As a lover of historical fiction, I was really excited about this one. A woman and her daughter fleeing the Ukraine for America in 1905 - sounds right up my alley, yeah?
Yet, while I made it to Chapter 2, I just couldn't shake Chapter 1. While I'm sure its significantly less violent than the actual events, it was more than I could stomach. Being dropped into a bloodly scene right off the bat, prior to developing any emotional attachment to the characters, was a very cold and harsh entry into the story. If this scene was moved to a chapter deeper in the novel, then I might be able to get on board. Alas, I'll never know! ( )

This is a story of a few generations of a family. This shows how life really is. The story starts in 1905 and goes to 2012. This shows the ups and downs that occur within a family during each persons lifetime. I laughed and cried. I think my favorite character was Jenny because she always seemed to become the caretaker throughout her life. I received a copy of this book from Smith Publicity for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. ( )

In 1905, Ida escaped the pograms of Kotovka, Ukraine that killed her husband, parents and most of her children. She escapes to America with her surviving ten-year old daughter Beilah and three month old daughter Feige only to have tragedy strike again. Ida builds her life up again, growing her family and taking care of her grandkids. As Ida watches her daughter and grandkids grow up she sees the effect of her past through the generations and how they learn to triumph.
How to Make A Life follows a family through five generations of hardship and survival through the years. The opening scene packed a strong punch and set a tone of struggle, loss and overcoming adversity as Ida's family was killed due to their religion. The writing is straightforward and does not mince words when it comes to typically difficult topics. Each chapter follows a different member of Ida's family through the years as they face different challenges in life and within their family. Through the generations, many different themes arose such as mental illness, grief, faithfulness, religion, PTSD, suicide, pregnancy loss and aging. Even though the story was told through so many different lenses, the family was always central to their thoughts and decisions. As the generations passed, I did have some trouble keeping some of the characters straight, however, the family tree diagram at the beginning helped me sort everyone out. Overall, an intriguing look at the complexity of familial relationships and the impact of a traumatic event on future generations.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. ( )

I received this book as an ARC from Smith Publicity, Inc., and am providing an honest review.
How to Make a Life is an engaging family saga covering five generations of a Jewish family whose beginnings trace back to Ukraine in the early 1900s.
As the story spans the generations living in New York City, I was ever grateful for the family tree at the beginning of the novel and referred to it constantly. As in any family, the interrelationships are complex and often need to be untangled like a skein of yarn.
The book begins with horrors of a pogrom in Ukraine in the early twentieth century, where nearly the entire family was murdered, to New York City, where as each generation passes, the family members move up in social and economic status. But old hurts and secrets remain.
Each chapter focuses on a family member, enabling us to see the family and their life through the lens of the individual, which is how we see life.
Blame and misunderstandings follow each character, as well as loyalties. From the mental illness of the oldest daughter Ruby, to the betrayal of sister Jenny.
No family is easy, and author Kraut does a masterful job portraying the interrelationships of brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and in-laws in a way that every reader will identify with.
She pulls us into the world of New York City covering the ever changing years of the twentieth century. The Jewish family and neighborhood provide a closeness rarely seen today, although the Weissmans aren’t particularly religious.
This is a novel that will keep you thinking long after you have put it down. ( )