Book Review: A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka

August 16, 2010

I borrowed this book from the local library.

  • 368 pages
  • Publisher ‏ : Mariner Books
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : 0547336284
Book Review: A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka
My rating for A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True – 5

A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True” by Brigid Pasulka is a fascinating fictional book tells the stories of two generations of the same family in Poland. The chapters alternated between the grandparents’ experience in WWII war years & beyond, and their granddaughter’s life in the mid 1990’s living their dream in Krakow after leaving Half-Village, the rural home.
I found the story of the grandparents more interesting. The golden handed “Pigeon” who falls in love with the beautiful Anielica (who looks like Veronica Lake) and builds her parents a new house in their small hamlet before he asks for her hand, only for their future to be interrupted by the impending German invasion. The author fashions the tale in an almost fairytale like narrative spiced with European / Yiddish humor which I found hilarious.

The chapters about the granddaughter, Beata, reveal to the reader the new Poland; while Beata’s own life is being put on hold. Instead of harsh rural life it’s a harsh city life where the Germans invade as tourists and the only thing the English try to liberate are women’s underwear. Along the way the reader gets to find out about the shaping of Poland and the Poles’ character through foreign occupations and rapidly changing political systems.
The characters in the book are fascinating, engaging and well drawn. The grandparents story is told in a fast pace style -as was their lives, while Beata’s story is told in a more steady, almost frustrating pace – as is her life. However, the author managed to make it all work and bring the story to a fulfilling ending which won’t leave you empty.


Zohar – Man of La Book
Dis­claimer: I got this book for free.
*Amazon links point to an affiliate account, the money is usually spent on books

UPDATE:

I got a note from author Brigid Pasulka about this review – cool:

Thank you so much for all your kind words about the book (and for blogging


about it!) I’m so glad you liked it. I’m actually on a writing residency
now, working on the second novel, and, as I’m sure you know from writing
your web site, knowing there is an appreciative audience out there just
makes it that much easier.
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Summary
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A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka
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A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka

Wrap Up

A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka

12 Comments

  • booksploringAugust 16, 2010 at 6:39 am

    Ooh…you've made me move this one to the top of my pile 😉 Thanks again for the recommendation!

  • Bibliophile By the SAugust 16, 2010 at 7:02 am

    I really want to read this book; sounds so good to me.

  • Man of la BookAugust 16, 2010 at 10:51 am

    Thanks folks, I'm glad my review helped.

  • BeckyAugust 16, 2010 at 10:58 am

    Thanks for stopping by my blog! I'm following you as well! Can't wait to read some of your reviews!http://breathlessbooks.blogspot.com

  • JoshAugust 16, 2010 at 9:00 pm

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  • BrennaAugust 16, 2010 at 9:26 pm

    I love the cover of this book. IT caught my eye a few weeks ago when I read another review. It seems to be popular – I'm adding it to my TBR now. Thanks for the great review 🙂

  • ValerieAugust 16, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    this looks interesting — first I've heard of it. It seems like a lot of WWII/post WWII fiction deals with Germany itself; having this set in Poland catches my interest!

  • Gerbera Daisy MomAugust 17, 2010 at 11:01 pm

    I have this on my night table! But still haven't cracked the cover…better get to it!

  • tediousandbriefAugust 20, 2010 at 12:58 am

    Thanks for stopping by my blog. I read this book earlier this year, but haven't reviewed it yet. Intresting to see your take on it.tediousandbrief.blogspot.com

  • Kelli (I'd So RAugust 20, 2010 at 10:26 am

    I enjoyed this review!

  • ElizabethSeptember 21, 2010 at 11:54 pm

    Found you on Lori's Linky for Show Me The Money.

    Cute Blog.

    Stop by mine if you like.

    http://silversolara.blogspot.com

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