Review of A Simple Kind of Man

Emily_Jen · Post by **Emily_Jen** » 10 Feb 2022, 03:10

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Simple Kind of Man" by Graham Helsabeck.]

4 out of 4 stars

Share This Review

A Simple Kind of Man by Graham Helsabeck is a historical fiction novel based on the life of Curt Hinkleman. Curt was a man that lived a simple life. He was seen by some as a hero. Curt didn’t die when a freight train pounded his truck and tossed him into an adjoining field. He didn’t die when he leaped from a dump truck as it tumbled into the abyss. Death did not defeat Curt when he lurched into a fire that engulfed his neighbor’s home. Who is Curt Hinkleman, and what is so special about him?

The author starts with the history of how Curt’s parents left Germany for America during the war in 1922 and how Curt was born shortly after that. We then see how Curt’s passion led him to willingly enroll in the army to defend his family’s new country against Japan and Germany. The writer then describes how he returned after the war to meet Marsh Kane, as well as the events that led to their union. Readers would then see different experiences of Curt’s life through the eyes of his wife, children, and grandchild. Through this read, readers would see that human beings can realize a peaceful and pleasant existence without the shadow of wealth or fame.

This is a good book. I like how the book is divided into chapters with different family members as narrators for each chapter. Because of this, I was able to understand the relationship each character shared with Curt. Also, I appreciated that each narrator had a different style of speech, which made the narration seem real. For example, Curt’s manner of speaking and his vocabulary were different from that of Harrison, his grandson. The plot of the story is consistent as well. I had no confusion throughout the story, and each event had some relevance to the next.

I also like how the author made me attached to Curt’s family. I felt like I was there in person to watch when Curt met Marsh for the very first time on the dance floor, as well as all the challenges they faced as a family before and after their beautiful daughters were born. I was sad during their trying times and happy for their successes. It’s more like I watched how four generations of the family navigated through life. Additionally, there are several lessons to learn from not just Curt’s life but also other characters in the publication. In Harrison’s narration, he explained how people would become happier when they lead a simple life. Needless to say, the characters are developed expertly. Each character had their separate chapters, so I was able to decipher their personalities while reading through their experiences with Curt and how they reacted to them.

Readers would also find something to laugh about in this book. When I read about the stories Cliff told Curt's daughters when they were younger, I couldn’t hold back my laughter. The way he twisted myths to incorporate himself in them and leave the girls in awe was refreshing to read. Cliff, in the book, is Curt's close friend.

The only thing I didn’t enjoy about this book is that some parts of Harrison’s narration seemed difficult to understand because of what seemed to me as “numerous figures of speech” that he tried to incorporate into almost every sentence. Nonetheless, I rate the novel 4 out of 4 stars. Moreover, the book is professionally edited since I found only a few errors that didn’t detract from my enjoyment. I recommend this edition to people that are interested in reading about other people’s lives. Note that the text has some profanity.

******
A Simple Kind of Man
View: on Bookshelves

Fareed Regal · Post by **Fareed Regal** » 20 Feb 2022, 16:23

Curt most certainly has a knack for staying alive. On top of surviving the war, he also had three near-death experiences that nine times out of ten would have resulted in a fatality. From the review, it would seem that Curt made the most of his luck. Thank you for a very detailed and insightful review.

Post by **Chijindu Ifedigbo** » 23 Feb 2022, 16:43

Curt story really showed me the importance of Living a simple life and i also learnt about the incident that happened world war in 1922. Thanks for sharing this honest review