A Good American

By: Alex George

Narrated by: Gibson Frazier

An uplifting novel about the families we create and the places we call home.

It is 1904. When Frederick and Jette must flee her disapproving mother, where better to go than America, the land of the new? Originally set to board a boat to New York, at the last minute, they take one destined for New Orleans instead ("What's the difference? They're both new.") and later find themselves, more by chance than by design, in the small town of Beatrice, Missouri. Not speaking a word of English, they embark on their new life together.

Beatrice is populated with unforgettable characters: a jazz trumpeter from the Big Easy who cooks a mean gumbo, a teenage boy trapped in the body of a giant, a pretty schoolteacher who helps the young men in town learn about a lot more than just music, a minister who believes he has witnessed the Second Coming of Christ, and a malevolent, bicycle-riding dwarf.

A Good American is narrated by Frederick and Jette's grandson, James, who, in telling his ancestors' story, comes to realize he doesn't know his own story at all. From bare-knuckle prizefighting and Prohibition to sweet barbershop harmonies, the Kennedy assassination, and beyond, James's family is caught up in the sweep of history. Each new generation discovers afresh what it means to be an American. And, in the process, Frederick and Jette's progeny sometimes discover more about themselves than they had bargained for.

Poignant, funny, and heartbreaking, A Good American is a novel about being an outsider - in your country, in your hometown, and sometimes even in your own family. It is a universal story about our search for home.

©2012 Alex George (P)2012 Penguin

I liked the idea but...

Would you consider the audio edition of A Good American to be better than the print version?

Probably

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The most interesting aspect was the immigration; the insurmountable hurdles these folks had to go through yet did so with all their hearts and souls. They appreciated America more than their offspring ever could.

What does Gibson Frazier bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He's a good narrator and made the accents believable giving it the authenticity of immigration.

If you could take any character from A Good American out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I would like to take the original immigrants, Frederick and Jette, to dinner. It would be an amazing experience to discuss the strength it took to board a ship going to a new country with no prospects for employment, housing or medical... And Jette was nearly full term in a pregnancy that led to all the events of the book. Terrifying what immigrants went through back then.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the early part of the book but less so with each subsequent generation.

Stay with it....

Initally, it was a challenge to stay interested in this family saga, but it grew on me as the story found its rhythm. The characters are both charming, maddening and eccentric, and the narrative has both high and low points, some gentle humor and moments of sadness. Stay with it, there is a lovely story here. ( and a revelation near the end that I did NOT expect. ).

Fully developed characters

Epic in scale. Beautifully told. Characters are interesting and real. Great read. All of his books are worth a listen

Deeeeelightful!

Alex George artfully crafts a delightful story of generations of an immigrant family, richly colored with well drawn characters and events. Through triumph and tragedy, the story weaves itself into American fabric. Wonderfully written and narrated.

Amazing story

Where does A Good American rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of my favorites of all the audio books I've listened to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Good American?

Any part that Lomax was in.

Any additional comments?

The narration is amazing for this story. I hope he'll do more in the future. He really brought the characters to life.

Live takes a turn

Where does A Good American rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

1

What did you like best about this story?

The follow-through of the characters with great descriptions.

What about Gibson Frazier’s performance did you like?

Good flow and voice inflection.

If you could rename A Good American, what would you call it?

Secret Mother

Any additional comments?

Well written book.

A Good Story

Excuse the pun. I couldn't resist.
At times hilarious. At times heartbreaking. Alex weaves a beautiful tapestry of not one, but two tales. First, a fictional family's immigration to the US and the generations that follow. Secondly, the story of a changing America as seen through the eyes of those immigrants.
It is well worth a read and you won't be disappointed.

Fascinating

Wonderfully told of a family who venture
To a new country and experienced love, sadness, regrets and joy. I enjoyed how
The family secrets finally emerged with
great surprises.

Nice story & listen

Where does A Good American rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very enjoyable listen. It is a good story and the narration was well done.

Who was the most memorable character of A Good American and why?

Actually I enjoyed James the narrator the most. His insight and personal reflections about his family and their varied lives was realistic.

Good book.

I enjoyed it from begging to end. Many generational lessons to be learned. Missouri native