Love of Finished Years

by Gregory Erich Phillips

This moving debut novel by Gregory Erich Phillips won the Grand Prize for best book of the year in the Chanticleer Reviews International writing Competition.

Pre WWI, Elsa came to America with her eyes wide open, realizing it was up to her to make a lifefor herself. Surviving a sweatshop in lower Manhattan, a chance job with a Long Island elitefamily opens up her world. Invited in, up to a point, she unwittingly, albeit precariously, crossesthe social divide with her now open heart which puts all she worked for in jeopardy.

What a truly wonderful story! I’ve read it three times, and with eachreading I find myself caring about the fabulous characters and theirlives even more.”— P. J. Alderman, New York Times Bestselling Author

“From the riveting opening . . . until its gripping conclusion, this enthrallingnovel vividly portrays the desperate times of German immigrantslanding at Ellis Island in 1905. A timely read . . . it illuminates the issuesthat we are experiencing a century later. . . Phillips reminds us that love,light, and perseverance can help us find a way to overcome almost anyobstacle.”  — Chanticleer Reviews

"A Beguiling Novel... Readers will be satisfied by this novel's fast-paced plotting and its memorable characters."    — Publishers Weekly

GREGORY ERICH ISBN 13 978-1-64058-011-4 5. 5 X 8. 5 309 $18. 95 INGRAM LIMA CONCORDIA 

www. gregoryerichphillips. com

 

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, 20th Century, Historical, New York

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 3, 2018

About the author

From a prolific literary family, Gregory Erich Phillips tells aspirational stories through strong, relatable characters that transcend time and place. Living in Seattle, Washington, he is also an accomplished tango dancer and musician.

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve year old German girl Elsa Schuller arrives with her family at Ellis Island in 1905, they find America confusing and things don't go as planned! Life in the tenements of New York is a shock, her once happy father Tobias is distant, her family have very little money and they don't speak English. Elsa's dream of going to school ends as it becomes very clear for them to survive everyone in the family needs to find work and quickly. Elsa and her younger sister Sonja both find jobs working in a factory weaving cloth.

Working at the factory is hard work, the hours are long, some employers started locking girls in rooms so they couldn't leave unless work targets are met, they start timing toilet breaks and the working conditions are terrible.
We have all heard about the horrible fire at one of the shirtwaist factories, so many women and girls died because they couldn't escape the fire. Elsa survives the fire, her best friend Beth dies but she leaves Elsa with a precious gift as she has taught her to read and write in English. Elsa is offered a job working in Long Island as a maid, due to being German and she's also needed to translate documents for her new boss. He imports and exports goods to and from Germany.

Her mother Nina is busy with the women's rights movement they want to reduce the working hours for women, the garment makers go on general women's strike and eventually their working conditions and hours are changed.
Elsa becomes friends with her bosses daughter Dafne, she's a flighty girl, she's spoilt, rather modern with her attitude towards her maid and treats her as an equal. This has it's benefits, but at times causes issues between the girls and Dafne is rather annoying.

Four years later, the world has changed and the threat of the World War I is looming and Elsa's life is turned upside down yet again. People of German origin begin changing their last names, their businesses are broken into and damaged. She and Dafne move back to Manhattan.
Once America enters World War I, Elsa and Dafne's relationship changes, especially when Dafne's ex fiancee Glenn is fighting in the war in France and he starts writing to Elsa.

I enjoyed reading: Love Of Finished Years, it's an interesting story about German migrants moving to New York, the fire in the shirtwaist factory and the strike general strike by low paid working women. How women fought hard for the right to vote, women's roles changing during World War I, the effect the war had on the men fighting in France and the women waiting for them to return home.
I gave the book 4 stars, I will share my review on Goodreads, Australian Amazon, Twitter, Kobo and my blog. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I’ve ever read so far on the subject of WWI.

Set in pre-war and during WWI, the story beautifully captures the time period of struggle and reality of German-Americans living in NYC and affected by the war raging in Europe.

The story has a good balance of historical details to transport reader into a time period and not so much to over-bury the story. Well-presented events in action (and not words) create engrossing story, which evokes human emotions.

Twelve year old Elsa arrives with her family at Ellis Island in 1905. She is eager to go back to school, but before she can do so, they all need to find jobs to save some money. Elsa and her sister Sonja both get jobs at sweatshops. At first it seems as American dream might come to reality of saving money and buying their own place. But as expenses pile up, the American dream dwindles away, including hope of schooling, and instead anger and bitterness takes over.

Due to an incident and Nina’s (girl’s mother) new friend’s nudge, Nina takes part in women’s strike for better working conditions. With time Women’s Trade Union League wins a major victory for women workers: less working hours, increased pay and equal treatment. All that not without a sacrifice. Along the way, some women lose their jobs and subsequently roofs over their heads. Later Nina takes part in strikes for women rights to vote.

An accident happens, which opens another door for Elsa. She gets a job with a Long Island elite family. She becomes a servant to their daughter Dafne, forging a friendship. Later as girls move to NYC, it seems as the story stalls in action for a moment, however an interesting dialogue continues to carry it on.

This story captures both worlds separated by ocean. The life of struggling emigrants in NYC, set against the women’s movement which with their victory sets example for the rest of the country to follow. And the devastating war in Europe, which events are experienced by Glenn, Dafne’s girlfriend.

@FB: Best Historical Fiction

[Mystica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre WWI immigration was obviously as hard as it is now. Escaping Germany a family arrives in the US. Elsa and Sonja are the two girls in the family and they know that in their father's eyes they are second best to their baby brother. With the sudden death of their brother, their father disappears never to be seen again and Nina and the two girls are on their own.



Not knowing the language and finding everything strange to them, they settle down to a life of unrelenting struggle and hardship. All find jobs of the most menial kind but Elsa knows that if she is to get ahead she has to get some form of education and how she is going to get this whilst working full time is hard. But she perseveres and gets it. A fair knowledge of English to begin with and this along with her determination to succeed pushes her slowly but surely out of the bottom rung of the ladder.



Whilst her sister Sonja finds happiness in marriage, Elsa who is a plain girl plans her career as a maid and a translator for German documents for a businessman. The encounter with the family carves out a relationship with the teenage daughter of the family and it is this that is going to be the pivot of Elsa's future. Going through WWI and America's entry into the war turns everything around for Elsa who finds herself without a job, finding a German surname a hindrance of the most dangerous kind and being a maid to the frivolous Dafne who just whiles away her time waiting for the war to end.



The story of Elsa ends happily fortunately (I was glad after all the years of struggle!). Full of detail about the immigrants plight in this time and the sweat shops and factories in the cities and then descriptive of America's entry into the war the story was a piece of history as well as a family story.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the historical setting. I don't think I have read about the German American experience in the 20th century before. Gregory Erich Phillips actually packs a lot of history in his book - immigration, the women's rights movement, WWI, and other things that I won't mention for fear of spoiling the story. I felt for Elsa and thought Phillips did a great job at creating her character. It was quite refreshing to read about the Suffrage Movement from a man. I also liked the WW1 section in France especially.

What didn't work for me was that I felt there was a lot of telling in places rather than showing to the point where I noticed it and was bothered by it. Some events are described quite quickly, meaning I didn't have time to get emotionally involved. I think that's because there is so much going on in the story. I wouldn't have minded a longer book to explore more of the themes and events in the story.

Love of Finished Years is a debut novel and is a pretty good job if you take that into consideration. I believe Phillips will get even better with subsequent books, so I will keep an eye of his name!

Disclaimer - thanks to NetGalley and Sillan Pace Brown for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Meg · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. This book is terrible. It should be marketed as YA at best, maybe even for middle schoolers. It has a very cursory overview of a lot of historical events - the triangle shirtwaist factory fire, the suffrage movement, the plight of immigrants, the sinking of the Titanic and the Lusitania, WWI, etc. told in a very elementary way that made me roll my eyes. The dialogue is terribly stilted and awkward and the perspective changes from one character to another so frequently that you can’t figure out who is saying/thinking what. Cannot finish.

[Kalliste · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably more a 3.5 instead of a 3. I enjoyed the book but for many chapters it was told from a single character perspective and then suddenly it starts changing to multiple characters. Sometimes in the middle of a chapter.

This wasn't necessarily a bad thing however sometimes it was difficult to tell which perspective it was occurring from.

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Carol Hoyer for Reader Views (12/17)

“Love of Finished Years” by Gregory Erich Phillips is a historical fiction novel that engages readers by providing such vivid detailed descriptions of the characters and events, one feels they are experiencing everything right along with the characters. There are very few books I have read that just leave me breathless like this one.

In the story, readers follow Elsa, a young girl, and her family on their journey to a new life as they process through Ellis Island in 1905. Elsa determines early on that she does not like America and suspects even at her young age that the only reason they made the journey was so Anton, her baby brother, could have a better life. Shortly after arriving in America, Anton succumbs to illness, his death changing the course of everyone’s lives forever. Elsa’s father is so distraught over Anton’s death he abandons his family and hopes of a better life in America.

Readers will find Elsa as a young woman to be determined and willing to learn and overcome obstacles as they come along. I did find it quite surprising that she would let a rich family's daughter whom she worked for treat her like her servant due to the fact she was lonely.

The author’s attention to detail and his ability to capture the emotions of the characters, along with the reality of the circumstances of the times, such as working in sweatshops, unsafe conditions, and sexual misconduct of immigrants, grabbed at every emotion I could possibly experience. The devaluing of females certainly hit home with today’s current events. I found the dialogue, dress and mannerisms genuine and very well suited for each character’s station, and of the era. Also as in today’s world, it seems many of those in rich and powerful situations often took advantage of those they felt were beneath them.

Great detail was given to the war aspect of the story, including why some felt the need to enlist early in order to avoid the draft, while at the same time some began to question America’s involvement. One could actually feel the fear and lack of knowledge about the war and the impact it had on those returning.

Phillips does an excellent job of capturing the reader’s attention from the first page and holding it solidly until the very last page. “Love of Finished Years” is a heart-wrenching story full of historical facts and drama that will stay with you long after you finish reading. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in historical fiction. It would also make a great selection for book clubs, as the author provides thought-provoking discussion questions in the back.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book via a Goodreads Giveaway,

Love of Finished Years is a bildungsroman following Eliza's first years in America and her struggles between naturalisation in not only her new country but also her class in the early 1900s.

We find Eliza immediately after her journey from Germany to New York hoping for a new American school education while her parents work. On arrival the streets are, sadly, not paved with gold and the harsh realities of her new life become apparent.

As she settles in to New York life Eliza befriends a host of characters who nod at and suggest some of the biggest historial events of the time.

Eliza's mother was of paticular interest to me as she becomes involved in women's rights, unionisation movements and suffragism. Suffragettes, though a wonderful image of a strong female history, are famously also very middle class. As a working woman and an immigrant Eliza's mother is a powerful image of improvement and progress.

Phillips' prose moves at pace with all of Eliza's teenage years covered in a few hundred pages. We see her working at various jobs, encountering boys for the first time and making her own solo journey in search of work away from the city. I enjoyed the events of the plot but couldn't help thinking that a little more time in each 'event' would have drawn out the emotion and intensity of the situation.

While the characters are complicated the concepts behind the feelings are very simple. 'It's weird to be in a new place' or 'I feel confused about the war because I'm a German American'. I often felt that there was a lot of exposition following the big events and epiphanies of the story, which is perhaps unneccessary in a novel aimed at adults.

Overall I enjoyed the plot, however I did feel that the pace was a little rushed in places. More time could have been spent dwelling on showing us how Eliza is processing her feelings rather than telling us that the feelings are complicated. I enjoyed looking at the events of the period through a range of characters eyes and seeing some unusual twists in character towards the end.

I would recommend this book to fans of historial fiction.

[Sara Groti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elsa is a German girl, whose family migrated to New York city in hopes of building a better future for themselves. After losing her baby brother during the harsh trip overseas;her father leaves the family and Elsa's mother Nina, her older sister Sonja and herself are left to fend for themselves.
Elsa is a very ambitious girl, who quickly learns the language of her new country and exerts herself at her job to provide for her mom and sister. Her knowledge in both the English and German languages lead her to a job opportunity in the town of Lindenhurst. Where she becomes a maid and also translator for the master of the house who often has German clients.
Elsa quickly becomes friends with her employer's only daughter Dafne. Elsa sort of becomes Dafne's personal servant while also working for her father.
Dafne is not content in her little town and longs for adventures, parties and an exciting life in New York City. When her fiance Glenn, enlists in the army, Dafne is furious BUT she also sees this as an opportunity to move to New York and remain close to him while he's in basic training. Elsa of course comes with her, and the three of them become very close.
Inevitably Glenn realizes he misses his small town, and he and Dafne are just very different people who want very different things in life. He realizes the glue that has kept them together thus far, had been Elsa. And even after Dafne's and Glenn's relationship ends, Glenn and Elsa remain friends.
Through their friendship and letters back and forth while he was away fighting in Europe, Glenn comes to realize he's in love with Elsa. And though he lost his sight during the war, he now can see for the first time how his heart has longed for her all along.
A beautiful story, about ambition, courage, love, duty and history.
Only didn't give it 5 starts because of Dafne's queer moments. It was awkward, unrelated to the story in anyway and just felt thrown in there. Wish the author would have chosen a better route with this character.

[Bethany Swafford · Rating 2 out of 5]

At twelve years old, Elsa immigrates from Germany to New York City. She must leave her childhood behind her to join the work force and from then on, she must work, enduring hardship as the country changes around her.

This is a story that seems to be trying to be an epic tale. It is detailed and I applaud the author for excellent research.

However, I found the narrative to be lacking emotion and focus. The main character is in a horrible factory fire and the incident is described and then moved on from in a matter of a few pages. There simply seemed to be too much crammed into the story. f we had remained with Elsa, perhaps it would have worked, but the perspective changed from her to her mother in the first quarter of the book but then her employer’s daughter later on and also a gentleman.

To be honest, I was bored by the whole thing. The dialogue was awkward, many of the situations these characters became involved in were awkward, and I couldn’t find anything I especially liked.

Others no doubt might enjoy this but it was not for me. I received a free copy from NetGalley for reviewing purposes.

[Jeanne Loidolt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hopeful and encouraging in the midst of pain and suffering

This is a story of Phoenix rising out of ashes. Circumstances for Elsa are depicted in raw reality and portray inbred honor and self-determination. Glenn comes from a cushy environment with upbringing trenched in class discrimination. He is saved by his deep seated moral values and self-respect. Their journey on different paths of needs eventually converge as their strengths strive toward completion with each other, united. The opening chapters focused so much on Elsa and her family that the abrupt shift to Dafne’s point of view was confusing. The remaining transfers between characters were much smoother. This is a comprehensive look at life from many angles in America before and through WWI. The description of time in the trenches was a horrifying glimpse of survival in too hellish to want to believe. War is evil in any time or place however the changes in any warrior who returns are evidence of the reality of what they have seen and endured. I recommend this book as a good reality check of where we stand in the fight of good and evil throughout every generation.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable book! What an amazing story this was. From the first moment when Elsa and her family arrived in America from Germany, the book caught my attention. Every moment of suffering that the family had was so detailed and heart-breaking, I had to keep reading to know what happened to them. it was a very compelling, emotional and hopeful story. I was quite taken by Elsa and her family and the people she became friends with as she went through her life, trying to survive. It was an intense story hearing of her time working in the factory and as a servant. As she learned more and more about translating German to English, you could feel her hope rising, though, at times, there were discouraging events. The family pushed through it, and Elsa had much reason to be thankful when circumstances became better and life changed for the good. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it. You won't easily forget the times of war and the love that Elsa grows to have. It's an awesome story, with some beautiful and heart-warming moments.

[Nancy L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

books focussing on the immigrant experience in NYC, and the arrival of Elsa and her German family on Ellis Island quickly drew me in. The early 1900’s through WWI timeframe in the city is not very familiar to me, though I had often heard of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory where Elsa originally worked. The narrative about severe working conditions there was of considerable interest. The book next centers on Elsa’s position with the Graham family as a maid and translator as well as companion to their daughter Dafne, a step up for Elsa. Later as America’s entry into WWI seems certain and Dafne’s fiance Glenn enlists, the changes in Elsa’s life continue as she lives with Dafne in NYC.

I found a lot about this book very appealing in its portrayal of the early-20th century German immigrant experience, as well as more prosperous American experience as illustrated by the Grahams. That stated, some of Glenn’s actual war experience seemed a bit longer than necessary to me as did his moral dilemma over it, which struck me as more modern in tone than WWI era.

[Leah Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written and satisfying novel centered around World War I. Elsa is a child when her family immigrates from Germany to New York in 1905. Life is a struggle but Elsa has a strong determination to survive. She escapes factory work when she secures a job as a housekeeper and German translator in Long Island. She also becomes a companion to the Grahams teenaged daughter Dafne, as flamboyant as Elsa is reserved. The story excels in bringing the societal changes into the characters' lives, especially the tragedy of WWI. I was moved by Glenn's witness of the impromptu Christmas truce as the strains of Silent Night are heard first in German and then in French.

[Christine Goodnough · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't enjoyed or been so moved by a story in a long time.

This story is so realistic it could have been a biography. I felt along with Elsa and her family as they faced a new life in an alien world. I believe this reflects the lot of many immigrants.
I also thought Glenn's war experience and his enlightenment was very realistic. I have to agree with the writer's take on the idea of a "just" war. The idealism is only a thin vaneer for the hidden agenda.
I thought the writer portrayed Dafne with fairness, too. An immature, spoiled debutante carried away by adult dreams too big for her to really comprehend, she really needed a mother's guidance.

[Larry Ott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely character development

How nice to read a book that focuses on the different things that can build character. To take Elsa from her childhood into adulthood and see hardships can evolve into great blessings. Hope so many can read this and see life can offer struggles but it doesn't have to destroy us. It can make us stronger and enhance our lives and our ability to see the real word and the most wonderful people. And many things in WW1 that I did not know occurred. Great history interwoven!

[Alison Ivey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of immigration to New York, hardship, suffering and through friendship and learning, gaining independence. The First World War disrupts life for the main character Elsa both in a bad way, and a good way, the latter enabling her to find the happiness she sought.
There is some good writing and plot development, but rather too much religion and morality making this a worthy read rather than an enlightening one.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

1900s. Elsa and her fam comes over from Germany to start a new life. I thought it was going to be about immigration to US. But Elsa goes on to other jobs. Her “mistress” gets enaged but then steps out on him. He had gotten to know Elsa too and his feelings transferee to her. He goes to France WWI and is injured. When he gets back they both profess their love for each other and they live happily ever after.

[Shari Stauch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book... and learned a great deal I didn't know about American attitudes at that time, toward Germans! Who knew?! Really timely in this day and age to know we're always finding new groups we don't like (ugh), but moreover, this book told a lovely story, with a great love story, too... Very enjoyable!

[Kergy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical fiction and this book was very good. I think the author did a good job with all of the historical aspects of the story as well as making readers feel as though they were living during this period. The book was chosen by my book club as our April read. I look forward to discussing it with the other members of my club.

[Audreygold · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars Could easily be Young Adult Fiction. Well researched. Set in NYC City pre - World War I, it follows the life of a young German immigrant Elsa. Includes details about Ellis Island, the clothing sweatshops, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, the women voting act and the start of WW 1. Good characters that addressed the challenges of class.

[Veronica A Pitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Intriguing Story

My first time reading this author a Big thumbs up from me. The main character is Elsa in this , she has an older sister Sonja the along with their parents have just arrived in the United States from Germany. Tragedy
Hits their family when her younger baby brother arrives with them but is sick and dies.
You will meet Many characters that will grip you.

[Connie Huddleston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange book. The first part was excellent. The second part to the end - I read simply because I had started the book. I found parts completely unbelievable and just plain silly. At least there was a suitable ending. My main problem was I felt some of the characters did things totally out of character.

[Pat Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Painful, just painful to finish. Interesting histories of the era were not fleshed out at all (outside of World War I issues, which almost got there), and the characters were so annoying...Daphne, are you listening?....it took all I had to keep reading to the end. The book felt to me like it was written as a high school term paper.

[Judy Himmelsbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonder full story with an array of unique characters.

I couldn't put this book down, every page made me go on. I am of German decent and grew up in Babylon the town next to Lindenhurst. Had a career in NYC it brought back memories even if it was from a different time. Well done Mr Phillips.
Paul Himmelsbach.

[Danielle Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Joy was not in having a perfect life. True Joy was to have your own bit of happiness and someone to share it with."

I really liked this book. The characters and the story just drew me in. It is not just another war story.

[Rachel Gettone · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seems I’m in the minority, but this book didn’t do it for me. I love historical fiction but the lack of dialogue in the story left it feeling flat and boring and did nothing to develop the characters.

[Lynn McClelland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Good Read

Great debut novel! Well written plain language. Well developed characters who are allowed their own narratives. You’ll see many parallels from the early decades of the twentieth to today.

[GJ S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Historical novel

The story was so sad so much of the time and how the mistreated Germans who immigrated before ww1.
I did not like the vulgar parts of their lives.
But I did like the trust in God by some charge.

[V.J. Fadely · Rating 3 out of 5]

So-so

Hm-m-m... mixed emotions. Wanted to get to know the main character more. Didn't like the way the story veered away from her and found all the war details and pacifist opinions tiring and distracting. Otherwise, good enough to read. Give it a go.