Jessica Camp Reviews

Jessica McComas

 

Book Description:

When Ida and her daughter Bessie flee a catastrophic program in Ukraine for America in 1905, they believe their emigration will ensure that their children and grandchildren will be safe from harm. But choices and decisions made by one generation have ripple effects on those who come later—and in the decades that follow, family secrets, betrayals, and mistakes made in the name of love threaten the survival of the family.

A sweeping saga that follows three generations from the tenements of Brooklyn through WWII, from Woodstock to India, and from Spain to Israel, How to Make a Life is the story of a family who must learn to accept each other’s differences—or risk cutting ties with the very people who anchor their place in the world.

My Thoughts: 5/5 stars

There aren’t many historical fiction books that have hooked me like HOW TO MAKE A LIFE did. Usually it’s the thrillers and mysteries that keep me glued to the pages, but every once in awhile there’s a historical fiction read that I just cannot put down. The writing was so engrossing and the characters all so well developed that they had their own unique voice.

I want to keep this review short and sweet so that you can fully experience this book with only the synopsis in mind. I loved the family tree in the book and getting to know all of these rich characters. You would think that with a wider array of characters it would be easy to lose some in the shuffle, but that wasn’t the case here. A multi-generational story spanning a century, it was a pleasure getting to know Ida and her family’s struggles and accomplishments. I highly recommend this one!