a Review of David Ebershoff's Book: Pasadena

The birth of Pasadena is weaved together with passion and mystique in Ebershoff's book Pasadena. Baden- Baden-by-the-sea is along the coast of California where Linda's Mexican mother was washed up by the sea. Valencia jumped from a ship where she was being used as a prostitute after being the only survivor in her family from a flood in Mexico. She is a fighter and a survivor. She finds refuge in the barn of Deiter Stump where she became pregnant for their first child.

Dieter is German born and has because of the war inherited land as payment for his service. He is a rather unattractive man but a good husband and father to Linda and her brother. He changed his name and the names of his children because of the war not wanting to be discovered as a German during the war with Germany. You will become involved with each character and their rich histories.

Linda and Bruder are the main characters. Linda is a free-spirited fearless young girl. She is a fisher girl who invents very efficient lobster pots. She is superior to the men who fish for a living. Her mother has brought her up to be independent and confident. She loves her life at Baden-Baden-by the sea. She is also beautiful with raven-black hair. Linda is tall and fearless.

When Dieter comes back from war with Bruder, Linda is fascinated and attracted to him. Valencia never felt completely taken in by Bruder but was aware of her daughter's attraction to him. I found myself wanting Bruder and Linda to find love and happiness together. You knew that this relationship was going to be ill-fated from the beginning. They are both deep, passionate, and likeable characters. You know that they love each other but they unfortuantely don't realize how much that each one wants the other one. It is an example of how lack of communication can devastate relationships.

Bruder was abandoned by his mother and raised in an orphanage. He was an outcast but still seems to have self-confidence and picks himself up by his bootstraps. When he became part of the Stamp family, he felt accepted and appreciated. When Dieter told him that he would inherit his land he was honored until Dieter told him that he would become a son. He could not have both the land and Linda as a wife. Bruder never told Linda this and wanted to win her over on his own merit.

There are so many rich sub-plots to this story. The characters become alive and most of them are very loveable with the exception of Captain Willis Poore. Bruder had saved his life in the war and was again rewarded because of his goodness. Unfortuantely because of being a man of honor he gets taken again.

Bruder invites Linda to come and work at the Orange Ranch in Pasadena. She wants to be with him and away from her dependent brother and nephew. She especially wants to be with Bruder. This part of the story is full of intrique, mystery and betrayal. Linda is seduced by the money, power and romance of the Poore family. She is swept away by the flattery and is torn by her love for Bruder and the seduction of Captain Poore.

It is easy to forget how far we have come with the conveniences of air-conditioning and modern medicine. You can feel the misery of living in those times with the blistering, suffocating heat. It is torturous to feel the pain of living with the horror of veneral disease. You will find yourself living this book along with it's characters.

Blackwood is another character that is involved in this scenario. I did not like him in the beginning. He was only interested in developing the land in Pasadena. He was relentless in his pursuit of Baden-Baden-by-the-sea. He gets caught up in the history of the land by Charlotte who is a childhood friend of Bruder and Linda.

It is not often that I have found an author who can bring history to life as Ebershoff can. You can picture the atmosphere, the land and taste the thick flesh of the oranges. Your mouth will water over the succulent oranges as you inhale the fragrance of the groves. I could smell the ocean air and feel the scorching heat of the air during the unbearable summers. Your mouth will water over the description of the lobster and seafood. These are just a few of the reasons you will want to read Pasadena.

This is a must read. It was educate, immerse, and captivate you. It will also break your heart.