Review: When We Argued All Night by Alice Mattison

 

WHEN WE ARGUED ALL NIGHT
Alice Mattison
Harper Perennial
Original edition (June 12, 2012) 
PB, 384pp
$14.99
978-0062120373.

Genre: Historical Fiction



 

Along a lake in the the Adirondack Mountains, near a cabin in the woods, Artie Saltzman and Harold Abramowitz friends since the third grade thought they had the place to themselves for a week. In 1936 they were 26 and had no money and no girls, but that was about to change.
Two women arrived claiming to be the daughters of the owner. Although a bit skeptical the two men agreed to share their cabin.  Better yet, the women have money and they leave with the promise to bring back dinner.

Mattison begins her story during The Great Depression, and the novel is a historical field trip through the decades with Artie and Harold two friends, witnesses who lived through it. Their cohesive bond of friendship seems eternal. They experienced World War II, and are shocked and weep when the chairman of the World Jewish Congress confirmed the extermination of approximately two million Jews in Germany. The year is 1942. Roosevelt dies in 1945.  When the Feinberg Law is passed in 1949 teachers are at risk; however, the Red Scare infiltrates the lives of Americans everywhere. It is during this time when Harold and Artie would argue all night.   Harold now a professor and Communist Party Member is at risk, but it is Artie who must face a difficult decision that would alter their friendship forever.  

As the decades pass, the air raid drills of the Fifties and the Civil Rights struggle of the Sixties are further anchors of history that add vivid realism to Mattison’s novel.  Artie and Harold could be anyone, male or female, young or old, who embrace the love of friendship and the power to forgive. Alice Mattison has a magic writing pen. Without a doubt readers will praise When We Argued All Night,  is an irresistible story with universal appeal.



This review appeared in Historical Novels Review November 2012, Issue 62

Disclosure: A print copy of this book was provided by HNR for review.

© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2013].

100+ Book Challenge Completed!!!!

I am so excited to say I have completed one of my challenges this year. Yes, I completed the 100 Books Read Challenge sponsored by J. Kaye. I just finished the last book to complete the 100, The Little Stranger, by Sarah Waters. I know I missed a few books in my list that I have to double check in the next few days, but finishing my 100th gave me such a thrill. It is not the number of books so much as the fact that keeping track has helped me to organize my reading better. I also have kept a better journal this year of my reading thoughts and progress.

I have learned that I shouldn't read more than one book at a time. I used to think I could do this, but this year I realized in doing this, I started a lot of books and didn't finish them. I would put the book aside, and then when I went to pick it up a week or so later, I forgot some of the important details. I would then have to reread parts of the books to get back on track. I realized I was wasting a lot of reading time rereading. Over the past couple of months I have tried to focus on one book at a time. This has made me a much better reader, better focused and happier in my accomplishments and the joy of reading. I love to read and I found that trying to read too many books at one time was causing me too much anxiety and stress.

In 2010 I hope to add another 50 to my challenge and go for 150, but if I do that I will probably start listening to audio in the car. I never really was fond of doing this as I love listening to my music, but it's worth a try in 2010. What do you think?
In any case, I'm excited to say I met the 100 Book Reading Challenge for 2009.