I just finished reading A Good American by Alex George.
My advice to you is to pick up a copy,
make a pot of coffee or tea and curl up in a cozy chair for
the chance to be drawn into the sometimes funny,
sometimes tragic but always endearing lives of Frederick, Jette and
their family. Frederick, always the romantic, serenades his way
into the heart of the practical Jette. Their passion has the suspected
consequences and they soon find themselves about to be parents.
Frederick has few prospects and no family. Jette's life is controlled
by a domineering yet aloof mother. What do they do? Jette steals
a family treasure to ensure their passage to a land of hope and
promise ~ America.
When they board the boat for America, they believe that they are
going to New York. They soon discover that their destination will be
the port of New Orleans. While Jette suffers through sea sickness and the
rigors of pregnancy, Frederick is busy making contacts on board and
planning their future. After two weeks at sea they enter the
Gulf of Mexico. Frederick studies the land he sees on the horizon
and his excitement about the opportunities that lie ahead are infectious.
Upon reaching New Orleans they take a Mississippi river boat
up river to Missouri because Frederick has learned that there are many
Germans living in Missouri and finding a job in the state will be easy.
On route, Jette delivers their first child and this new family
is helped by new friends in this new land who help shape their future.
Despite their enthusiasm, they soon discover that life in this new land is not
without it's problems. Jette must deal with the guilt of stealing from the
parents she left behind in Germany. While Frederick works to build their
future, Jette stiffens. The music that Frederick once used to serenade
her no longer catches her heart and their devotion to one another begins
to fade. Two world wars, floods, racial discord and death enter the
lives of these two young lovers from Hanover as we follow the
two generations their love spawns. Yet always, the musical talent
inherited from Frederick weaves a common thread in their story.
I hope you will take the time to obtain a copy of this book
and enjoy it's magic. Perhaps it will renew the interest in your
own family's history. It certainly did for me. After all, we are
all the children of ancestors who once made their way to
this country to become good Americans. It is our common thread.
Click this
link to read what others are saying about this
excellent novel by Alex George. Disclaimer ~ This is a paid review for
BlogHer Book Club but the opinions are my own.
Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
