Meet the Newmans

Niven creates a behind the scenes look at a family that has spent most of their time in front of the cameras. Inspired by the Nelson family, Niven pulls curtain to give us a look at the not so idyllic life. From adhering to the moral codes of Hollywood during the 60s to paying off the newspapers to bury the stories that make light of their flaws, Niven shows the struggle to find happiness when everyone else controls your life. The facade of their life has become consuming, and every family members questions what is “real” about their current life.

Dinah is forced to face the persona that has perpetuated the misogyny in Hollywood when a young reporter interviews her and asks some tough questions. As the novel continues, Niven allows Dinah to find her own agency, and ultimately, happiness. However, this comes after much soul searching and asking herself how did she get to this point and when did she lose control. Niven creates a true awakening in the character of Dinah. It is as if she is finally seeing the world with all its glory and all of its flaws.

Additionally, Niven allows the two sons to shine as they grapple with adulthood and independence in a system that still treats them as children. Guy doesn’t want to pursue the life his dad and the studio has carved out for him, but as the dutiful child, he acquiesces to his father’s decrees. Niven gives Guy a platform to mourn the life he yearns for without coming off as whiny. Shep, the younger son, is a teen idol, but is just a cog in the studio machine. He isn’t allowed to make the music that he would like to. While he can’t rebel against the studio, he rebels in every other way that his 18 year old self can get away with. Shep wrestles with himself to figure out who he wants to be. Since he is still a child, Niven gives us a glimpse of his desires, but he is so conflicted that he doesn’t even know himself.

Juliet is an interesting character. Niven provides her with a backstory that shows that she has been in the limelight and the male-centric press was unkind to her. I don’t think that aspect of the story is necessary and at times weighs down the plot. I love that she is the thorn in Dinah’s side and she forces Dinah to take off her rose colored glasses. Juliet leaves a copy of The Feminine Mystique for Dinah to peruse which encourages Dinah to embark on a journey to agency. However, there are time where I think her story convolutes the plot.

Finally, I love the symbolism behind the final episode. All of the changes are indicative of the world, but more importantly it shows the growth of the family. I do wish that Niven would have alluded to the reception the family received for their final episode. It would be intriguing to see how Dinah responds to the reviews.

This would be a great selection for book clubs. There are many facets to discuss and ideas to unpack. There is so much to keep a discussion moving along.