Synopses & Reviews
Hilarious and moving, a masterful debut novel about a Milwaukee immigrant family's secret history for fans of Amy Tan and Carol Shields.
As mysterious, complicated, and improbable as any real family, four generations are brought to vivid life in pages spanning the entire twentieth century, from the outer reaches of Siberia to the heartland of America.
Why does prudish Agnes nearly faint during a movie featuring Omar Sharif? Did she, or didn't she, make love with a Turk or was he Croatian? back in the Old Country? Why didn't Uncle Marko ever write home after he was taken prisoner in World War I? How did Grandmother come to know the blind Gypsy violinist Istvan, who turns up for a visit? As for the Polish Kaszube girl, Georgie's first love was she his half-sister?
Warm, intelligent, and beautifully written, The Turk and My Mother immerses the reader in the sheer, indulgent pleasure of storytelling. A magisterial symphony in the form of a comic novel about immigrant life, inevitable death, and forbidden love, this is a book sure to win the hearts of a large audience.
Review
"Stefaniak's easy familiarity with the vernacular idioms of the old country and the new, and her zestful, respectful ear for different voices, create a world whose past, present and story-loving afterlife are at once magical and grounded in reality." Publishers Weekly
Review
"Stefaniak interweaves these compelling accounts with warmth and humor....Fans of Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club will love this book; highly recommended." Library Journal
Review
"Overdone and confusing. An impossibly tangled narrative strangles what, in parts, is a truly fascinating and intricate first novel." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"[A] radiant debut inspired by Stefaniak's immigrant Milwaukee family....[A] warmhearted, inventive novel..." Booklist
About the Author
Mary Helen Stefaniak is the prize-winning author of Self Storage and Other Stories. She teaches at Creighton University and lives in Omaha and Iowa City.
Exclusive Essay
Read an exclusive essay by Mary Helen Stefaniak