When We Were Strangers by Pamela Schoenewaldt
Published January 25, 2011 by Harper
Paperback, 336 Pages
Review Copy
Even after her beloved mother's passing, 20-year-old Irma longs to stay in her Abruzzo mountain village, plying her needle. But too poor and plain to marry and subject to growing danger in her own home, she risks rough passage to America and workhouse servitude to achieve her dream of making dresses for gentlewomen.
In the raw immigrant quarters and with the help of an entrepreneurial Irish serving girl, ribbon-decked Polish ragman and austere Alsatian dressmaker, Irma begins to stitch together a new life . . . until her peace and self are shattered in the charred remains of the Great Chicago Fire. Enduring a painful recovery, Irma reaches deep within to find that she has even more to offer the world than her remarkable ability with a needle and thread.
Review
Irma is a young woman from a mountain village in Italy during the late 1800's. The land is hard and living is almost impossible for an unmarried Opi woman. Irma lacks beauty and marriage prospects, a position no Opi woman wants to be in and once Irma's mother passes on and her brother leaves for America she is left alone with her father who drinks to often and sees his dead wife in Irma's eyes. The village priest and Irma's grandmother intervene when Irma's father attempts to molest her, knowing that life is going to go in one of two directions they send Irma away to travel into America to make a better life for herself and a chance to find work and perhaps a husband. Irma of course doesn't want to leave the village, its all shes ever known and going out into the world, no less to America on a ship alone is not her idea of a bright future. Scared and uneducated Irma will have to rely on her courage and heart to guide her.
Motion sickness is the least of her worries as she makes the journey across the ocean to get into America. Once alone and completely defenseless Irma is robbed of her money, beaten and later after she finds work suffers a horrid rape. Remarkably though Irma posses an inner strength that helps her keep moving forward. The light at the end of the tunnel, one that will bring her to that remarkable place of freedom and hope to build a solid foundation on American soil.
What I can say about this profound story was how eloquently it was written. Every moment was like dipping my foot in deeper until I was submerged in Irma's life and living her harrowing journey. I think this was a very eye opening look into what perhaps many, even our own family's endured. Not that all our great grandmothers were raped and robbed but can you imagine what some of them went through immigrating back then into a land that promised hope and jobs? I thank my lucky stars that my g-great grandparents who immigrated in from Ireland and Germany made that agonizing trip across the world to give my family's future generations their own legacy's in making America what it is today. An absolute stunning debut novel rich in historical detail and setting.
Rating
When We Were Strangers is recommended to adult readers and contains: historical settings, language, violence, mild romance, harsh realities of immigration, rape (graphic details), poverty and the American Dream.
4/5- Historical- Women's Contemporary Fiction
Thanks to Harper via TLC for Review Copy
What immigrants had to endure and still do is often as heartbreaking as it is harsh. To hear that for women it almost always include rape is unbearable.
ReplyDeleteBut yes, I'm right there with you, T. I'm so thankful to my great, great grandparents who endured many hardships and sacrifices to lead me to where I am today.
This novel does sound stunning and emotional. Thank you for sharing it with your review.
Sounds heartbreaking but good. Thanks for the review and rape warning. I can never handle those.
ReplyDeleteI'll echo Juju - this one sounds heartbreaking but good. I know I hate moving, and to think that so many people migrated and are still immigrating all over the world - it sort of gives you a feel for the size of the human spirit. Nice review!
ReplyDeleteWow, this sounds like such a powerful read. I don't usually read much historical fiction but this does sound good. Great review :)
ReplyDeleteWow, it sounds like Irma goes through some unfathomable situations, but I love that it doesn't break her and she endures. I can read books that have a lot of darkness in them as long as there is a little flicker of hope for them at the end, and this one seems like it has that:) Beautiful review Tina!
ReplyDeleteI love the image of dipping in and being submerged in Irma's tale! It sounds like this is a not-to-be-missed book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on the tour!
Thank you for this review and interview with the author. I am hosting stories of immigration this years challenge, and this book will be perfect for her.
ReplyDeleteI just want to emphasize the powerful development that results from the first page to last. I doubt that anyone reading the novel carefully escapes a strong personal attachment to Irma Vitale.
ReplyDeleteWOW- Spam is getting very creative lately!!!
ReplyDelete