All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

"A bunch of girls left the fire, squealing and running to the makeshift dance floor in the sand to sing along, spelling out RESPECT at the top of their lungs. Jocelyn and I jumped up, dashing down the dock to join them. None of us could dance to save our lives. And most of us couldn't carry a tune in a bucket.  But it was summer and we were young and for just a minute or two we could forget about all the madness in the world." (p187)

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

June 2019; Revell; 978-0800736347
audio, ebook, print (450 pages); historical fiction

I graduated from high school and college during the 1960s and could definitely relate to the characters in this fantastic new book by Susie Finkbeiner. I knew people during this time who were just like this family and the main characters - especially Annie - who were all trying to find peace in their small family during a turbulent time in our history.

Annie is 18 years old and living in a small town in Michigan with her mother, her older brother Mike and her younger brother Joel. Their father left the family years before and is not part of their lives. The year is 1967 and the Vietnam War is affecting everyone - whether it's watching the evening news reports on the war or having a friend or neighbor get drafted and sent to fight. This novel is about how war affects everyone and changes their lives. The only way to survive the unsettled times was through love and care of other people - your family and friends, your church and your community.

For some people, this book will be considered historical fiction - events that happened before they were born. For me, it was a picture of life in small-town America during this time. The family in this novel are very real and brought back many memories to me of growing up during this time. The author's historical references about the clothes and the music and the innocence of many of the people is absolutely correct.

I have lots of books in my house. Most of my books get passed on to my friends. My most favorite books - a very small percentage - stay on my KEEP FOREVER shelf, never to be given away or even loaned out. All Manner of Things now has a place on the KEEP FOREVER shelf. I loved this book and this family and won't soon forget them.

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Susan Roberts lives in North Carolina when she isn't traveling. She and her husband enjoy traveling, gardening and spending time with their family and friends. She reads almost anything (and the piles of books in her house prove that) but her favorite genres are Southern fiction, women's fiction, and thrillers. Susan is a top 1% Goodreads Reviewer. You can connect with Susan on Facebook, Goodreads, or Twitter. 

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