What readers think of Only the Beautiful, plus links to write your own review.

4.5 stars

I’ve had Susan Meissner’s books on my TBR for quite some time, but it wasn’t until recently that I got the chance to read one of her books – and the most recent one at that! Meissner’s latest Only the Beautiful is one of those books that has so much of what I look for in a truly excellent read: a genre I love (historical fiction), a beautifully well-written and engrossing narrative, well-developed characters whom I could relate to and root for, meticulously researched elements incorporated seamlessly into the story, and a thought-provoking story arc with emotional depth that continues to stay with me long after I finish reading the book.

With all that said, I have to admit that I was a bit hesitant to pick this one up at first, mostly because of the WWII setting, as I had read too many books with this setting in recent years and felt like I needed a break – but since I had agreed to read and review this one, I of course followed through with it and am glad I did, as this turned out to be a very different story from what I expected. Rosie’s story in part 1 was truly heartbreaking and in all honesty, left me speechless, especially as I had no idea that eugenics was being practiced in the United States throughout much of the 20th century (nor did I know that there were actually laws that supported the practice). I was also shocked to find out that the state of California (where I grew up and lived my entire life) was the site of the highest number of forced sterilizations in the nation up until the 1960s. As heartbreaking as part 1 was though, Helen’s story in part 2 was even more so, especially as the parallels between what the Nazis were doing in Europe and what people in positions of power were doing in the United States became terrifyingly clear.

Reading about this history, I could not help but think about all the terrible decisions being made in our country in recent years that attempt to take away our right to choose what is best for ourselves. As Rosie and Helen both ask at various points in the story: Why do those in a position of strength get to decide what the best looks like? Why is it that only the strong get to define what weakness is? What gives those in power the right to decide who is worthy to be a mother or a father and who is not? Who gets to decide that living with a disability means that life is not worth living?

There was so much in this book that was difficult to read about, yet I would still highly recommend it as a necessary as well as illuminating read. Books like this one remind me yet again how important it is to understand the connection between history and what is happening in our world currently, as well as how these things can impact our lives in ways both profound and subtle.

As I await the next book from Meissner, I definitely need to go back and read her other books on my TBR (starting with the ones which I already have physical copies, of course). Looking forward to more wonderful reads from her backlist!

Received print edition from Berkley via Bookbrowse.

This powerful book takes place primarily within 2 settings - one in California in 1938, the other in Austria in around the same time.

The first part of the book is about Roseann, who is orphaned at 16 yo when her parents and younger brother are killed in a tragic accident. The owners of the vineyard where her father worked take her in and have her serve as their maid and assistant cook, to give her life skills. When she gets pregnant, the wife has her sent to an institution for the feeble minded, psychotic and otherwise dysfunctional individuals. Here, her Synthesia (the sensory experience of seeing colors and shapes when hearing words or music) is explored. She has the baby, a little girl, but is not permitted to bond with the child, and is involuntarily sterilized soon afterwards.

The last half of the book takes place at the same time, where Helene, the sister of the vineyard owner, who has lived in Europe for 20 yrs, working as a nanny in England, France and Austria. She becomes attached to the children that she tends and when one child, with minor disabilities is taken from the home and placed in an institution where she suddenly dies from Pneumonia, Helene is forced to find other employment. She eventually returns to California.

The ending was predictable, but fortunately, poignant and happy.
The author thoroughly researched Eugenics and it's effects here and in Nazi controlled countries, and brought together the two parallel stories beautifully. I had heard of Eugenics, although did not imagine the extent of it's use in the USA well before the Nazis used it (legalized in California from 1909 -1979 where 20,000 people were sterilized).

I received a complimentary paperback copy from Bookbrowse and am participating in their current book discussion - and there is a lot to discuss about this book, which I highly recommend.