The memoir “Unbelievable Adventures of a WW II German War Bride” by Ingeborg M. Johnston is an important book for Johnston‘s family. She mentions that her family asked her to write this book because she had some adventures that in today’s world are hard to imagine.
And they’re right.
Buy Unbelievable Adventures from Amazon.com*
Ingeborg M. Johnston must have been standing at the front of the line when G-d passed out genetics. She is smart, beautiful, spunky, gutsy, positive, athletic, with a sunny disposition and a good heart. Born in Germany to a father who opposed the Nazis and later the communists, it is no wonder she had many adventures. Add Ms. Johnston’s entrepreneurial skills and, what seems to me, the inherent ability to get what she wants and you have the making of a wonderful and exciting life.
However, many people have adventures; I’m sure most of us can write a book about the exciting times in our lives between the day-to-day doldrums. Heck, I wish my grandparents and great uncles would have written such a book. My great uncle was a partisan in WWII, my grandmother sat in Polish jail, her sisters survived Auschwitz, my grandfather and grandmother romanced in the British Army, and the other grandparents escaped from war-torn Europe and built a new country as teenagers.
Yes, I would love to read about these events and more, but I don’t think you would.
Mrs. Johnston wrote a wonderful book that her family would treasure forever, it is not only fascinating but oral history that would be lost if the author didn’t put it down on paper. But as interesting as this book was, it lacks in other areas. There really isn’t a point to the book, just a bunch of short stories which all have Mrs. Johnston in common.
I got the book because of “WW II” in the title, but it is very little about the war in the book. The book is divided into quick and easy-to-read sections all written in the first person and lacks descriptive narrative which I felt made the book not as gripping. Some sections are poorly written and the book needed the touch of a professional editor, or so it seems.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed reading about many of the adventures Mrs. Johnston went through and about her strong belief in random acts of kindness – something I strongly believe in as well. Mrs. Johnston is a strong and inspirational woman and we need more like her.
So tell me, which one of your relatives would you have liked to write a memoir?
The book tells the true story of the author, who had an incredible life. Mrs. Johnston shares her experiences as a WW II German nurse, a beauty queen, model, pilot, wife, mother, and grandmother. The author marries an American and comes to live in the United States while taking full advantage of what the country has to offer.
Buy Unbelievable Adventures from Amazon.com*
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
Article first published as Book Review: Unbelievable Adventures of a WW II German War Bride by Ingeborg M. Johnston on Blogcritics.
BOOK BLOGGERS – Have you read “Unbelievable Adventures”? If so link up your review below:
The plot might be overstuffed, but I enjoyed the new characters. Moneypenny is COO of…
A.H. Raskin (26 April, 1911 – 22 December, 1993) was a reporter, writer, and assistant…
I hated the author’s passive-aggressive agenda. It just rubbed me the wrong way and seemed…
Teachers can help kids stay strong in bad times, and together they can strive by…
Sarah Kemble Knight - teacher & diarist. Her journey from Boston to New York provides…
Billy Boyle wakes up in Sicily, with amnesia. He doesn’t remember what happened, or who…
This website uses cookies.
View Comments
I would have liked to read your family's stories too, they sound really interesting, dangerous and gutsy too.
I enjoyed your book review very much. This sounds like a fascinating book.
My great-grandparents came to the United States from Germany in the early 1900s. A family member has collected much of the family history and plans to publish a book soon. I can hardly wait to read it.
Sounds like your great grandparents must have fascinating stories to tell.