Only the Beautiful, a review by Di

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ONLY THE BEAUTIFUL
Susan Meissner

Berkeley
April 18, 2023
400 pages

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Only the beautiful, the perfect world where only perfect people live and have perfect babies.

Well researched, well written historical novel set in the 1940s covering the subject of Eugenics in an interesting and informative manner.

There are 2 separate time lines, almost as if it were 2 different story lines. Roseanne’s story is the earlier story. She is a young girl who suffers as a victim of circumstance in California. Helen is a grown woman, living in Europe during the war where children were taken from their parents and put into institutions because they weren’t “perfect”. Both stories evoke pathos from the reader.

Most of us do not understand the horrors of war. It’s books like this one that educate us. At times, it was very difficult to read and process. It is history that we should learn from. It is history that should never be repeated. Unfortunately it does get repeated.

This is the story of Rosie, who was a victim. And it’s the story of Harriet, who want to change the system and had a hand in doing so. The only objection I have is that the book is written in 2 halfs, as if they are completely different stories. Yet, there is a concrete connection between Rosie and Harriet. I think a better choice would have been to alternate chapters between the two of them. I think it would have given it more continuity. But, it is still a definite 5 star read!

A compelling read. A learning experience, even though is is written as fiction. I think it could promote excellent discussion for a book club

And, there may have been some tears at the end, happy tears.