Gruber family: Rosemary and Jack, and their daughters Meredith, Natalie, and Jackie. The two-volume series begins in July 1989, on Rosemary's thirty-fifth birthday; it ends in November 2016, on Meredith's thirty-fifth birthday.

Written for fans of Betsy-Tacy, Little Women, or A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, the story is an episodic, ensemble narrative that takes us into intimately familiar experiences: putting on a play, falling out with a best friend, getting dial-up internet for the first time. Drinking sparkling wine out of a paper cup on December 31, 1999 and wondering what will happen next.

At the heart of the story is Meredith Gruber, the oldest Gruber sister and the one determined to figure out how "ordinary people" should live--because all the biographies she's ever read are about famous people. She wants to write and act, and her younger sister Jackie wants to sing opera, and the two of them pursue their goals with both ambition and limitations.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780998674308
Publisher: Nicole Dieker
Publication date: 04/24/2017
Series: Biographies of Ordinary People , #1
Pages: 366
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.82(d)

Table of Contents

Part 1: 1989–1992

Summer 1989

1. Rosemary’s thirty-fifth birthday.

2. Meredith in the car in Idaho.

3. Jack plays the NPR game in Kansas.

4. The Grubers meet their new home.

5. Jack finds a friend for Meredith.

6. Meredith and Alex go to the library.

7. Rosemary suggests dinner with the MacAllisters.

8. Natalie takes Kindergarten Readiness.

Fall 1989

9. Meredith writes about her worst fear.

10. Jack rehearses the Kirkland College Symphonic Band.

11. Rosemary goes to the bank.

12. Rosemary’s mother visits Kirkland.

Winter 1989

13. Carolyn hosts a Christmas party.

14. Meredith on Christmas Eve.

Spring 1990

15. Meredith and Alex see Tied to the Tracks.

16. Easter Sunday on the Grubers’ front porch.

Summer 1990

17. Natalie plays Little Mermaid with her friends.

18. Bobbie Jo invites Rosemary and Carolyn over.

19. Jack and Rosemary discuss their daughters’ education.

Fall 1990

20. Jack brings home a movie.

21. The Gruber sisters play princesses.

22. Meredith and Alex go to the Video Knight.

23. Rosemary teaches piano lessons.

24. The girls take ballet lessons.

Winter 1990

25. Alex plays Dr. Mario.

Spring 1991

26. The Kirkland R-IX talent show.

27. Natalie needs glasses.

28. Rosemary and Jack go on a date.

Summer 1991

29. Donna welcomes the Seths to Kirkland.

Fall 1991

30. Meredith asks Jack a question.

31. The Gruber girls go to an audition.

32. The King and I.

Winter 1991

33. American Girls and Little Women.

Spring 1992

34. Liz Coburn’s last class.

Summer 1992

35. Meredith and Daniel learn BASIC.

Part 2: 1997–2000

Summer 1997

36. The girls plan an important purchase.

37. Natalie goes for a swim.

38. Rosemary gets promoted.

Fall 1997

39. Jack takes Meredith for a drive.

Winter 1997

40. Anne Gruber visits her nieces.

Spring 1998

41. Meredith, Alex, and Daniel eat lunch.

42. Daniel makes a decision.

43. Alex has a boyfriend.

44. Jackie and Priya solve a problem.

45. Alex goes to a party.

46. Rosemary calls her mother.

Summer 1998

47. Natalie goes to the mall.

48. Rosemary and Jonetta eat nachos.

49. The Grubers drive to California.

50. Rosemary makes a decision.

51. Meredith goes to the library.

52. The Gruber sisters go back-to-school shopping.

53. Rosemary comes home.

Fall 1998

54. Jack and Jackie spend Saturday at work.

55. Alex and Stephanie go cruising.

Spring 1999

56. Alex calls Meredith.

Summer 1999

57. Meredith and Jackie prepare for an audition.

58. Into the Woods.

59. Meredith finishes her novel.

Fall 1999

60. Rosemary plays Super Nintendo.

61. Natalie wants to go to a party.

62. Meredith gets a 34.

Winter 1999

63. Jackie and Priya make a toast.

Spring 2000

64. Anne gives Meredith advice.

65. The district music contest.

66. Jack has coffee with Natalie.

67. Meredith goes to prom.

68. Meredith and Alex have coffee.

69. The graduation.

Fall 2000

70. Meredith matriculates.

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