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In the world of literature, a famous American writer once said that the super-rich are quite different from the rest of us. This belief still holds true today, and we’re still interested in reading about them, partly because it’s amusing to see their troubles, and partly because, deep down, we might not be all that different from them.
Jenny Jackson takes on a big challenge in her first novel, “Pineapple Street.” She wants readers in 2023 to understand and like characters who are not just rich but have been wealthy for a long time. These characters casually talk about leaving their expensive belongings in fancy cars, and it’s quite a task to get readers to care about them.
The Stockton family in the story is in real estate, but they’re not the kind of real estate family that puts their name on everything. They prefer to stay low-key, known only by people in their close-knit communities. Tilda, the mother, avoids difficult conversations, and her daughters, Darley and Georgiana, follow her lead. They live in a refined part of Brooklyn and have a big family property they call “the limestone.”
Sasha is one of the main characters in the book, along with her sisters-in-law, Darley and Georgiana. She’s married to Cord, who loves her but doesn’t really need her. Sasha is happy with her marriage, even though his family baffles her. They give her a big house to live in but don’t make her feel like a part of the family.
Sasha is so different from the Stocktons that their friends mistake her for a server at their parties, even when she tries to introduce herself. This misunderstanding happens because of a mix-up about a prenup, and it leads to her being called a gold digger by her sisters-in-law. In contrast, Sasha’s own family is welcoming and has accepted her ex-boyfriend into their lives.
The novel delves into the personal lives and secrets of the Stockton family members. Darley’s marriage to Malcolm reflects her choice not to get a prenup, believing in his promising career. But unexpected events threaten their family’s stability.
Georgiana, the youngest Stockton, keeps her own secrets, including an ill-advised affair with a colleague. When she finally opens her trust accounts and discovers her substantial fortune, she faces questions about privilege, personal happiness, and the essence of family.
Jenny Jackson, an esteemed editor at Alfred A. Knopf, knows the “fruit streets” of Brooklyn Heights and its families well. The lives of these families have intriguing connections to the former occupation of the area by the Jehovah’s Witnesses and their underground tunnels.
“Pineapple Street” is similar to Gilded Age novels from the past, like John P. Marquand’s 1937 classic, “The Late George Apley.” However, unlike Marquand’s era, today’s readers might debate the appropriateness of exploring the lives of the wealthy elite, even as Jackson’s characters grapple with complex issues of privilege and entitlement.
Unapologetically, “Pineapple Street” places table settings, expensive schools, trust funds, and prenuptial agreements at the center of its story, much like classics from the past that explored the lives of the super-rich. If stories about wealth and its human complexities interest you, this book doesn’t apologize for it. If not, you’ll find plenty of stories about people facing everyday challenges, regardless of their wealth. After all, people who aren’t wealthy aren’t all that different from the rest of us.
