June 2014: A Good American

Our selection for June is A Good American by Alex George. We'll start the discussion on June 23! Hope to hear from all of you then!

Started the book today - too soon to tell much, but so far I'm enjoying it.

I finished the book yesterday - continued enjoying it to the very end.

Oh, did no one have anything to say about the book? I liked it a lot....

I finished it last week and liked it very much as well. Here is what I said on my thread:

"My husband came to this country and fell in love. He adored this place. He loved the ideas that this nation was built upon. Tolerance. Opportunity. And, more than anything Freedom. He loved them so much that he was prepared to sacrifice his life for them. We made this place our home. Our children were born on this solid. This is my country, and I am a good American." (129)

'What a patriotic speech to read as we near the Independence Day celebration in the U. S. There were a few problems with this book such as too many coincidences and the sentimentality it kept drifting toward. But it was also a good read about a family with values who got ahead in a new country (they just happened to settle in the great state of Missouri!) by sheer determination and hard work. I also liked the inclusion of music that bound the family together. If you like family sagas and feel-good books that don't shy away from the dark side of life, then I can heartily recommend this quick-reading book.'

I gave it 3.8 stars which translates to "Great book; recommended" on my rating scale.

I was wondering what you all thought about Frederick's decision to join the army when the US got involved in WWI. He had a family and a business and he didn't make arrangements for either one. I think it was a rash decision. Did people really join up and leave immediately like he did? He didn't even say goodbye to his children.

Yeah, I thought that was strange, too, Donna. Didn't talk about it with his wife - just left. Almost on the spur of the moment. My thoughts about that incident, though, were that is when we know for sure that Frederick has truly become an American, not just a German immigrant who has gain American citizenship. He seemed almost proud that he would be fighting Germans - his native countrymen.

I had those same thoughts. It seemed a ridiculous thing to do, but I think that some "older" men did sign up in WWI. I don't think the standards for enlistment then were very high, and WWI was one of those "patriotic" opportunities where people were anxious to be a part of it. Before they knew what war really was.....