My Father's Island

by Johanna Angermeyer

A true story that incorporates biography, adventure and the elements of armchair travel. Angermeyer, who grew up in Nebraska, embarks on a search to discover what happened to her father, a refugee from Hitler, on the Galapagos Islands where he and her mother had lived before his death.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Memoir, Nature

303 pages, Paperback

First published January 19, 1990

Reviews

[ForeverDay]

This was not only Johanna's story, but also that of her parents and wider family. It is therefore less about the Galapagos itself and more about the quest to actually get there, by both generations. It is readable, but often slightly uncomfortable. You finish it reminded that life can be really hard.

[Rachel Blech · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled across this book in a box of random novels that I had been given. The fact that it was set in the Galapagos Islands attracted me somewhat, but I had no particular expectations from this novel on picking it up to read. However, I soon found myself totally absorbed in the intricate family relationships across generations, the emigration of the author's father from Germany, then the emigration of all his family (her uncles) to the Galapagos set within the cultural and historical contexts of the first half of the 20th century. The family tree and its convolutions are hard to follow, but nonetheless, what captivated me most about this book was the utterly charming accounts of the author growing up as an animal-lover and nature lover. She is adventurous, witty, determined, reckless, tough and shows such concern for the natural world and its creatures all in danger of extinction. Many times I wanted to highlight phrases to remember - key moments such as when she realises that tourists would inevitably start coming to visit her "Paradise" and so destroy the 'garden of Eden'. Other moments where the author and her sister capture a rat in a trap in Galapagos, then disentangle it, treat its mangled paw with antiseptic and let it free. Sensitive, heartwarming and comic moments.
I finished this book wishing it possible to actually meet its author - her personality and character shine through as does her love of the islands. My Father's Island reads like an adventure story - Robinson Crusoe meets Swallows and Amazons, but with the gritty real-life challenges of nature, the elements, war, disease and love.

[Lora Hein]

Johanna's quest to connect with the father she never knew takes her to the Galapagos Islands on the cusp of the tourist influx. Poetically describing her transformation from awkward child to self-assured young woman in the territory of a challenging life in the "paradise" of one of earth's remaining Edens already being sullied.
I was especially enthralled because her time there dovetailed with the time I spent in the same location about which I am currently writing in a memoir.

[Frederick · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it dragged in spots and I got a little lost at times as to who was related to whom, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was reading it in order to broaden my understanding of what the early settlers encountered and not as a family history. I would recommend this book for those who have or plan to visit the Galapagos.

[Esben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written book

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really fun memoir of growing up in a family of Galapaguenos -- German war refugees who ended up there in the 1930's, and then culminating in a lively account of living there in her teens. Vivid writing, lots of colorful characters, and several compelling romantic narratives made this a quick read for me. Since I was lucky enough to go to the Galapagos earlier this year, on one of those luxurious cruise boats, it was fascinating to learn a bit about the islands from the perspective of its rugged settlers.

[Chris Demer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Between reading the beginning of the book and reading the end, I visited the Galapagos. This gave a wonderful history of an amazing family even more poignancy.

[Lbaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read about a family with an unusual home - the Galapagos.

Well written, interesting topic and very open, I really enjoyed this book.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grabbed this book the last time I was at The Book Thing...because it was a travel memoir and it was about the Galapagos and there was a man sitting on a tortoise...and I wanted to be there in Galapagos, before it was overrun by tourists and randoms. I am not sure why, but I kept leaving this book on my shelf....partly because I knew this book would make me very jealous and question why I am here in Texas and not exploring as I dreamed when I was little and partly because I feared it would be dry non fiction...and not an adventure.
This book was exactly the opposite of what I expected. This book was fascinating and sincere, but it also wasn't JUST about the Galapagos....it was more of a memoir...a memoir of the author who grew up without a father and lead a fascinating life first in California sticking out from what was expected--- and then in Ecuador as she returned to the country of her family and her father's world. Once in Ecuador, she is given the chance to take a boat to the island her uncles have inhabited and she struggles to survive, but also loves every moment and forces herself to adapt--- and yearns to learn about her father by spending time with her awkward and hermit-like uncles.
The book was written well and fascinating. It made me want to explore--- parts of the world that are still isolated and get lost in a jungle and find strange fruit and evil ants...it reminded me of my time in Indonesia and the world of the unknown.
Read-- if you dream of leaving the boring or if you want to read about a world that hasn't been ruined by modernization.

[Matthew Sargent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this about six months after my own trip to the Galapagos Islands. It was cool reading about places I'd been to at a time when life there was so much rougher. I'm pretty sure we even stayed in a house that was briefly mentioned.

The book was much more of a multi-generational family biography where I had expected something more focused on Galapagos life, but it is quite good. The family has a pretty fascinating backstory. Some of the stories, especially at the beginning, are a bit unfocused, slow, or not very relevant, but there is a coherent through-line of the overall story.

I would have liked a bit more about the specifics of living out there long term, but the book ends as soon as the author gets to that point in her life. The "about the author" section promised a sequel was in the works, but it's been over 30 years since this was published, so I'm not holding my breath. There was also mention of one of her uncles writing about his many decades living on Santa Cruz, which I would be very interested in if it were ever finished.

[Nicki Elson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johanna Angermeyer is an engaging storyteller with a delightful sense of dry humor. I'm sorry to see she hasn't written more books. I was transported in time and place and thoroughly enjoyed it. Johanna's story is adventurous, conveying a strange pull to the Galápagos Islands—so desolate but somehow so enthralling—and giving a wonderful glimpse into the lives of the famous Angermeyers.

[Carol Dix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun historical reading before going to the Galapagos.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this is Costa Rica and really enjoyed the writing and the information.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fascinating read about families living on Galapagos islands in the 30s and on. What a life!

[Patricio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun fast read, a must if island life fascinates you.

[Janis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

[Donna Hendricks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my kind of book. Johanna wanted to find the island where her father had escaped to with his brothers from Nazi, Germany. There was all kinds of problems that had to be worked through, and they finally made it to the Galapago Islands from which came more troubles. But they wanted to be there more than anything in the world, so it was all worth while.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun history of what it was actually like to live in Galapagos before it was a tourist mecca. Both brought out its charms and made it clear what a difficult life it was. The book often felt more like a novel than a memoir. Maybe it was just the style but it did make me question just how much of this I should believe.

[Alana Ferraro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the author's description of a pre-tourist Galapagos and Ecuador. I found the history and narratives to be informative and entertaining to read. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone visiting or living in Ecuador.

[katymoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a perfect book to read while I was in the Galapagos. What an interesting and true story! I recommend it.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to read before going to the Galapagos.