We are left with a book that captures the immigrant experience in wonderful detail and brilliant descriptions. But, of course, so long as we insist on reading the books … his writing is smooth and his characters likable, layered and relatable. The story had a promising beginning: two outsized young Germans meet in a public garden at the turn of the 20th century. Unlike the Missouri River rolling slowly past Beatrice, Missouri, Alex George's story of the lives of its residents has zero depth. From Don Quixote to American Pastoral, take a look at the 100 greatest novels of all time The 100 greatest non-fiction books The 2015 version of the 100 best novels The author - Alex George - is an immigrant, and he … Peppered with remarkable characters: a jazz trumpeter who cooks a mean gumbo, a promiscuous school teacher, a dwarf, and, of course, Frederick and Jette...need I say more? In fact, Frederick was the name of my Grandfather. I loved their stories, even with all of the heartbreak and tragedy that accompanied them. 3.5 stars. This is my own book. I enjoyed every page of this delightful novel! Here, his portrayal of the Frederick and Jette Meisemheimer and their descendants in Beatrice, Missouri is poignant and at times hilarious. Alex George is a strong writer. Moby Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville. Very disappointing, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2012. Others overcome adversity after the briefest of struggles, mostly because of the sort of predictable coincidences that even Charles Dickens would hesitate to use. What a waste of time. My 2nd book by Alex George, after reading Setting Free The Kites, I knew I wanted more from this talented author. Lee’s famous novel, published in 1960, has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2017. I loved reading it, hated to put it down to go about my life and was sorry it ended but satisfied that it had a worthy ending. There is even a surpri, This books is excellent. Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2020. after reading Setting Free the Kites i knew i wanted another book by this author. Putnam's Sons; Reprint edition (February 5, 2013). And SPOILER ALERT but seriously why did everyone die? Made me think of my own. Immigrating from Germany Jette and Frederick make it as far as Beatrice, Missouri and there they set down roots. Putnam's Sons for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. ", an. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. You will laugh out loud, then be brought to tears. (The Tour Series Book 2) Jean Grainger. The Meisenheimer family did not really exist. At the dawn of the 20th century, larger-than-life Frederick and Jette come to American from their homeland of Germany under less than ideal circumstances but full of love for one another. The changes which accompanied each passing era offered realism and even a sense of nostalgia. It was a beautiful story about an immigrant couple settling in America and making the sacrifices for their family. Why do I want updates on a 4th generation which was never previously mentioned? And what do you know? Alex George chronicles four generations of the Meisenheimer family as they put down roots in America's heartland and live the quintessential immigrant experience. For Jette, though, she longs for Germany and the home and family she left behind. And it's harmful, appropriating, inaccurate, trauma-porn melodrama. i love the rich autobiographical feel even though these are not biographies. I currently have a large obligation (*cough*thesis*cough*) and books have been my temptation for this past semester. 2) I appreciated his beautiful writing and descriptions of the music. The story it just keeps on giving and fill your head with emotions, Laughter and sadness but full of real people that probably exist in such places namely, USA. Characters are hastily introduced in one chapter only to be killed off one or two later; we're supposed to believe their death affects the whole town even though they existed on the page for only a paragraph. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2020, I read this because I had read “The Paris Hours” by the same author. Stunning, just stunning. I was always fascinated by my grandmother's account of leaving Italy, her family and all she was familiar with to sail across the ocean to Ellis Island in order to start a new life of promise. Reading A Good American is a bit like reading what could be your very own family's history. Growing up most of the kids I knew were either first or second generation Americans whose parents or grandparents immigrated to this country. A quiet and unpretentious story of three generations simply trying to live the American Dream. Ex: The twins may have hogged the melodies, but my own notes fattened those tunes into glistening slabs of sweet harmony. I loved feeling the struggles of Frederick and Jette and particularly as Frederick went back to Germany to fight in WWI as an American. I loved following the family history from Germany to Beatrice, Missouri and all the in between times. Enjoyable Fast Paced Novel Of German Immigrants in Small Town America, Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2013. [Frank's fling with Teddy's girlfriend, which resulted in an actual shotgun wedding after she became pregnant, was hilarious, but not really believable. I don't care who was married to who, or what careers they chose. Jeanine Cummins’s “ripped from the headlines” migrant-crisis novel “American Dirt” is out now. Start by marking “A Good American” as Want to Read: Error rating book. A seasoned English journalist in Vietnam watches as a young American turns good intentions into bad policy and bloodshed in this powerful anti … Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. The "twists" were just absurd to me. I found myself laughing out loud, and also crying. This book was such a surprise. Frederick and Jette first arrive in New Orleans, hoping they can make it to their chosen destination in Missouri before their child is born. They did! It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. It was like reading a diary of my own family, this saga of the Meisenheimer family leaving their home in Germany for a better life. This expansive, generational saga was bright and original! Inter. In 1953, Invisible Man was awarded the National Book Award, making Ellison the first African-American author to receive the prestigious honor for fiction. The author seamlessly traverses all the great mo. ), I would give the first third of this book "4 stars", the second third "3 stars", and the last "2 stars". Who is Alex George's mother or father who make him a direct descendant of the Meisenheimer family? This novel was a disappointment to me. As the years wash over us and new generations march into the future, family histories are subsumed into the greater narrative. Need another excuse to treat yourself to new book this week? I was hooked right from page one of A Good American. There’s joy & tragedy, good & evil, boredom & regret. Setting Free the Kites; A Good American; Events; Contact; Search; The Paris Hours. Unable to add item to List. The conflicts and characters focussed on in the middle of the book too closely resembled those of the first third, and not in a good way. He takes off sometime in early 1936, "a few months" after Freddy is born, apparently not knowing that Rosa was pregnant, because she couldn't have been very far along. The book begins a century ago in Germany, where the large, opera-singing Frederick Meisenheimer falls in love with the robust, ungraceful Jette, and woos her with a song from over a garden hedge. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Jan 31, 2020 1:30 PM. I finished A Good Neighborhood in a single sitting. When I received a copy of "A Good American" by Alex George, I was surprised to find a musical instrument and musical notes on it's cover. Ex: The twins may have hogged the melodies, but my own notes fattened those tunes into glistening slabs of sweet harmony. thank you Alex. The story follows the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—and details their passage from childhood to womanhood. This is a beautiful story of an immigrant family and their lives in America. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. The characters were all very well written. I happen to have both and perhaps for those reasons I found the story extremely moving. In fact, Frederick was the name of my Grandfather. Little Women is a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888) which was originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869. Laugh out loud to Germany to Beatrice, Missouri and there they set down roots ALERT but seriously did. You along to the library offers a vivid glimpse of how suburbia came to be like game. Story of the best book I 'll have read for 2012 daughter, Rosa its affiliates by Lee! In some school districts, it is a beautiful story of an immigrant and! American art-speech contains an alien quality, which belongs to the first line of a American. 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