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Elizabeth Stone

Black Sheep and Kissing Cousins: How Family Stories Shape Us Paperback – June 7, 1989

by Elizabeth Stone (Author)

14 ratings

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Drawing on numerous interviews and stories based on her own family, the author interprets the private language and mythology that develops among family members, how they originate, and what role they play in family identity

Print length

272 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Penguin Books
Publication date

June 7, 1989
Dimensions

5.2 x 0.5 x 7.82 inches
ISBN-10

0140119779
ISBN-13

978-0140119770
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books (June 7, 1989)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0140119779
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140119770
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 0.5 x 7.82 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #5,950,679 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6,283 in Sociology of Marriage & Family (Books)
- #12,711 in Genealogy (Books)
- #214,637 in Parenting & Relationships (Books)

Customer Reviews:
14 ratings

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5 star		51%
4 star		10%
3 star		28%
2 star		11%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

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Nina d'Alessandro

A one-of-a-kind gathering of family stories

Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2013

Verified Purchase

I use this book nearly ever year as a reference in designing college courses on family (family myths, family as a subculture, family memoir writing), and sometimes also as part of students' assigned or recommended reading for the course. Reading this book (or parts of it) alongside a range of other texts--memoir, fiction, film, visual art--students have reported that a) they loved it and b) they have not liked it at all. Some complain that it moves too ploddingly, adding that they wish there were more analysis, more discussion using a variety of theoretical frameworks and scholarship. On the other hand, for many students, Stone's own family story and her analysis of its themes, preoccupations, myths, and values has served as a charming, accessible entry into considerations of their own families and the legacies passed down to them. Stone has also gathered primary source material from many interviews, and has organized them into categories that students and I find useful as a starting model for thinking and discussing family themes, and later, for structuring the material they gather through their own research.

3 people found this helpful

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K*GT

Fascinating Book

Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2019

Verified Purchase

I used this book when researching a project about family stories. The book was fascinating and had a lot of helpful insights about the importance of stories. I originally borrowed a copy from the library, but the book was so good I bought a copy to keep.

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Create Change

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Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2015

Verified Purchase

The ideas presented in this book, are interesting to think about in regards to each individual's family. However, this updated version only had an introductory chapter to address changes in the story and new research. A lazy approach to an update, and leaving misinformation in many chapters. I would recommend a more recently published volume in this same area of interest, as there are many available.

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marigold smith

lacks depth

Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2012

Verified Purchase

I read this book when it was first published. I thought then and I still think the subject has great possibilities. But family stories without context are just that. While Stone has some interesting interpretations, it is difficult to evaluate them on the basis of the information she presents.

One person found this helpful

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Bill Ruttenberg

Thanks!

Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2013

Verified Purchase

What a great product. It has a lot of interesting stories about how your own family can be very entertaining.

2 people found this helpful

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Lovelee L

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2014

Verified Purchase

Was an interesting read

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Pistalrose

Interesting, great for book clubs

Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2011

This book is fascinating to read because it will remind you of your own family stories and lead to self reflection. I reexamined some of my own family myths and legends and discovered, what I believe, are new understandings which were previously not obvious.

For example: The 'fried chicken story' my mom always told about how bad a cook she was when she first married my dad and how, regardless of what poor meals she'd been cooking for him, he would rave to family & friends about how her fried chicken was fantastic. He never even mentioned to her that her cooking was often crap, just complimented the hell out of her fried chicken, which she says she prepared several times a week until her cooking abilities improved. "Great" my dad would say, "fried chicken". She never broached the subject openly either because she was ashamed that she was so bad at such an important and expected(this was the 50's)skill. My mom always told this story to illustrate how my father,who was not a patient or overtly supportive person, came through for her when it was something that he really could have hurt her feelings over.

Once I read this book I got a different perspective. The old 'elephant in the room' idea - a big theme for my family. Don't talk about problems & they'll go away. Don't acknowledge difficulties and offer help (like a cook book or lessons), just ignore it. Which is not to say my mom's take is entirely wrong, it's just probably not the only thing going on. Because no one likes fried chicken that much.

4 people found this helpful

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Sherrod Sturrock

A New Look At The Family

Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 1999

I found this book to be most interesting because it made me think about my own family stories in an entirely new way. Why do we care about certain traits, how we define ourselves, what measures success - the answers are buried in those family stories - the ones we choose to retell, that is. I have used this book in classes, as well as in rethinking my own family. Fun, and thought provoking.

16 people found this helpful

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