This is my first book review and honestly I am a little nervous that I won't do the book justice, but here we go.
A Good American is the story of Joseph and Jette Meisenheimer's move from Hanover, Germany to Beatrice, Missouri.
Initially the pair leave Germany because of Jette's parents (who disapprove of their relationship and unborn child). With little more than the clothes on their backs and all the money Jette could scrounge from her parents house they leave aboard a ship to America.
Alex George does a wonderful job of weaving this tale over 4 generations of this family. He takes you through events such as:
The birth of Joseph and Jette's two children (Joseph Jr and Rosa)
Joseph Sr going off to World War I
Joseph Jr's marriage
Opening of a restaurant
Birth of grandchildren
Birth of great grandchildren
You emotionally run the gamut from joy to sorrow with the events that happen to them. In one particular instance I wanted to scream at the characters "Don't do it!" because I could just feel something bad was going to happen and I became so invested in them that I honestly cared what happened to them.
Overall the book is very engrossing and I just didn't want to put it down. At the same time when it was over I felt I had been told the WHOLE story of the Meisenheimer's. I didn't feel cheated by the ending and in fact loved that George wraps up everyone's story.
I read a few reviews prior to finishing the book and was encouraged by the sheer number of positive things people had to say.
I have already loaned out my copy of the book because I felt it was such a good read, that I really just couldn't keep it to myself.
Have you read any good books like this that just kept wanting to read more and more?
This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own
You know I am a big reader, and I love losing myself in a good book. Usually I read light reads, I love Elin Hilderbrand, but lately I am challenging myself to read more history, or at least historical fiction :)
ReplyDeleteI love reading and always appreciate a good suggestion! I recently read a great book and reviewed it on my blog.... "The Scavenger's Guide to Haute Cuisine." Am currently reading "Killing Lincoln" and looking forward to starting "The Omivore's Dilema." :)
ReplyDeleteYou did a great review! Sounds like a good read. I'm afraid to review novels, because I might not read them for months. That's why I review cookbooks...and soon kids' books. Much easier.
ReplyDelete