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Monterey Bay #1
The California Immigrant
An enthralling historical fiction novel chronicling the events of World War II as experienced in one American small town.
Martin Petrovich, a young man seeking a better life, immigrates from Dubrovnik to San Francisco at the turn of the century. In just two years, he is on the verge of achieving the American Dream when disaster strikes. The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake forces him to flee and start over again even while his heart is breaking over the death of his beloved girlfriend.
Martin rebuilds his life in a small farming community set on the Monterey Bay, populated with ethnically diverse characters--Croatians, Mexicans and Japanese. But unlike Yugoslavia which had bitter ethnic divides, farming brings the people together in a spirit of cooperation and often friendship.
When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor everything changes. Martin once again finds himself in a place where racial hatred in all its ugly guises runs amok.
As the government turns the town’s airport into a Naval facility, conscripts his sons, and begins moving Japanese to internment camps, Martin’s forced to make a decision. Should he help a Japanese friend and risk the backlash of his neighbors? Or should he take the safer path of least resistance?
Whatever the decision, it will lead to his destiny and forever shape his American Dream.
Martin Petrovich, a young man seeking a better life, immigrates from Dubrovnik to San Francisco at the turn of the century. In just two years, he is on the verge of achieving the American Dream when disaster strikes. The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake forces him to flee and start over again even while his heart is breaking over the death of his beloved girlfriend.
Martin rebuilds his life in a small farming community set on the Monterey Bay, populated with ethnically diverse characters--Croatians, Mexicans and Japanese. But unlike Yugoslavia which had bitter ethnic divides, farming brings the people together in a spirit of cooperation and often friendship.
When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor everything changes. Martin once again finds himself in a place where racial hatred in all its ugly guises runs amok.
As the government turns the town’s airport into a Naval facility, conscripts his sons, and begins moving Japanese to internment camps, Martin’s forced to make a decision. Should he help a Japanese friend and risk the backlash of his neighbors? Or should he take the safer path of least resistance?
Whatever the decision, it will lead to his destiny and forever shape his American Dream.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 19, 2019
15 people are currently reading
492 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Anne King
3 books28 followersseries, featuring multicultural stories told from the heart.
Barbara was born and raised in Watsonville, California, a third-generation Croatian-American whose great, great uncles were pioneers in the town’s apple industry which they helped develop into the Apple Capital of the World. After graduating from UCLA with a political science degree, she headed east for a job on Capitol Hill. She also worked in broadcast journalism and corporate public affairs before trading the work world for the home front to raise three children. But while she may have left California, it never left her, and she remains a California Girl who is a proud new member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West. Barbara and her husband live in Connecticut.
www.barbaraanneking.com
author@barbaraanneking.com
Barbara was born and raised in Watsonville, California, a third-generation Croatian-American whose great, great uncles were pioneers in the town’s apple industry which they helped develop into the Apple Capital of the World. After graduating from UCLA with a political science degree, she headed east for a job on Capitol Hill. She also worked in broadcast journalism and corporate public affairs before trading the work world for the home front to raise three children. But while she may have left California, it never left her, and she remains a California Girl who is a proud new member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West. Barbara and her husband live in Connecticut.
www.barbaraanneking.com
author@barbaraanneking.com
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 19, 2019
I discovered this book on Goodreads. I was interested in reading this novel as it takes place in Watsonville, California. I live near Watsonville and was surprised someone would set their story in this small farming town. Watsonville is comprised primarily of the following ethic groups; Yugoslavian, Japanese, Mexican and native Indians from Mexico.
The book is well written and researched. King follows a young Croatian man, Martin Petrovitch from Croatia, to San Francisco to Watsonville. The story starts about 1900 when a sixteen-year-old boy, Martin, leaves Croatia to immigrate to America. He goes to San Francisco to work with a relative. He flees San Francisco in 1906 after the earthquake and moves to Watsonville. The story follows Martin and the town through WWI and WWII. I think King based her story on that of her grandfather who immigrated from Croatia to Watsonville. The story is great and very well told. I think I got even more enjoyment from it because I am familiar with the history of the town with its large Yugoslavian population. I highly recommend this book.
I read this as an e-book downloaded to my Kindle app on my iPad from Amazon. The book is 310 pages and was published on February 19, 2019.
The book is well written and researched. King follows a young Croatian man, Martin Petrovitch from Croatia, to San Francisco to Watsonville. The story starts about 1900 when a sixteen-year-old boy, Martin, leaves Croatia to immigrate to America. He goes to San Francisco to work with a relative. He flees San Francisco in 1906 after the earthquake and moves to Watsonville. The story follows Martin and the town through WWI and WWII. I think King based her story on that of her grandfather who immigrated from Croatia to Watsonville. The story is great and very well told. I think I got even more enjoyment from it because I am familiar with the history of the town with its large Yugoslavian population. I highly recommend this book.
I read this as an e-book downloaded to my Kindle app on my iPad from Amazon. The book is 310 pages and was published on February 19, 2019.
July 25, 2019
As a California girl myself, I was pleased to be given a copy of this book by Netgalley to read in exchange for feedback!
This book features impressive geographic hits throughout, starting in Croatia. I enjoyed Martin, and reading about his movements over the globe. Love for country, love won, love lost, chances taken - it's all in this book. He crosses the ocean, bounces in New York, and finally lands in Watsonville, California and from there grows his brood. The reader follows his experience of life in that area.
The next part of the book deals with World War II and how it affects the community, Martin and his family.
All that said, the story felt rushed along a timeline of events, places and people. I wanted more development of some of that - there's more material in this than just one book! The brothers in war, and all the distresses and damage of war could have been a book separate and apart, but related to Martin's story. From time to time there were statements that are informed by today's thinking, and that brought me out of the story. I doubt few people cared about community "diversity and unity" in those days and in those places, or thought those particular words to themselves in the 40's. Those are words from today's culture.
Still, it was good to read and think of all those who travel to other nations, bringing their hearts and hopes and hands to grow our world into a better place. Every single one of us have an immigrant's knapsack hanging on many branches in our lovely family trees. I'm glad the author shared hers in this book.
This book features impressive geographic hits throughout, starting in Croatia. I enjoyed Martin, and reading about his movements over the globe. Love for country, love won, love lost, chances taken - it's all in this book. He crosses the ocean, bounces in New York, and finally lands in Watsonville, California and from there grows his brood. The reader follows his experience of life in that area.
The next part of the book deals with World War II and how it affects the community, Martin and his family.
All that said, the story felt rushed along a timeline of events, places and people. I wanted more development of some of that - there's more material in this than just one book! The brothers in war, and all the distresses and damage of war could have been a book separate and apart, but related to Martin's story. From time to time there were statements that are informed by today's thinking, and that brought me out of the story. I doubt few people cared about community "diversity and unity" in those days and in those places, or thought those particular words to themselves in the 40's. Those are words from today's culture.
Still, it was good to read and think of all those who travel to other nations, bringing their hearts and hopes and hands to grow our world into a better place. Every single one of us have an immigrant's knapsack hanging on many branches in our lovely family trees. I'm glad the author shared hers in this book.
March 30, 2019
Barbara King has written a sweeping history of what is her own hometown, Watsonville, California.
She presents the perfect protagonist, a fine, decent Croatian immigrant, Martin Petrovich, who is determined to make a life for himself and eventually his family in spite of any difficulties he encounters. His immigrant journey takes him across the sea from Dubrovnick at age. 16, across America on a freight train, and on to the adventure of first love, the opening of a restaurant, and the luck of numerous helping hands from an extended loving -- and enterprising-- family.
The story follows Martin and his family through the sweep of World War II into old age. Martin is an upstanding, kind citizen and the decisions he makes to help others in his farming community, as war and other disasters threaten to tear him and the town of Watsonville apart, pull the reader along. His kindnesses to family members, employees of various ethnic backgrounds, Japanese neighbors who are sent to internment camp and more, make this book fine and inspiring reading.
The bombing of Pearl Harbor is pivotal to the many threads of this novel. The nobility of Martin is its whole cloth.
On a personal note, this book has reminded me to try to be a better person every day.
She presents the perfect protagonist, a fine, decent Croatian immigrant, Martin Petrovich, who is determined to make a life for himself and eventually his family in spite of any difficulties he encounters. His immigrant journey takes him across the sea from Dubrovnick at age. 16, across America on a freight train, and on to the adventure of first love, the opening of a restaurant, and the luck of numerous helping hands from an extended loving -- and enterprising-- family.
The story follows Martin and his family through the sweep of World War II into old age. Martin is an upstanding, kind citizen and the decisions he makes to help others in his farming community, as war and other disasters threaten to tear him and the town of Watsonville apart, pull the reader along. His kindnesses to family members, employees of various ethnic backgrounds, Japanese neighbors who are sent to internment camp and more, make this book fine and inspiring reading.
The bombing of Pearl Harbor is pivotal to the many threads of this novel. The nobility of Martin is its whole cloth.
On a personal note, this book has reminded me to try to be a better person every day.
August 25, 2024
Just the facts ma’am. I was so looking forward to this book, but it is totally uninspiring. The author just goes though the actions as if it were an eighth grade history assignment. It’s written in the third person and just lists a sequence of events , devoid of any insight or heart of the main character. I couldn’t finish it.
April 2, 2019
An inspiring read. As an immigrant from a homogeneous homeland navigating the diverse American landscape, the protagonist realizes the importance of assimilation and acceptance.
The epic global events of the past century form a framework for the novel. The author adds fascinating historical tidbits to a uniquely personal account to flesh out the experience of a European immigrant.
In this era of xenophobia, this story is a timely reminder that individual efforts and friendships have a positive impact on communities.
The epic global events of the past century form a framework for the novel. The author adds fascinating historical tidbits to a uniquely personal account to flesh out the experience of a European immigrant.
In this era of xenophobia, this story is a timely reminder that individual efforts and friendships have a positive impact on communities.
July 15, 2019
The California Immigrant by Barbara Anne King
This tale of a Croatian immigrant coming to California reads like an YA primer for American history from WWI to WWII. The author has done her research into the important events throughout the story, but it seems the characters are there in equal measure to the history.
Young Martin starts a family in the San Francisco area, and the story covers decades of happenings for him and his family. The author uses a lot of superlatives for her characters, as they are all just perfect at everything.
King uses a lot of trite expressions which may be new to young readers, but have lost their punch for most adults.The usual old fashioned stereotypes-unacceptable by today’s standards, but true to the times written about-are there: mostly about women, foreigners and others. There are many religious references in the story, and some marital love scenes, which are pretty PG rated.
I’m not sure of the the glowing reviews ahead of mine, but this wasn’t the book for me. I’ll give the novel three stars, however, as I sense it would appeal to a certain group of young historical fiction readers.
This tale of a Croatian immigrant coming to California reads like an YA primer for American history from WWI to WWII. The author has done her research into the important events throughout the story, but it seems the characters are there in equal measure to the history.
Young Martin starts a family in the San Francisco area, and the story covers decades of happenings for him and his family. The author uses a lot of superlatives for her characters, as they are all just perfect at everything.
King uses a lot of trite expressions which may be new to young readers, but have lost their punch for most adults.The usual old fashioned stereotypes-unacceptable by today’s standards, but true to the times written about-are there: mostly about women, foreigners and others. There are many religious references in the story, and some marital love scenes, which are pretty PG rated.
I’m not sure of the the glowing reviews ahead of mine, but this wasn’t the book for me. I’ll give the novel three stars, however, as I sense it would appeal to a certain group of young historical fiction readers.
August 9, 2019
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review and I am so glad I received it.
This is a fascinating historical story that traces the history of an immigrant from Croatia who arrives in San Francisco in 1904 to go to work with his uncle and learn to be a chef and build his family and their fortune. Their American Dream.
The span of his life offers a timeline with the history of San Francisco and Monterey Bay area from 1904 through the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, the first and second world wars and the Korean
War. Because it was a story of one family and the friends and neighbors, children and grandchildren, history just flowed through the story.
Because I lived for awhile in San Francisco and San Jose and our son now lives in Monterey, the history and interactions of the many nationalities in this area was educational. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with factual backgrounds. I loved it and lost sleep one night because I could not put it down.
I loved the book!
This is a fascinating historical story that traces the history of an immigrant from Croatia who arrives in San Francisco in 1904 to go to work with his uncle and learn to be a chef and build his family and their fortune. Their American Dream.
The span of his life offers a timeline with the history of San Francisco and Monterey Bay area from 1904 through the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, the first and second world wars and the Korean
War. Because it was a story of one family and the friends and neighbors, children and grandchildren, history just flowed through the story.
Because I lived for awhile in San Francisco and San Jose and our son now lives in Monterey, the history and interactions of the many nationalities in this area was educational. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with factual backgrounds. I loved it and lost sleep one night because I could not put it down.
I loved the book!
December 16, 2020
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, I’ll be honest. I have mixed feelings about this book. I’ll start with the positives. I loved the immigration stories and the main character, Martin, did such a good job at building bridges between his neighbors and friends of different cultures. But, this book covers SO MUCH TIME. In one paragraph, someone’s pregnant. In the next, the baby is here! I understand the author wanting to cover Martin’s life in its entirety, but I sometimes felt like events were rushed. Besides that, I really did think it was a nice story!
Okay, I’ll be honest. I have mixed feelings about this book. I’ll start with the positives. I loved the immigration stories and the main character, Martin, did such a good job at building bridges between his neighbors and friends of different cultures. But, this book covers SO MUCH TIME. In one paragraph, someone’s pregnant. In the next, the baby is here! I understand the author wanting to cover Martin’s life in its entirety, but I sometimes felt like events were rushed. Besides that, I really did think it was a nice story!
July 13, 2019
Multigenerational multicultural saga. A young man young man travels from Dubrovnik to San Francisco. He becomes an upstanding, successful citizen and bears witness to most major events of the 20th century. It was very interesting the way the author tied those events into his family history. At the same time, because it spanned so many years with so many characters it seemed a bit over ambitious at times.
I’d like to thankNet Galley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.75*
I’d like to thankNet Galley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.75*
July 24, 2019
The California Immigrant is an enjoyable read that follows the lifespan of a Croatian immigrant Martin Petrovich to the United States in the early 1900s. Using the backdrop of Watsonville, California--a small town near San Francisco-- the author provides a story of attaining the American Dream while seamlessly intertwining the major historical events in the first half of the 1900s starting with the San Francisco earthquake in 1906 to the Korean War to the election of John F. Kennedy in 1960. This story would appeal to any reader who enjoys history and the immigrant story.
August 6, 2019
The story of an immigrant, who has to rebuild his life many times over.
This book is well researched and takes the reader to another time. Reading about the life of a person, across his lifetime is a precious experience and we get to enjoy that in this book. Especially as that also includes glimpses into the history that we have only read in the school curriculum.
I would recommend this book to everyone who loves reading historical fiction.
For more book reviews, visit Frost At Midnite.
This book is well researched and takes the reader to another time. Reading about the life of a person, across his lifetime is a precious experience and we get to enjoy that in this book. Especially as that also includes glimpses into the history that we have only read in the school curriculum.
I would recommend this book to everyone who loves reading historical fiction.
For more book reviews, visit Frost At Midnite.
November 18, 2024
I really wanted to like this book. I too immigrated to California, but fortunately at a time when I have not had to deal with all the historical trials Martin lived through. The book promised so many of my favorite topics; WWII history, California history, good people in challenging times. But I only continued reading it because I had to see the story through. I found the writing stilted, and editorial errors jarring.
March 17, 2019
An immigrant story of family, faith, and perseverance, spanning seven decades of California and world history. King focuses on the life's journey of one Croatian man in one small town to illuminate broader themes of ethnic strife, racism, and the struggles for prosperity and justice.
September 16, 2019
Congrats on the book - it’s a fantastic read and so consuming that even my 9year old boy is fully into it as well! Well written and gripping story! Congrats again and look forward to reading more of your work!
May 29, 2019
I enjoyed The California Immigrant . I never read a book about Watsonville and About Yugoslavia . Martin was a good character.i like the book. I would recommend it.
July 6, 2019
The story was interesting but it just wasn’t very well written.
October 19, 2024
I had hopes but the book disappointed me. The author did not do enough research on the Croatian culture.
January 3, 2022
An interesting read that was a great stroll through history. The story of a Croatian immigrant who comes to America and through perseverance and hard work makes a success of himself and his family in spite of earthquake, the Depression and WWII.
April 26, 2020
Barbara Anne King brings us a condensed saga on the success of the hardworking, God-fearing Croatian immigrants in California as they become ideal Americans.
Allegedly inspired by her own family history, Ms King tells the story of Martin Petrovich, a man of constant moral superiority, who leaves his native Croatia a pauper, but once in California works hard to establish successful businesses, inspire his family and community, serve in WWI, have his sons become WWII heroes, and eventually become major of his town.
This is a tale exemplifying the importance of freedom, aspiration, historical relevance, mettle, and the values of the Western world – never clearer than at the end of the story, when successful Petrovich returns to visit his struggling elderly sisters in Communist Yugoslavia.
Who would enjoy this
This is a book for those who want a feel good, from rags to riches American Dream story. It also provides an interesting insight into a particular community, as well as into the microcosm of the California rural ethic groups at very trying times.
If you are a reader who likes sagas, but cannot find the time for N volumes on a family’s lifespan, this could well satisfy the urge. Similarly, if you like history but not reading books on actual history, Ms King’s narrative will provide a lot of minutiae on the main events of a bit over 50 years.
Who should give this a pass
If you are world history and politically savvy, this story may not be for you. The narrative is heavily loaded with an agenda, as well as a religious angle, which probably are only really palatable to similarly minded readers.
If you don’t mind these characteristics, but do mind stilted dialogues with a clear aim to instruct, this book is not for you, either.
Conclusion and suggestions
The chance to witness the inner workings of a specific minority community in America, particularly at a time of such conflict with the whole immigrant question, is a great premise. Particularly because, in this story, there are no ‘American born’ WASP characters to be seen. On the contrary, Watsonville comes out of these pages as populated merely by migrants: Croatians, Japanese, Chinese, Mexicans, and the odd Jew (defined by his ethnicity, rather than nationality). Martin Petrovich’s clear desire to integrate and do away with racism is sadly curtailed by the underlying racism in the story, which are left unresolved: the whole uproar regarding the Chetnik film, the constant lack of full trust in Hector, the superiority of America over any other nation presented, etc.
Instead, Ms King repeatedly describes food, feasts, and attires, and leaves the reader to wonder at the real questions brought up: how did the Croatian community react to the rise of Tito? What happened to the black soldiers that befriended whites while in combat, once they returned to America? Why did the US and USSR engage in a cold war? What was the effect of American presence and politics in Europe and Asia after the wars? Or, how can they confuse the Baltic republics with the Ukraine? Considering Ms King’s professional background, these omissions/mistakes are quite a let down.
This book has a clear agenda, and it does very little to hide it. It is as clear and pedantic as the stilted dialogues full of needless data and high-faluttin’ language. As a result, its reader pool will necessarily be reduced to a very specific demographic.
Given this book as a draft, I would allocate a solid, no-nonsense editor to handle it. The ideas are good; the delivery, less so.
Allegedly inspired by her own family history, Ms King tells the story of Martin Petrovich, a man of constant moral superiority, who leaves his native Croatia a pauper, but once in California works hard to establish successful businesses, inspire his family and community, serve in WWI, have his sons become WWII heroes, and eventually become major of his town.
This is a tale exemplifying the importance of freedom, aspiration, historical relevance, mettle, and the values of the Western world – never clearer than at the end of the story, when successful Petrovich returns to visit his struggling elderly sisters in Communist Yugoslavia.
Who would enjoy this
This is a book for those who want a feel good, from rags to riches American Dream story. It also provides an interesting insight into a particular community, as well as into the microcosm of the California rural ethic groups at very trying times.
If you are a reader who likes sagas, but cannot find the time for N volumes on a family’s lifespan, this could well satisfy the urge. Similarly, if you like history but not reading books on actual history, Ms King’s narrative will provide a lot of minutiae on the main events of a bit over 50 years.
Who should give this a pass
If you are world history and politically savvy, this story may not be for you. The narrative is heavily loaded with an agenda, as well as a religious angle, which probably are only really palatable to similarly minded readers.
If you don’t mind these characteristics, but do mind stilted dialogues with a clear aim to instruct, this book is not for you, either.
Conclusion and suggestions
The chance to witness the inner workings of a specific minority community in America, particularly at a time of such conflict with the whole immigrant question, is a great premise. Particularly because, in this story, there are no ‘American born’ WASP characters to be seen. On the contrary, Watsonville comes out of these pages as populated merely by migrants: Croatians, Japanese, Chinese, Mexicans, and the odd Jew (defined by his ethnicity, rather than nationality). Martin Petrovich’s clear desire to integrate and do away with racism is sadly curtailed by the underlying racism in the story, which are left unresolved: the whole uproar regarding the Chetnik film, the constant lack of full trust in Hector, the superiority of America over any other nation presented, etc.
Instead, Ms King repeatedly describes food, feasts, and attires, and leaves the reader to wonder at the real questions brought up: how did the Croatian community react to the rise of Tito? What happened to the black soldiers that befriended whites while in combat, once they returned to America? Why did the US and USSR engage in a cold war? What was the effect of American presence and politics in Europe and Asia after the wars? Or, how can they confuse the Baltic republics with the Ukraine? Considering Ms King’s professional background, these omissions/mistakes are quite a let down.
This book has a clear agenda, and it does very little to hide it. It is as clear and pedantic as the stilted dialogues full of needless data and high-faluttin’ language. As a result, its reader pool will necessarily be reduced to a very specific demographic.
Given this book as a draft, I would allocate a solid, no-nonsense editor to handle it. The ideas are good; the delivery, less so.
June 30, 2019
IMO this book needs work before releasing.
I decided to try the "read now" section of Net Galley. The California Immigrant sounded interesting. I chose it and downloaded it to my Kindle for an honest review.
At 5% I kept asking myself, do I really have to finish this? But I kept reading to 25% but quit there. I am sorry. I have never been one to care about wording or grammar while reading a book. The story itself is most important to me.
I have NEVER left a review if I felt a book was less than a 3. This is a first and it is ONLY because it has not yet been released and I feel that it can be greatly improved before releasing it to the public.
I truly feel if the book was rewritten with the same plot, characters and scenery, it could be a great book. I would personally love to re-read it after it gets reworked.
Here is what my issues with this book are...
Do you remember when back in high school when your English teacher kept telling you that you need to show, not tell?
The following is a quote from writingcooperative.com:
"3 Ways to Show, Not Tell Your Story.
Write your scenes so that they take place in real time. ...
Use description, action, and/or dialogue to put your reader in the story, but be careful to give just enough detail to trigger their imagination. ...
Avoid telling your readers about your characters' emotions."
Unfortunately, this author does not do this. 3/4's of the book thus far has been past tense. And on the one page in the same "scene", there is more than one tense used. Tense is very inconsistent.
I almost want to say that this is also told in "passive voice" as well but I'm not positive if it fits the full definition of that. But to me, it feels like it.
Here is a quote from chapter 18 of the book that bothers me.
"Martin had what all good chefs needed, and that was timing. Since the diners were one family who wanted to enjoy their meal together, it was important all of their entree arrived at the table at the same time. But until they did, Martin provided them with some little appetizers of tiny fried shrimp and calamari that Croatians are usually crazy about. He knew that would buy him some time while the customers indulged themselves. Most of the meals that were ordered required quick last-minute cooking with the exception of the bakalar, which had been simmering for hours just like Aunt Mirna's on Christmas Eve."
As you can see in this partial paragraph, it has parts of a great story, but it's just missing something because of the tenses used. I never understood the problem until this book.
I'm sorry to have given an English lesson, but I needed to justify my opinion here. ALL of the other reviews here are 4* or 5*s. Everyone enjoyed the book. I just could NOT get through it.
TO THE PUBLISHER AND AUTHOR, I would love to get a new ARC AFTER it has been re-written.
I decided to try the "read now" section of Net Galley. The California Immigrant sounded interesting. I chose it and downloaded it to my Kindle for an honest review.
At 5% I kept asking myself, do I really have to finish this? But I kept reading to 25% but quit there. I am sorry. I have never been one to care about wording or grammar while reading a book. The story itself is most important to me.
I have NEVER left a review if I felt a book was less than a 3. This is a first and it is ONLY because it has not yet been released and I feel that it can be greatly improved before releasing it to the public.
I truly feel if the book was rewritten with the same plot, characters and scenery, it could be a great book. I would personally love to re-read it after it gets reworked.
Here is what my issues with this book are...
Do you remember when back in high school when your English teacher kept telling you that you need to show, not tell?
The following is a quote from writingcooperative.com:
"3 Ways to Show, Not Tell Your Story.
Write your scenes so that they take place in real time. ...
Use description, action, and/or dialogue to put your reader in the story, but be careful to give just enough detail to trigger their imagination. ...
Avoid telling your readers about your characters' emotions."
Unfortunately, this author does not do this. 3/4's of the book thus far has been past tense. And on the one page in the same "scene", there is more than one tense used. Tense is very inconsistent.
I almost want to say that this is also told in "passive voice" as well but I'm not positive if it fits the full definition of that. But to me, it feels like it.
Here is a quote from chapter 18 of the book that bothers me.
"Martin had what all good chefs needed, and that was timing. Since the diners were one family who wanted to enjoy their meal together, it was important all of their entree arrived at the table at the same time. But until they did, Martin provided them with some little appetizers of tiny fried shrimp and calamari that Croatians are usually crazy about. He knew that would buy him some time while the customers indulged themselves. Most of the meals that were ordered required quick last-minute cooking with the exception of the bakalar, which had been simmering for hours just like Aunt Mirna's on Christmas Eve."
As you can see in this partial paragraph, it has parts of a great story, but it's just missing something because of the tenses used. I never understood the problem until this book.
I'm sorry to have given an English lesson, but I needed to justify my opinion here. ALL of the other reviews here are 4* or 5*s. Everyone enjoyed the book. I just could NOT get through it.
TO THE PUBLISHER AND AUTHOR, I would love to get a new ARC AFTER it has been re-written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2020
This historical fiction novel is a well-researched account of a young Croatian man as his life unfolds in Northern California in the first half of the twentieth century. The text is full of interesting period details and news items, and the tale is cleanly delivered. Fans of California history and family sagas will find King's book extremely readable.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews