Customer Reviews

The Good American: A Novel Based On True Events

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This truly is the best book I have read in a very long time. I read it in two days, because I simply could not put it down. It almost seemed like it was two stories in one. I was anxious to find out what would happen with Penelope and Alex, but also wanted to know the whole story of Ruth and Alex's father. The book was so well written, I felt like I was right there, watching everything happen. The book also gives us a different look at the war and how it affected people that is not written in any history book. I have already bought two more books to give as gifts and will definitely recommend "The Good American" to anyone who enjoys reading.

All whose lives have been touched by the ravages of war bear in their memory forever the grief, losses, and struggles to grasp some meaning for living out the balance of their days. The post-war adjustments for many perhaps never end. Time has a way of mending broken hearts but the wounds and scars of war heal very slowly. We meet people every day whose lives have been changed immeasurably by conflict and many of their stories never get into print. The several life stories that are woven so ingeniously in The Good American are reminders of many who have coped courageously with adversity and found a way not only to survive, but also to use their limited resources and native talents for remaking of an orderly world. Ursula Mandel, who grew up in postwar Germany, weaves a tale of ordinary people who did extraordinary things. The warm German hospitality I found as an American officer stationed in Wiesbaden three decades after World War II had ended grew out of a mutual respect Americans and Germans had one for another. Americans I knew immensely admired the German work ethic and ingenuity, their clean streets and homes, their delicious strudels, their superb automobiles, but most of all their determination to rebuild their cities and lives. Ursula Mandel's book is a benediction and compliment to those Americans and Germans who loved and cared enough to forge a lasting friendship for our two countries. The book has the essentials for a powerful cinema and I hope to see the story come alive on the big screen.

I guess I'm a little confused by the previous reviewer's comments and her lack of historical knowledge, at least where laptops are concerned. The Good American is a wonderfully written book and I fail to see what self publishing has to do with the quality of one's work. If only I could write like this and have the courage to then present my efforts to the World. And since when does the mention of laptops circa 1992 in the book diminish its validity? I work in a technical field so I happen to know the first laptop (the Osborne 1) was invented in 1981. In 1992 there were many competing laptop makers in the market, from Zenith and Compaq in 1989 to Apple with their first Mac PowerBooks in 1991, and the IBM ThinkPad came out in 1992. Obviously the previous reviewer has some sort of agenda as evidenced her critical reviews of other authors. Read The Good American and in so doing support entrepreneurial authors; you'll be treating yourself to a beautiful story.

The book was a real page turner! Really enjoyed reading Ms. Mandel's book.

I hardly ever read for leisure, it is always a text book or some manual. When I do read for leisure, it takes me weeks to get through it. Not this book! I read it in 3 days, I could not put it down! I lived in Germany for 4 years, and never did I 'see' Germany as I did in this book. A wonderful story, with a story-line that everyone can follow and feel a connection with. Men, Women, Young and Old can truly enjoy this book. If you haven't read a really good book in a while, I suggest this one! It will remind you why it's good to be alive!

This book is wonderful. I too was unable to put it down once I started. It shows the genuine spirit of mothers, sisters and family. You will be amazed at the lengths a loyal sister will go to free her neice from Berlin after WWII. It is a must have for your collection.

I could not put this book down once I began reading. It begins innocently enough when two people meet. One tells a gripping story of how her own Mother returned a child to its parent under harrowing circumstances after the Second World War. The other learns to hold his father in high esteem for the first time since childhood. A book that is well worth reading.

I enjoyed every minute of this book, and highly recommend it. The story of hardship, and perserverence to making a better life is well told by the author, and it is not lost on the reader that it is coming from personal knowledge and experience rather than just the imagination. The author also reminds us that we tend to take what we have for granted, and that some people made great sacrifices to have it. Good job!

The Good American: A Novel Based On True Events
The Good American is a delightful step into history. If you like history or romance, this is a great buy for you! I enjoyed the intertwining of two stories, which kept me guessing, even in parts I thought would be more predictable. I loved this book so much, I purchased extras as gifts. My husband also loved the book! More importantly, this book sparked the telling of stories from one relative's experiences as a "good American" in his years in WWII.

I didn't want to put this book down. It was the first thing I picked up in the morning and the last thing I put down before bed. One of the strengths of this work is the development of the characters. "The Good American" is one of those books that allows the reader to envision the story playing out in one's mind like a movie. As a middle school history teacher, the work allowed me to present post-WWII Germany from a different, and more personal perspective.