When hasn't someone ever imagined a life better than the one they are currently living? That's just what Jack Rosenblum is doing not imagining. At the onset of World War II, Jack, his wife Sadie and their daughter, Elizabeth flee Berlin, Germany and head for London.
Along their journey, Jack receives a pamphlet instructing him on how to fit in as an imigrant now that they are living in England which Jack vows to spend his life perfecting. This basically involves being as English as possible, speaking English only, wearing and adhering to all English manners and customs.
Sadie isn't at all pleased to leave her former life behind and believes that trying to be something they're not is not what they should be doing and refuses to assimilate into a new lifestyle. She would rather head home to Israel and be with people like they are and not have to pretend to be someone else.
Jack is obsessed with becoming a proper English gentleman, from buying what he determines is just the right suit to be seen in, refraining from speaking Jewish and adhering to his Jewish customs. He begins his transformation in buying enough carpet in various colors and reselling back to new immigrants coming into London to make life more suitable. Turns out, Jack is on to something and he begins to see the possibilities of what he dreams is possible coming true. The only elusive thing missing in his life is becoming a member of a country club and playing golf. Will Jack find an elite club that will allow a Jewish man to become a member or will he forgo his dream of finally fitting in?
In the book, Mr. Rosenblum Dreams In English by Natasha Solomon, we find ourselves immersed in the lives of an immigrant family of the Rosenblums as they try and find a way to fit it when it seems that being Jewish hinders everything and place they try to live. It's about finding yourself along the way, and wondering what the consequences are of being something you aren't. I absolutely loved this story and easily rate it a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. I think the characters are well developed and the story line is so well written you feel as if you are part of the Rosenblum family.
This book is available in paperback, hardcover, CD and eBook formats. For more information on this book, the author and where to get a copy of this book, please click on the title below:
You can also visit Natasha's personal blog by clicking here.
Thanks to the generousity of the folks at Little, Brown and Company, a publishing division of Hachette Book Groups, they are offering to giveaway 5 copies of this amazing book along with a box of Walker's shortbread cookies for some lucky readers of my blog. Here are your guidelines:
1. You must be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.
2. You must be a resident of the US or Canada and No P.O. Boxes please.
3. I need a way to contact you via email if you are a winner, so please include it with your comment. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.
4. The giveaway will end on November 13th. Leave a comment and tell me why you'd love to win a copy of this book.
