A Good American Family by Davd Maraniss

In the last few weeks we have heard a good deal about The Statue of Liberty from sources like NPR, The Nation, Fox News, or The Los Angeles Times, for example. Her image also graces the cover of a recent book, A GOOD AMERICAN FAMILY by David Maraniss, a Pulitzer Prize Winner. In his newest non-fiction work, Maraniss tells his own father’s story from the 1950s and the Red Scare.  In 1952, Elliott Maraniss, a WWII veteran, was named an active member of the Communist Party of the United States of America and subpoenaed to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee. When testifying, he invoked the Fifth Amendment, but still lost his newspaper job and spent several years looking for meaningful employment. The author says, “I emerged with a clearer appreciation of the imperfections of the American story -- and with a better understanding of my father, our family, and its secrets.” This is a fascinating look at a tumultuous time in American politics and media --- the HUAC was chaired by a member of the Ku Klux Klan who cited testimony from Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson. Also mentioned are names like Louella Parsons, Arthur Miller and George W. Crockett, Jr., the African American civil liberties lawyer.  This text contains notes, an index, maps, and several black and white photos.  A GOOD AMERICAN FAMILY received starred reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly. It is a timely work -- reflecting articles in today’s New York Times about targeting journalists who investigate the White House and about immigrants coming to the United States where that famous statue still provides inspiration. 

The Hours Count by Jillian Cantor

Jillian Cantor’s new book, The Hours Count, is a fascinating look at Cold War America from a very personal perspective.  The main character, Millie Stein, is a young, impressionable housewife and a new mother when she meets her neighbor, Ethel Rosenberg, in 1947.  Over the next six years, the women develop a friendship and share child care duties as they try to support each other.

While Julius Rosenberg is portrayed as an attentive and kind father, Millie’s husband, Ed, is cold towards his son David who does not speak and thus has trouble communicating.  Millie, too, is isolated and eventually forms a bond with Dr. Jake Gold who ties to help David. Frankly, Millie’s character was not especially likeable – the poor women seemed overly naive and certainly reflected stereotypes of the time.  For example, she was very dependent on her Russian immigrant husband’s “generosity” for weekly food money and new furniture.

Throughout The Hours Count, there is a melancholy sadness. This is partly because many readers will know that Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were the only American civilians executed for espionage activity during the Cold War, leaving their young sons orphaned in 1953.  The mood of the book is also somber due to the “fear” that seems pervasive and multi-layered: fear of disease (small pox inoculation scene); fear of some mysterious “fog”; fear of the atomic bomb; and fear of Communists; Millie’s fears of loneliness and of her husband. Yes, in the end, there is even fear of the FBI and the American government. The suspense builds and trust teeters as the time for the Rosenbergs' execution approaches.  

The Hours Count received a starred review from Library Journal. For more information, Jillian Canto lists several books which she used in her research on the Rosenbergs, including titles written or edited by their sons: The Rosenberg Letters, An Execution in the Family and We are Your Sons.