Scan barcode
turquoiseavenue's review against another edition
4.0
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell at Baker Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts below are my own.
All Manner of Things drew me in from the first few pages. The characters were so very relatable, coming to life for me as I found myself comparing them to members of my own family, or even myself. As the story wove through the fibers of this family and the ways in which they dealt with Frank’s abandonment, return and Mike’s going to war, the story stirred my heart and soul.
This book is very well written, touching on a wide variety of circumstances that families often find themself dealing with such as an elderly grandparent with dementia, single motherhood, PTSD, duty, fear, faith, first love, racism and death. Finkbeiner masterfully crafts a story that is heartwarming, tender and touching. I enjoyed that All Manner of Things was from Annie’s point of view as she experiences coming into adulthood and watching her family change, grow and strengthen. The inserts of letters and reel-to-reel recordings is a stroke of genius on the author’s part as I found myself enjoying those the most. I haven’t read very many stories in this time era, 1960’s American during the Vietnam war, and I enjoyed it. Parts of the book reminded me episodes of the popular fiction tv show, This is Us on NBC.
The novel wraps up with an emotional ending that truly drew me to tears, even if it was predictable. My recommendation is to give All Manner of Things a read. I’m certain you’ll find the Jacobsons walk right into your heart and home, surrounding you with feelings that we as a human race all face similar situations and that even in the midst of that, our faith and our family are the two most important things we have.
All Manner of Things drew me in from the first few pages. The characters were so very relatable, coming to life for me as I found myself comparing them to members of my own family, or even myself. As the story wove through the fibers of this family and the ways in which they dealt with Frank’s abandonment, return and Mike’s going to war, the story stirred my heart and soul.
This book is very well written, touching on a wide variety of circumstances that families often find themself dealing with such as an elderly grandparent with dementia, single motherhood, PTSD, duty, fear, faith, first love, racism and death. Finkbeiner masterfully crafts a story that is heartwarming, tender and touching. I enjoyed that All Manner of Things was from Annie’s point of view as she experiences coming into adulthood and watching her family change, grow and strengthen. The inserts of letters and reel-to-reel recordings is a stroke of genius on the author’s part as I found myself enjoying those the most. I haven’t read very many stories in this time era, 1960’s American during the Vietnam war, and I enjoyed it. Parts of the book reminded me episodes of the popular fiction tv show, This is Us on NBC.
The novel wraps up with an emotional ending that truly drew me to tears, even if it was predictable. My recommendation is to give All Manner of Things a read. I’m certain you’ll find the Jacobsons walk right into your heart and home, surrounding you with feelings that we as a human race all face similar situations and that even in the midst of that, our faith and our family are the two most important things we have.
bails_bookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
eckermama's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It is sooo hard for me to decide how to write this review. I’m not actually sure where I stand on All Manner of Things.
On the one hand, the characters were so well-written with depth, reality, and relatability. I enjoyed the depiction of a 1960s small-town community and the issues that gripped the country at that time. These are things that kept drawing me back to reading this book.
The plot however… it was so.very.slow until near the end. The story really was just a snapshot of the life of a family within a particular time period. I think if I had known this ahead of time, I would have savored and enjoyed the book so much more.
With that, I think I will give it 4 stars because the characters have found their way into my heart.
On the one hand, the characters were so well-written with depth, reality, and relatability. I enjoyed the depiction of a 1960s small-town community and the issues that gripped the country at that time. These are things that kept drawing me back to reading this book.
The plot however… it was so.very.slow until near the end. The story really was just a snapshot of the life of a family within a particular time period. I think if I had known this ahead of time, I would have savored and enjoyed the book so much more.
With that, I think I will give it 4 stars because the characters have found their way into my heart.
ashleyjean6's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I haven't cried this much over a book in a long time. Couldn't put it down. I loved the characters. I will miss them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Racism, Death, Grief, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexism
theseasoul's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
|| 5 ⭐️ ||
First five-star of the year already! I just loved this. A historical fiction surrounding the Vietnam war, single POV, following the lives of the family left behind by their brother and son when he enlists in the army.
One word I’d use to describe this book is “genuine”. The characters’ lives and interactions with each other felt so tangible and natural, there were many instances where I even forgot I was only reading a book. The characters’ personalities and quirks felt so very authentic. I even found myself chuckling over Mike’s letters home as though he were my own older brother. As though I were Annie, living in her mind.
Simply a beautiful book in every possible way. It’s not often that I finish a historical fiction read feeling so at peace. Somehow it was so relaxing to read in spite of the tension and dark nature of war.
jenn_kidd's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely fell in love with the characters in this book from the beginning. I love how Susie weaves history with heritage and emotions In this book. I grew to LOVE the characters - not just the main characters, but all of them. I have some (A LOT) of Dutch heritage and love how that was included in this book. I wish I could have shared this book with my grandma, Rosemary. I am positive she would have fallen in love with the characters and their story too. I would not at all be opposed to a sequel. 😉😉
simoneclark's review against another edition
4.0
I'm surprised I enjoyed the book as much as I did. I'm usually the action kind of girl and this book was more about deep feelings and such. So I had expected that it would be an ok for me, but I was wrong. I really really enjoyed this story.
juleswells's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Good but sad
randikaye's review against another edition
5.0
When thinking about all of my favorite books past and present, I have found what makes a story for me is that it draws me in and makes me feel that I am there. Whether that is a place and time that I have experienced myself or not, a good story has the ability to make me feel as though I have with scenes that are given with such detail I can picture just how it must have been and characters that are so well developed they feel 100% real. From the very start, this book did all of that capturing my interest and transporting me back to a time I know only from history books and the bits and pieces I've picked up on TV- the time of Vietnam War.
This is such a beautiful story of family and life in the 1960s. As a child of the 90s, there were some iconic pop culture references that I did of course recognize, but it also gave me a completely new perspective on what the actual day to day life might have been like for your typical small town family living during this time. While quite removed from our more technology driven life, at it's core we realize that human emotions have not changed much. Seeing the aftermath of war through the eyes of these characters during Vietnam, we can also see that it can be very much the same for soldiers, Marines and sailors returning today. As a military spouse, this is something that I see more than others, but I think even today there are people who don't fully grasp how war can affect not only the person fighting, but those family members left behind as well. It is a topic that is still very much relevant today.
The characters that Susie created truly drew me in and had me wanting to know how their lives were going to go throughout the story. They are written not as perfect individuals, but as real ones- with their strengths, their faults and their own issues to work through...each unique in and of themselves creating quite realistic interactions and scenarios. It was a beautifully written story and one that I was glad to have experienced for myself.
I don't want to give too much away, and truth be told there is nothing that I could say to truly capture just what a great story this truly was, but I would certainly recommend it to all. There is just a hint of romance--- enough to please those of us who are the big romantics, but not enough to bother those that aren't a fan of that genre. It's a story full of love... but it's the love of this family instead. Have a box of tissues handy, and fall in love with this beautiful family just as I did. You will not be disappointed. I cannot wait to see what comes next from this author.
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher for consideration. All thoughts are my own.
This is such a beautiful story of family and life in the 1960s. As a child of the 90s, there were some iconic pop culture references that I did of course recognize, but it also gave me a completely new perspective on what the actual day to day life might have been like for your typical small town family living during this time. While quite removed from our more technology driven life, at it's core we realize that human emotions have not changed much. Seeing the aftermath of war through the eyes of these characters during Vietnam, we can also see that it can be very much the same for soldiers, Marines and sailors returning today. As a military spouse, this is something that I see more than others, but I think even today there are people who don't fully grasp how war can affect not only the person fighting, but those family members left behind as well. It is a topic that is still very much relevant today.
The characters that Susie created truly drew me in and had me wanting to know how their lives were going to go throughout the story. They are written not as perfect individuals, but as real ones- with their strengths, their faults and their own issues to work through...each unique in and of themselves creating quite realistic interactions and scenarios. It was a beautifully written story and one that I was glad to have experienced for myself.
I don't want to give too much away, and truth be told there is nothing that I could say to truly capture just what a great story this truly was, but I would certainly recommend it to all. There is just a hint of romance--- enough to please those of us who are the big romantics, but not enough to bother those that aren't a fan of that genre. It's a story full of love... but it's the love of this family instead. Have a box of tissues handy, and fall in love with this beautiful family just as I did. You will not be disappointed. I cannot wait to see what comes next from this author.
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher for consideration. All thoughts are my own.