Time in Many Places

This is an amazing depiction of the real life experiences of an immigrant, in this case Norwegian, the struggles of life in a changing new world, through the depression era and into the mid-twentieth century. It also gives an excellent snapshot of how relationships and work philosophy have changed.

This book is a documentary cleverly disguised as a story about a young man and his family and friends as they begin a new life in America after leaving Eastern Europe. It's a first person perspective on what life was like in northern Wisconsin in the early 1900's. Life in the logging camps, farms, entertainment, travel, etc. When your grandfather tells you he had to walk 12 miles in a snow storm, uphill, to school and back with only a bucket and a biscuit, this book is that story. I have to admit I'm a bit biased in this review as my family (Reiten) is featured often in this book and I had the honour of knowing the author before he died. Even if my family wasn't in this book it makes for some really great bed-time stories.