ARA Review by Clare Blando of Dear American Brother
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Clare Blando
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ARA Review by Clare Blando of Dear American Brother
[Following is an OnlineBookClub.org ARA Review of the book, Dear American Brother.]
Seldom does a novel stir as many emotions as Dear American Brother by Joe J. Elder. It is not only a story of great human strength and perseverance, but also one of the unspeakable atrocities of Communism. I rate Dear American Brother five out of five stars.
The story begins at the end of World War One and follows siblings Kurt, Loni, and Hans Gerein who live in the German community of Chornov, in Ukraine. After the war, the parents send their oldest son, Kurt, to America, although brother Hans has always had that dream. Shortly after, the kids’ father is conscripted into the army and is never heard from again. During a Red Army raid, a rich landowner is murdered and his land confiscated. Local families are granted ten acres, which they must farm and hand over a large portion of grain to the State. While attempting to flee the Red Army, the grandfather is murdered, and for years Hans carries guilt over the death. He leaves to perform his military service as Russia demands of all young males. When Hans returns from the army, he asks his childhood sweetheart to marry him, and they soon have a baby daughter. Feeling the oppression that is crushing local families, the Gerein family gathers the paperwork, and the bribes, necessary to emigrate to America. Unfortunately, the train tickets are stolen from the mail in another devastating blow to Hans and the family. Under Stalin’s leadership, Hans witnesses more land being confiscated, boyhood friends being taken away, and produce from communal farms taxed and seized for the Communist Party. Things go from bad to worse. Hans blames himself for another death he couldn’t have prevented, another chance to go to America falls through the cracks, and Hans is sent to prison not knowing what happened to his wife and daughter. Hans escapes prison and returns to more hardship in Chornov. During World War Two, the brothers find themselves fighting on opposite sides but are briefly reunited when the war ends.
This novel confirms the brutal nature of Communism and its corrupting influence on men who might otherwise have been decent human beings. Just when a measure of hope surfaces in Hans Gerein’s life, it is snatched away in the most distressing and ruthless way. From multiple attempts to leave for America, to the deaths of beloved family members, Hans’ dreams are dashed again and again. Nevertheless, he continues to endure and move forward under the worst circumstances. Tears came to my eyes when Hans laments that he had always tried to be hard-working, honest, and sincere. The story is full of hope and heartbreak. It’s fast-paced and exceptionally well-written.
In addition to the innate horrors of Communism, this story brought to mind a book that most people probably read in junior high, The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. It was the only other book that gave the feeling of things going from bad to worse, never improving, and leaving no way to escape. Because that book was written to highlight problems in the American meat packing industry in the early 1900s, I thought maybe Dear American Brother was composed to do much the same thing, namely; explain the devastating effects of Communism. Many Americans don’t fully understand the greed and corruption within a Communist culture that people must endure as they hope for change that is promised but never happens. The reader learns that in a Communist society, change is at the whim of its leaders and not with the people, as it is in America.
Another recurring theme in this excellent novel is lost opportunities, whether because of human error or just bad timing. For example, when Hans is a half hour late to meet his grandfather which results in his death, or when Hans and his daughter are late fleeing across the bridge to Germany before it’s blown up by the American army. Also lost is the opportunity to go to America when the tickets are stolen even though Hans had done everything in his power to prevent that. Again, like the helplessness felt while reading The Jungle, I asked myself many times during Dear American Brother, “What else can go wrong?”. If the purpose of this novel was to underscore the perils of Communism and the dark future it brings, then I believe it’s a success. As a matter of fact, it’s a novel that should be required reading in all high schools in America.
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View Dear American Brother on Bookshelves
Seldom does a novel stir as many emotions as Dear American Brother by Joe J. Elder. It is not only a story of great human strength and perseverance, but also one of the unspeakable atrocities of Communism. I rate Dear American Brother five out of five stars.
The story begins at the end of World War One and follows siblings Kurt, Loni, and Hans Gerein who live in the German community of Chornov, in Ukraine. After the war, the parents send their oldest son, Kurt, to America, although brother Hans has always had that dream. Shortly after, the kids’ father is conscripted into the army and is never heard from again. During a Red Army raid, a rich landowner is murdered and his land confiscated. Local families are granted ten acres, which they must farm and hand over a large portion of grain to the State. While attempting to flee the Red Army, the grandfather is murdered, and for years Hans carries guilt over the death. He leaves to perform his military service as Russia demands of all young males. When Hans returns from the army, he asks his childhood sweetheart to marry him, and they soon have a baby daughter. Feeling the oppression that is crushing local families, the Gerein family gathers the paperwork, and the bribes, necessary to emigrate to America. Unfortunately, the train tickets are stolen from the mail in another devastating blow to Hans and the family. Under Stalin’s leadership, Hans witnesses more land being confiscated, boyhood friends being taken away, and produce from communal farms taxed and seized for the Communist Party. Things go from bad to worse. Hans blames himself for another death he couldn’t have prevented, another chance to go to America falls through the cracks, and Hans is sent to prison not knowing what happened to his wife and daughter. Hans escapes prison and returns to more hardship in Chornov. During World War Two, the brothers find themselves fighting on opposite sides but are briefly reunited when the war ends.
This novel confirms the brutal nature of Communism and its corrupting influence on men who might otherwise have been decent human beings. Just when a measure of hope surfaces in Hans Gerein’s life, it is snatched away in the most distressing and ruthless way. From multiple attempts to leave for America, to the deaths of beloved family members, Hans’ dreams are dashed again and again. Nevertheless, he continues to endure and move forward under the worst circumstances. Tears came to my eyes when Hans laments that he had always tried to be hard-working, honest, and sincere. The story is full of hope and heartbreak. It’s fast-paced and exceptionally well-written.
In addition to the innate horrors of Communism, this story brought to mind a book that most people probably read in junior high, The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. It was the only other book that gave the feeling of things going from bad to worse, never improving, and leaving no way to escape. Because that book was written to highlight problems in the American meat packing industry in the early 1900s, I thought maybe Dear American Brother was composed to do much the same thing, namely; explain the devastating effects of Communism. Many Americans don’t fully understand the greed and corruption within a Communist culture that people must endure as they hope for change that is promised but never happens. The reader learns that in a Communist society, change is at the whim of its leaders and not with the people, as it is in America.
Another recurring theme in this excellent novel is lost opportunities, whether because of human error or just bad timing. For example, when Hans is a half hour late to meet his grandfather which results in his death, or when Hans and his daughter are late fleeing across the bridge to Germany before it’s blown up by the American army. Also lost is the opportunity to go to America when the tickets are stolen even though Hans had done everything in his power to prevent that. Again, like the helplessness felt while reading The Jungle, I asked myself many times during Dear American Brother, “What else can go wrong?”. If the purpose of this novel was to underscore the perils of Communism and the dark future it brings, then I believe it’s a success. As a matter of fact, it’s a novel that should be required reading in all high schools in America.
***
View Dear American Brother on Bookshelves
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joelder
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Hi Clare,
Thank you for reading the book and for the complimentary review.
Much appreciated.
Joe J. Elder
Thank you for reading the book and for the complimentary review.
Much appreciated.
Joe J. Elder
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tabithagisacho
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- Latest Review: Praesidium by McKinley Aspen
According to your review the novel Dear American brother is worth reading. It seems that it will leave many readers with mixed emotions. I will go back and read the book to be more satisfied.
Latest Review: Praesidium by McKinley Aspen
