“An engaging and heartfelt portrayal of intergenerational trauma and hope.”—Kirkus ReviewsWhen Ida and her daughter Bessie flee a catastrophic pogrom 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 … 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: Bessie and Abe Weissman’s children struggle with the shattering effects of daughter Ruby’s mental illness, of Jenny’s love affair with her brother-in-law, of the disappearance of Ruby’s daughter as she flees her mother’s legacy, and of the accidental deaths of Irene’s husband and granddaughter.
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.
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How to Make a Life started in 1905 in Kotovka, Ukraine and ends in 2012 in New York City. It’s a complex layered story about a Jewish family, there are many threads woven through this intense story. Mass murder, immigration, mental illness, neglect, poverty, wealth, adultery, family secrets, resilience, and loyalty are a few … and the list goes on. The novel follows one family through four generations. With so many characters to keep track of, the table of contents and the family tree are immensely helpful as the story evolves.
I could not help but admire Ida, the matriarch of the family. Her determination to survive is astonishing after her husband, three of their children and her mother are murdered while tending their morning farm chores – as Ida, baby Fannie and ten-year-old Bessie hide in the potato cellar beneath the kitchen of the farm house in Ukraine. By page seven Ida and her two surviving children arrive on a cold gray January day in New York City, ready to start new lives in America. Though the horrid memories of their family’s slaughter are never forgotten.
A cousin welcomes them into her already crowded apartment and Ida finds a job in a restaurant bakery. Within a few weeks, Ida finds a two-room apartment for her and her two daughters. Bessie is in charge of baby Fannie while her mother works. Tragedy strikes again. Somehow Ida finds the strength to carry-on.
Bessie grows up, falls in love and marries Abe; they have five children and Ida lives the rest of her life with them assisting in chores and raising her grandchildren. Each of the grandchildren become protagonists of their own chapters, as they make life choices that take them away from their nuclear family, though they eventually find their way back to their roots.
The characters diverse personalities are well developed. The years this author worked as an MSW social worker and clinician are particularly evident in the thought processes of Bessie’s oldest daughter, Ruby, who suffers from schizophrenia. I worked for many years as a psychiatric nurse and I’ve never read a better character description of the trauma and tribulations that this disease of the mind can cause to individuals and families.
This novel will appeal to anyone interested in family epics with unexpected plot twists and unforgettable characters. It demonstrates the power of family love, forgiveness and resiliency.
^I originally wrote this review for StoryCircle.org
How to Make a Life is a rich, evocative tale that spans decades, generations, and continents. The story begins with Ida and Bessie fleeing a program in Ukraine and follows their journey to the U.S. and then the lives of their children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. The feel of it is almost like a series of linear, strongly interconnected short stories, as the protagonist changes many times in the novel. Kraut does a masterful job of grabbing the reader with each vignette. Following this family over such a span allows for the examination of the effects of trauma over time and conveys a realistic portrayal of the time healing requires. In spite of some very dark moments, the book captures the love and strength of family and the spirit of survival and hope. You should read this.
This is a story of a few generations of a family. This shows how life really is. The story starts in 1905 and goes to 2012. This shows the ups and downs that occur within a family during each persons lifetime. I laughed and cried. I think my favorite character was Jenny because she always seemed to become the caretaker throughout her life. I received a copy of this book from Smith Publicity for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
This family saga follows four generations in the twentieth century, and perfectly illustrates the dangers, trials and hopes of each character as they seek better lives. I fell for the characters immediately and they are still in my heart. Kudos to the author for a honest yet hopeful read!
This book beautifully portrays how so many of our for forbears came to this country with hope and inspiration. It is poignant and hopeful. I laughed and I cried. I loved it.!
302 pages
5 stars
What a wonderful book.
Our story begins in the Ukraine in 1905. Ida and her two daughters are the only survivors of a pogrom. She decides to move to the United States. Ida is badly damaged by the murders of her entire family. She speaks only a few words of English when she arrives in New York, but she is determined to make do.
This book follows Ida’s life and her subsequent family for about one hundred years. The lives, loves and losses of this extended family will make the reader smile and almost cry.
Ms. Kraut’s characters are so very real. There are numerous people described in the book, but the author takes the time to imbue them all with unique personalities. The reader gets to know these individuals in just a few words.
I felt like I personally knew the women about which Ms. Kraut writes. They were so very real. We all have had family dramas – whether the issue was real or imagined did not matter. What mattered was the emotion behind the hurt.
This is a great book and I will treasure it and re-read it over again.
I want to thank NetGalley and She Writes Press for forwarding to me a copy of this most touching book for me to read, enjoy and review.
The book covers 4 generations and I enjoyed the characters in the first half of book. However, the last half was disjointed and didn’t let you get to know the new characters and became confusing.
How To Make a Life traces the adventures and struggles of four generations of an immigrant family in their effort to create meaningful lives in America. Beautifully written and masterfully structured, the novel follows the complex interactions and passions of decent, caring human beings who evolve and respond to each other and to their times. Florence Reiss Kraut has a knack for placing a character in just the right setting and using just the right words to not only bring characters to life, but also to reveal their unique inner conflicts and complex motivations. A wonderful read. I love this book!