The Comfort Bird

Found the book to be very poorly translated -grammar and sentence structure made it harder to follow.Choppy writing as well as poor word choices in the translation made it unpleasant reading.There were also in my opinion crass scenes that cheapened the telling of a very difficult time in the lives of many!

Great story line and powerful family history.

Really good read about a family’s journey to come to America and those they left behind.

This review is by my dad, Dr. Robert Eelkema. My grandfather emigrated to the USA in 1860 when he was 20 yrs old-came from a long line of shoemakers. Moved to Tripoli,IA where he continued his shoemaker occupation. Town almost exactly similar to town in Oostermeer, Freisland. I maintain contact with relatives there and go back frequently. I couldn't wait to receive this book and well worth waiting for. Enjoyed every word. I'm a physician, retired and enjoy reading. Best book I have ever read. This story resonnated with me because of my Dutch heritage.

I'm not at all sure what "a great book" is anymore--after 60 years of reading. What I do know is what I like, and I like this book, loved it in fact, not simply because it sketches the life of Dutch-Frisian immigrants in the late 19th century (my own ethnic heritage), but also because its incredible war stories are dramatic and powerful and, amazingly, true. I'm unsure what to call The Comfort Bird--sometimes it's reminiscence, sometimes it's creative non-fiction, sometimes it feels like a novel. What's clear is that it's an incredible story, fascinatingly told. One of the most affecting books I've ever read.

awesome