I loved this book! Wonderful characterizations. Sweet, tender, funny, nostalgic and ultimately, triumphant, tale of assimilation in a new country while making peace with the unforgettable past. An outstanding debut novel and one of my favourites for this year. This book made me feel so good and I sense that it will be one of those books that I will reread over and over through the years.

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A treasure! I gave this book 5 stars. A poignant, charming look at human nature with several surprises. One man's determination to "fit in" but becomes transformed by the people and forces of nature around him. Beautifully woven to the very last word. I'll have to share this with everyone before I can post my copy. It's that good. This would make a wonderful gift for someone.

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The original UK title for this book, Mr Rosenblum's List: Or Friendly Guidance for the Aspiring Englishman, is so much better. I don't know why the publisher felt the need to change it.

Jakob "Jack" Rosenblum, his wife, and their infant daughter seek asylum in England just before World War II. Unfortunately, they find themselves treated poorly because of both their German accents and their Jewish surname. (I didn't realize that England "detained" citizens of German ancestry during WWII, much like the U.S.'s treatment of Japanese-Americans. Jack is released because he owns a carpet factory that has been turned over to the war effort.)

After the war, Mrs. Rosenblum is perfectly happy living in a predominately Jewish neighborhood in London, but Jack's greatest desire is to be a true Englishman. He initially follows a list of ways to assimilate provided by a local organization, but goes on to write his own list. The one item he's unable to complete is joining a golf club, so he decides to move out into the countryside and build his own. Various conflicts with the country farmers ensue.

For a long time, I really wasn't sure where this book was going. Certain events occur that indicate the ending will be a sad one, but it all ends extremely conveniently and happily. It was a little too convenient for my taste.

In many ways, this book reminds me of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand: the English countryside setting, the golf club, class snobbery, treatment of immigrants, impending development of the land, etc. There is some humor in this book as well, but not to the extent I found in Major Pettigrew's dry wit. In general, I would say if you like Helen Simonson, you will most likely enjoy Natasha Solomons.

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