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Golden Country: A Sweeping Historical Saga of Three Families, Broadway Glamour, and Gangsters
Golden Country vividly brings to life the intertwining stories of three immigrants seeking their fortunes: the handsome and ambitious Seymour, a salesman turned gangster turned Broadway producer; the gentle and pragmatic Joseph, a door-to-door salesman who is driven to invent a cleanser effective enough to wipe away the shame of his brother’s mob connections; and the irresistible Frances Gold, who grows up in Brooklyn, stars in Seymour’s first show, and marries the man who invents television. Their three families, though inextricably connected for years, are brought together for the first time by the engagement of Seymour’s son and Joseph’s daughter. David and Miriam’s marriage must endure the inheritance of not only their parents’ wealth but also the burdens of their pasts.
Spanning the first half of the twentieth century, Golden Country captures the exuberance of the American dream while exposing its underbelly—disillusionment, greed, and the disaffection bred by success.
Spanning the first half of the twentieth century, Golden Country captures the exuberance of the American dream while exposing its underbelly—disillusionment, greed, and the disaffection bred by success.
349 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2006
15 people are currently reading
353 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Gilmore
7 books155 followersJennifer Gilmore's second novel for teens, If Only, was published by Harper Teen in July 2018. She is also the author the YA novel, We Were Never Here, and the adult novels, The Mothers, which is currently being adapted for film, Something Red and Golden Country, a New York Times Notable Book, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, the National Jewish Book Award.
Her work has appeared in magazines and journals including The Atlantic, Bomb, BookForum, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, the New York Times Book Review, Real Simple, Salon, Tin House, Vogue and the Washington Post.
She has been a MacDowell Colony fellow and has taught writing and literature at Barnard College, Cornell University, Fordham University, Harvard University, the New School, New York University, and Princeton University.
Stop in and visit her facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennife...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
December 16, 2008
This is a Jewish immigrant story that follows three people and their families as they struggle to attain the American Dream. This is a richly textured novel that captures the struggles, disappointments and heartache that comes with achieving your dreams. In general I enjoyed this story and cared about what would happen to each of the characters.
One quibble is that this first time novelist uses the word "screamed" far too often. Her characters screamed their way through the novel and this word didn't always seem to accurately describe what was happening at that moment. This was also mainly used with the female characters and made the female characters seem much less sympathic than they otherwise would have been. After a while, it became very jarring for me and threw me out of the story.
One quibble is that this first time novelist uses the word "screamed" far too often. Her characters screamed their way through the novel and this word didn't always seem to accurately describe what was happening at that moment. This was also mainly used with the female characters and made the female characters seem much less sympathic than they otherwise would have been. After a while, it became very jarring for me and threw me out of the story.
March 18, 2021
2.5 stars ✨
October 14, 2007
The book started out promising and I loved the setting: primarily the NYC area, but Boston and Maine, too. I looked forward to learning more about the Jewish immigrant experience, but don't feel that I learned it was much different from other immigrant experiences. (Although, the book does touch on how ostracized and demoralized Jews were by some.) What was most dissapointing about the book was the lack of happiness. None of these people seemed happy or genuine. Some of the characters were just not likeable. I'm not sure any of them would look back on their life with satisfaction and pride, except maybe Joseph. The women seemed shrilly and over-bearing and mostly dissatisfied; the men were, for the most part, absent and disengaged. I think Ms. Gilmore is a gifted writer and the book was a quick, easy read. I just kept hoping for a satisfying conclusion but didn't get the payoff I needed to really recommend this book.
February 13, 2008
I had a little bit of trouble keeping track of all the characters at first, but once I got involved in the story that was no longer an issue. There are some lovely passages in the book, as well as some fascinating relationships. The book has a somewhat melancholy tone, but it is not a depressing read.
May 24, 2007
Amazing debut fiction. It started out a little slow, there are a lot of characters and a lot of different viewpoints and it took me awhile to keep everyone straight and really "care" about each person's plight. But about 1/3 in, it picked up pace and I finished the book in one afternoon. Terrific writing and interesting storylines of people trying to realize the American dream.
October 10, 2007
I was rather disappointed in this book. While the premise of it seemed so full of promise, Gilmore seemed to get bogged down in historical name dropping and forgot to make sure there was a story to hold the reader's interest through the second half of the book. For a book with so much promise, it left me feeling unsatisfied.
June 16, 2008
This is a book about Jewish immigrants and their families in the eastern United States pre and post WWII. Overall, the story was ok. Keeping the characters straight was a little confusing at first as each chapter jumps back and forth between families. Not a lot of offensive language (a couple of f-bombs), no gratuitous sex.
January 21, 2009
I DO NOT recommend this book. I am so disappointed! It is a fascinating story that really engages the reader and you just want so badly to know how it all turns out. I was unable to finish the book because every fifty pages or so the author throws in some explict sex scene. I want very much to know how the book ends, but I don't want to read the smut to get there.
June 18, 2007
An interesting portrayal of Jews who immigrated to NYC from Europe in the early part of the 20th century (but before WWII.) Gave me some historical perspective and was entertaining at parts...but didn't knock my socks off. (not much does, it seems.)
February 6, 2008
This broad reaching family saga begins with Russian Jewish immigrants early in the century and ends in the 1960s. The story traces the successes and failures of gangsters, inventors, actors, and more. I enjoyed reading it, but the story hasn't stuck with me.
April 19, 2008
There were some terrific moments in this book (the Thanksgiving poisoning scene!), but I was never really hooked by these characters or their stories.
September 18, 2018
Usually I tend to be overly kind in my ratings, but I just didn't feel like giving this one comparable stars to others that are far better. This is an ok book, but ultimately it does little more than skim the surface. I waited a few days to write this and it's already fading.
It's an ok book, about three Jewish American families, couples mostly, whose lives intertwine in the mid-20th century. The title is a translation of goldene medina, Yiddish for that hope immigrants bring to this country in order to start new lives. Their hopes largely settle on peddling, invention, and the mafia in some cases.
Gilmore has some thoughtful passages about what it means to be an immigrant; I posted one to Facebook about the contrast between POV Frances, who writes letters for clients in English to relatives settled in the new land, vs Etta, who writes letters for clients in Yiddish to relatives still pining for a new life or suffering in the old one. But overall there's a paucity to the worldbuilding. It's obviously more of a secular novel than a religious one, but there's very little attention given to cultural references. The timelines were consistently confusing and the character voices could blend together. I will give her kudos for how she described Vladimir inventing his camera.
But I'll also take some away because the vast majority of female characters were shrill, self-absorbed and dramatic. What up with that? Some sort of stereotype about Jewish American gals? Boo. I don't think it was Gimore's intent to be lazy, but it definitely read that way.
Frankly, I'd be curious for a fictional handling of Jews in the mafia. Maybe more incentive to try THE MAGNIFICENT ESME WELLS by Adrienne Sharp? But when it comes to the Jewish American immigrant experience of this era, I've read better.
It's an ok book, about three Jewish American families, couples mostly, whose lives intertwine in the mid-20th century. The title is a translation of goldene medina, Yiddish for that hope immigrants bring to this country in order to start new lives. Their hopes largely settle on peddling, invention, and the mafia in some cases.
Gilmore has some thoughtful passages about what it means to be an immigrant; I posted one to Facebook about the contrast between POV Frances, who writes letters for clients in English to relatives settled in the new land, vs Etta, who writes letters for clients in Yiddish to relatives still pining for a new life or suffering in the old one. But overall there's a paucity to the worldbuilding. It's obviously more of a secular novel than a religious one, but there's very little attention given to cultural references. The timelines were consistently confusing and the character voices could blend together. I will give her kudos for how she described Vladimir inventing his camera.
But I'll also take some away because the vast majority of female characters were shrill, self-absorbed and dramatic. What up with that? Some sort of stereotype about Jewish American gals? Boo. I don't think it was Gimore's intent to be lazy, but it definitely read that way.
Frankly, I'd be curious for a fictional handling of Jews in the mafia. Maybe more incentive to try THE MAGNIFICENT ESME WELLS by Adrienne Sharp? But when it comes to the Jewish American immigrant experience of this era, I've read better.
January 12, 2018
Author Jennifer Gilmore brings readers a tale of three families who immigrate to the United States, and not only become acquainted with each other, but they also make great contributions to the world. One of them invents TV and another one invents a miracle cleaner. Two of the families become related by marriage. All of them are impacted, in one way or another, by the actions of the others.
This is a great story, told by multiple points of view. It begins with the arrival of one of the people to the US and basically ends with that person's death. The details of the character's back-stories are woven into the narrative, showing how they are intertwined.
My only criticism has to do with the multiple points of view. I don't have any problem with stories being written from the view points of many characters, but the way the author did it was a bit jarring, as the POV changed a lot, often on the same page. I would much rather have the POVs change per chapter, or at least with a recognizable break between the actions/thoughts of each one. The way this one is written is a bit confusing. Nonetheless, it is a great story and still one worth reading.
This is a great story, told by multiple points of view. It begins with the arrival of one of the people to the US and basically ends with that person's death. The details of the character's back-stories are woven into the narrative, showing how they are intertwined.
My only criticism has to do with the multiple points of view. I don't have any problem with stories being written from the view points of many characters, but the way the author did it was a bit jarring, as the POV changed a lot, often on the same page. I would much rather have the POVs change per chapter, or at least with a recognizable break between the actions/thoughts of each one. The way this one is written is a bit confusing. Nonetheless, it is a great story and still one worth reading.
October 26, 2020
Instead of a story arc, this plot was a collection of stories held loosely together by time and family. While I normally love historical fiction spanning generations, I was ready for this book to be over.
May 24, 2025
At first the book seemed promising but then went allover the place, it just became a mumbo jumbo of names and characters which made it hard to latch on to any character. if the story would have stayed linear and focused perhaps it would have been worth finishing. I put it down midway through.
January 14, 2018
I really liked this book. Good character development. It kept my attention. I liked reading about New York during the time in the early to middle 20th century.
February 6, 2018
I wound up liking this a lot more than I thought I would. A beautiful story about several Jewish immigrant families in the early 20th century.
May 28, 2019
This book grew on me. The characters were developed enough to make me care about them. I love novels that bring you across multiple generations.
July 18, 2020
Story of Jewish immigrants coming to America.
December 30, 2020
A little over half way through and I have decided to quit reading. I just grew tired of the story and I'm ready for something I will enjoy more.
September 11, 2016
This novel follows three families through three generations, mostly from the 1920s through the 1950s. The grandparents are Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, and their children grow up in the same Brooklyn neighborhood, and work hard on making good in the United States. The book begins and ends with a focus on their grandchildren, who close the circle by marrying each other.
The novel was mostly a light read, in spite of the weighty subject matter. The writing is uneven, and the author seems to be rushing through her prose at times. There are some good stories, and lots of interesting period details. But there’s a tendency to give the characters rather banal thought-balloons at the pivotal moments of their lives.
The author makes use of the New York World’s Fair of 1939, with its theme of “the future”, and all three of the characters in the middle generation become rich and successful through some invention or other. This seems a bit contrived, and it can also devolve into a lot of questioning about whether all the work has been worth it.
Interestingly enough, one of the more successful story lines in the book centers on the first Jewish mobsters in NYC. The strain between the mobsters and the more conservative and religious Jewish immigrants is depicted very vividly, and rings true. This is a theme that echoes through various points in the book.
However, the marriages depicted through the generations tend to be pretty dysfunctional and all seem rather alike, even though the author is trying to draw some of them as tortured and others as essentially happy. Everyone is always screaming at everyone else; the author overuses this word in a jarring way.
The novel was mostly a light read, in spite of the weighty subject matter. The writing is uneven, and the author seems to be rushing through her prose at times. There are some good stories, and lots of interesting period details. But there’s a tendency to give the characters rather banal thought-balloons at the pivotal moments of their lives.
The author makes use of the New York World’s Fair of 1939, with its theme of “the future”, and all three of the characters in the middle generation become rich and successful through some invention or other. This seems a bit contrived, and it can also devolve into a lot of questioning about whether all the work has been worth it.
Interestingly enough, one of the more successful story lines in the book centers on the first Jewish mobsters in NYC. The strain between the mobsters and the more conservative and religious Jewish immigrants is depicted very vividly, and rings true. This is a theme that echoes through various points in the book.
However, the marriages depicted through the generations tend to be pretty dysfunctional and all seem rather alike, even though the author is trying to draw some of them as tortured and others as essentially happy. Everyone is always screaming at everyone else; the author overuses this word in a jarring way.
March 10, 2014
As the Borders on Michigan Avenue sadly closed, books were marked down. A lot. I purchased this book for seventy-nine cents (which may seem like nothing, but I got five-ish books for a penny each). Like others have said, this is a story about three family stories of Jewish immigrants intertwining. At first, I loved this book. There were a few hours where I could just not stop reading it. But at about page 150, I lost interest. All the characters were predictable - and someone else said it here best. No one was happy. Gilmore must not be happy if she is married, because out of about five married couples, only one seemed mildly happy. That was disappointing. As a fourteen-year-old girl, it's also quite disheartening to hear that romance is gone once marriage happens. I hope that's not true!
There were other aspects of the book were a bit off-putting as well. Characters would have these epiphanies that were silly. One character was so likable, but then she decided to become a star and marry the man who invented television. Looking back on it, some parts of the story were actually ridiculously stupid. Gilmore did have great connections between the characters, but there was nothing that made me think, "Wow! I want to write like that."
Worth seventy-nine cents? Definitely.
Worth my time? Maybe not.
There were other aspects of the book were a bit off-putting as well. Characters would have these epiphanies that were silly. One character was so likable, but then she decided to become a star and marry the man who invented television. Looking back on it, some parts of the story were actually ridiculously stupid. Gilmore did have great connections between the characters, but there was nothing that made me think, "Wow! I want to write like that."
Worth seventy-nine cents? Definitely.
Worth my time? Maybe not.
June 30, 2011
The story of 3 interconnected Jewish Russian immigrant families in New York City from the 1920's to the 1960's. They came to the US in search of the American Dream. Solomon Brodsky aka The Terrier, opted to become part of the Mob. Pauline Verdonik saw in him a way out of the closed Jewish neighborhood and a path to wealth. By their choice they and their families were ostrasized by the neighborhood. Pauline's sister Frances idolized her sister and never forgave her for leaving her for "things". Frances marries the man who invents Television. She goes on to star in a Broadway musical, produced by Seymour Bloom, (which has a very short run) and becomes the spokesperson in TV ads for Essoil, a cleanser invented by Solomon's brother Joseph. Joseph washes away the taint of his brother's mob connections by inventing Essoil which makes him a wealthy man. He names it after his wife Esther. Seymour changes from a salesman to a gangster by working for Solomon and then manages to leave the mob and become a Broadway producer. When Solomon is finally sent to prison, Pauline takes her son and disappears. Years later she attends the funeral of Joseph. It becomes known that Pauline was Dear Maggie an advice columnist that all the women wrote to and read. This story deals with the way different people try to achieve their dreams. Whether they dream of wealth, stardom or happiness.
April 22, 2008
I love stories about the early 1900's immigrant experience in New York City. This one intertwines three people's lives and how they weave together. All Jewish immigrants in Brooklyn trying to make their fortunes - traveling salesmen, mobsters, illegal liquor distribution, failed actors and actresses, backers of the theater, inventors who discover famous cleaning solvents and even television. For fiction, this rings true and seems a rather special group of folks.
I had a bit of a hard time getting the characters straight at the beginning, and some of the run-on sentences bothered me. But once I had my bearings - I throughly enjoyed this and got wrapped up in their lives. Really very interesting actually, and the more I think on this one now that I've finished it, the more I seem to take away from it. I loved how the characters come in and out of each others lives through two generations and there are some unexpected twists as well. Really enjoyed this - four stars only because I had to work at bit at the beginning.
I had a bit of a hard time getting the characters straight at the beginning, and some of the run-on sentences bothered me. But once I had my bearings - I throughly enjoyed this and got wrapped up in their lives. Really very interesting actually, and the more I think on this one now that I've finished it, the more I seem to take away from it. I loved how the characters come in and out of each others lives through two generations and there are some unexpected twists as well. Really enjoyed this - four stars only because I had to work at bit at the beginning.
December 11, 2007
This book was okay, captured time and place in American history. Concentrated on Jewish life in American, coming to new country, finding a place, life in Mob, becoming Americanize in the new country. Exposed the growing days of New York City, interesting backdrop with Statue of Liberty, coming of Empire State Building, growing skyline, Rockerfeller Center. I found the times and the setting more interesting than the individual characters. Sarah was a very sad character, hated to see the waste of her life. Others developed themselves into adults, citizens, etc.
April 6, 2008
This was another Book Club book. The others liked it more than I did, but I was glad I read it, and I wouldn't have read it without the group. One member made the comment that she loves books that are character driven like this one. That IS what I liked...the characters are memorable. New York Jewish communities of the early 20th centuries were portrayed lovingly. I responded to the theme of storytelling that wove through the book. We all must have our stories, to remember, to believe in, or to attempt to live up to.
March 20, 2011
Golden country is about three intertwined Jewish families living in America.
Sometimes the blurb on the back of a book somehow prejudices you against enjoying it. In this case, the blurb compared the book to Jhumpa Lahiri`s tales of immigrants and with this comparison in mind the book seems overly stylized, exagerated and false. However there were bits of the book which felt beautiful and true when the author discusses fathers and daughters and their relationship to each other. Perhaps the author would have been better served by focusing on a smaller more human scale.
Sometimes the blurb on the back of a book somehow prejudices you against enjoying it. In this case, the blurb compared the book to Jhumpa Lahiri`s tales of immigrants and with this comparison in mind the book seems overly stylized, exagerated and false. However there were bits of the book which felt beautiful and true when the author discusses fathers and daughters and their relationship to each other. Perhaps the author would have been better served by focusing on a smaller more human scale.
April 11, 2011
Read this back in 2007 but for some reason this review is showing up in another book of hers that I'm about to read. Moving my review here.
Amazing debut fiction. It started out a little slow, there are a lot of characters and a lot of different viewpoints and it took me awhile to keep everyone straight and really "care" about each person's plight. But about 1/3 in, it picked up pace and I finished the book in one afternoon. Terrific writing and interesting storylines of people trying to realize the American dream.
Amazing debut fiction. It started out a little slow, there are a lot of characters and a lot of different viewpoints and it took me awhile to keep everyone straight and really "care" about each person's plight. But about 1/3 in, it picked up pace and I finished the book in one afternoon. Terrific writing and interesting storylines of people trying to realize the American dream.
April 2, 2015
I am a fan of family sagas especially those involving immigrant families in the late 19th century/early 20th. This one was interesting in some sections but disappointing in the periods of history that were short shrift. It almost felt as if the author omitted them to avoid the research that may have been necessary. I also never felt a part of the neighborhoods described. This was disappointing as the city was to have been a main character or theme. I wouldn't recommend this over many better written family sagas
October 1, 2008
Although this book is lacking in plot, it's very beautifully written and nostalgia-inducing. Basically the story of Jewish immigrants in Brooklyn in the 1920's -- I was sold when one of the reviewers called her "the Jewish Jumpra Lahari." A lot of very sweet moments, but I probably wouldn't have liked it nearly as much if I were not descended from NY Jews so it was like reading a history of me. It is eerily accurate in terms of describing that community and its idiosyncrasies.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews