Official Review: A Name for Herself by K A Van Til

Bruin Dez · Post by **Bruin Dez** » 13 May 2021, 10:37

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Name for Herself" by K A Van Til.]

2 out of 4 stars

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A Name for Herself written by K. A. Van Til is a true story about the author’s grandmother, Minnie Zwier. In 1898, Minnie immigrated to the US as an infant, moved west, lived through the Depression, and two World Wars. At ninety years old, she feels like she did not make a name for herself, but hopes her grandkids will. The book is written from her perspective as she recalls moments in her childhood, marriage, and motherhood.

Van Til includes historical resources on Dutch immigration, racism in the US, the Depression era, and two World Wars to inform readers of what was going on in the world as Minnie tells her story. She shares stories of what her life was like in the early 1900s. She wasn’t allowed to get a high school education because her parents were afraid that she would lose her Christian faith. She was destined to support her parents and siblings at home. Minnie later took pride in taking care of her husband and children.

What I liked most about this book is that the author took great effort at writing about every member of this family. You learn about the struggles that Minnie's parents had settling in a new country, how she raised her children, and what their adult lives are like. There are many photographs of Minnie’s family that complement her story. What I disliked most about this book was that there was nothing inspirational or relatable. I could not relate to Minnie’s honest views on different religions and races. Some readers might find it insightful to read this point of view from someone who grew up in the early 1900s and others might find it offensive. She didn’t trust her kids to be around people who did not share her same Christian religion.

I rate this book a 2 out of 4 because I did not like it enough to recommend it to others. Many parts of the book were filled with boring details of tasks performed on the farm. Although the book appears to be well-edited and the author’s writing flows well, I did not enjoy it enough to give the book a 3 out of 4. I did not give it a 1 out of 4 because it is well-written and some readers might enjoy reading about this personal account of what life was like for a woman living in the US during the early 1900s.

I do not recommend this book to readers who are not interested in reading about a story of a Dutch community of immigrants settling in Illinois. I also do not recommend this book for readers who are not interested in reading about a woman’s life who was centered around the Christian church. This book can appeal to readers who can relate to having immigrant grandparents and can find comfort in reading about a woman who hoped that her grandchildren would benefit from the life she created for them in the US.

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A Name for Herself
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Kanchan Sharma · Post by **Kanchan Sharma** » 17 May 2021, 05:59

A wonderful review for many people to understand the central line of the book. I am eager to read it.

Kanchan Sharma · Post by **Kanchan Sharma** » 17 May 2021, 06:16

A clear and candid review. I would love to check it myself.

Post by **Becca Olsson** » 17 May 2021, 11:59

I’m glad the author put so much familial research into the story, but perhaps they could cut down on some of the more descriptive scenes like the farming. Thanks for the great review

DANAWEB · Post by **DANAWEB** » 18 May 2021, 09:28

An historical drama through the point of view of a woman in her nineties. I like that fact that the book covers many significant events in the last 100 hundred years. Thank you for the great review!