TALLAK! immigrant

by ML Forier

TALLAK! immigrant is part family history, part 19th century travelogue, part “How to Manual” to unearth the lives of my ancestors, and yours. My story is your story. Millions came, all intent on improving their days, bettering their children’s futures. They brought their own drama and mystery into their new world, days filled with miracles and heartbreaks, late marriages with babies born too soon, mothers leaving their babies behind in cemeteries, babies losing their mothers at their birth, first cousins and old neighbors falling in love. A sibling left behind, not to be seen for thirty-five years, a vanishing wife, a hair raising escape from the deadliest fire to date in America. They left their country, family, customs and traditions. They faced unknown languages, unfamiliar city streets and unmapped forest trails, exotic strangers who looked and smelled and dressed oddly, neighbors with rowdy lifestyles. Come with me as we visit our ancestors . . .

383 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2018

Reviews

[Bee Bloeser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not typically interested in genealogy of my own ancestors, let alone someone else's. If that's you, you may be surprised by ML Forier's book, Tallak! immigrant. First, the immigrant part of the title is incredibly timely! So go ahead--pick it up. Do a quick flip-through. Hmm. Lots of wonderful old photos. And extensive use of maps and newspaper clippings. That's good. Authenticity without endless pages of dense text. That suited me, so I read one page. I read another, and another. The author is obviously a patient researcher who left no stone unturned in getting the facts for this multi-generational epic. But nothing boring here! Forier has the skill to use the facts to paint an engaging portrait of what she knows and what she speculates. She drew me into this family and kept me there. I hope she doesn't stop with one book.

[Lee Shainen · Rating 5 out of 5]

No doubt, ML Forier is a patient and thorough researcher, but to then be able to turn a multi-generational family history into an engaging read is the work of a skilled and thoughtful writer. Tallak is so much more than the story of one family's journey from Norway to America; It's a glimpse into the human spirit that has shaped our collective history. An impressive and captivating work indeed!

[Claire]

Cool to read about one of my ancestors.