American Beauty

Set in 1930, with a back story beginning about 1700, this is a tale about land – a certain section of Connecticut, and some of the people who claimed it for their own. Ms. Ferber's Connecticut timeline begins about 1700 with Captain Orrange Oakes, who has just bought himself thousands of acres from the natives, and is preparing to build a spectacular house for his family. Writing to one back in England, Orrange says of his new home, “It is grander, bolder, vaster, more sweeping. The sky looms larger, the trees grow higher, the rocks seem more grim. It has, I may say, quite another kind of beauty. A kind of American beauty.”

From the local Indians in their reverence for the land; to this group of aristocratic immigrants, who settle show more near one another, with their many slaves to tame their new land; through generations who leave because they don't want to be tied to the farms out in the boonies, neighborhood parcels are snapped up by other immigrants – hard-working peasant Poles. Through this story of these Connecticut land 'owners' runs the story of Captain Oakes splendid home and his descendants who continue on. Destitute, but aristocratic-minded, each generation clings to the Oakes Farm yet.

The setting takes your breath away here, along with its ups and downs in being used or abused and loved or dishonored. Characters were interesting, but sporadically fleshed-out. Connecticut is the main character here; secondarily, is her groom – aristocrat, peasant, native, immigrant – American.

Enjoyed. (3.25 stars) show less

Listened to the NLS Talking Book version. The book was historically interesting. It touched on social standards of the various times it portrayed and the pride of the individuals mentioned. I didn't like where the story stopped. There was no resolution, which I'm sure is what the author intended, but still, I wanted to find out more about the young characters at the end.