So when I started reading A Good American by Alex George I honestly didn't know what to expect. I'm not huge on historical fiction...unless there is loads of horrible romance thrown in. Or supernatural something. This isn't that type of book though.... & yet still, I loved it. The beginning was wonderful & so that I won't give away too much, here's the basic description.
This is the story of the Meisenheimer family, told by James, a
third-generation American living in Beatrice, Missouri. It’s where his
German grandparents—Frederick and Jette—found themselves after
journeying across the turbulent Atlantic, fording the flood-swollen
Mississippi, and being brought to a sudden halt by the broken water of
the pregnant Jette.
A Good American tells of Jette’s dogged determination to feed a town sauerkraut and
soul food; the loves and losses of her children, Joseph and Rosa; and
the precocious voices of James and his brothers, sometimes raised in
discord…sometimes in perfect harmony.
But above all, A Good American is
about the music in Frederick’s heart, a song that began as an aria, was
jazzed by ragtime, and became an anthem of love for his adopted country
that the family still hears to this day.
This has a great "pull you in" beginning & while the middle is a little bit here or there it all comes together in the end. The twist is totally worth it. Although I didn't feel the flow as much as I would've liked, it didn't stop me from wanting to read it. With a lot of sweetness & a lot of soul, this book hit all the notes expected. Pun intended.
Interested in reading A Good American? Join in on our discussion over at BlogHer here, we'd be happy to have you! I'd love to heard what you're reading right now, care to share? I'm always looking for a good read!
**This book was provided for review. This is a compensated post. All opinions are my own.
