Reviews
Book Review: “Corn Rose” by Karen Ross Epp
What’s the perfect way to begin the holiday season? Perhaps with a book that celebrates love, friendship, family values, and the remembrance of things past. I found a book that did just that.
“Corn Rose,” a novel by Karen Ross Epp, is based on the life experiences of the author’s mother and father in the post World War II era.
The daughter of Italian immigrants who settled in California, Rose Calamia was a lovely, sheltered young woman working at the Lockheed Aircraft Factory during the latter part of World War II. Like many women of that era, Rose left the protective confines of her parents’ traditional home to work in the factories while servicemen were overseas. It was at Lockheed that Rose met the love of her life, Jack Conner, and married him after a whirlwind courtship that surprised her as much as it did her disapproving parents.
Two more different personalities would be hard to find. Rose was warm and passionate, a city girl who liked pretty clothes, and one who had been surrounded by the love of her old-fashioned Italian family. Jack was an Iowa farm boy, raised in a part of the country where modern day conveniences were considered luxuries and where the people were hard-working and resourceful – and slow to offer acceptance to outsiders. And Rose, with her dark Italian beauty and city ways, was definitely considered an outsider – especially by Jack’s taciturn mother. Jack longed to leave the factory in California, knowing his heart and future was in farming, and finally made up his mind to return to Iowa. While Rose was unconvinced by the wisdom of his choice, she loved Jack and consented to the move.
Her life in Iowa was certainly different from what she’d previously known. Jack’s parents’ farm was struggling, still feeling the economic effects of the Great Depression. Life was harder than it had been in California. The farmhouse that Rose and Jack moved into had no indoor plumbing, no electricity. Winters were long and harsh.
The physical hardship was easier to bear than the emotional. Jack’s mother was overbearing and unwilling to give Rose a chance. She bullied the young girl – so much so that Rose questioned her own judgment about what was good for her newborn baby. In the early months of their marriage, Jack was very influenced by his mother, and several times tended to ignore his mother’s bossiness – and a time or two held her up as an example to Rose.
There were other problems in the family – Jack had an bullying, abusive older brother who was several times married and bad news for any woman foolish enough to love him. Jack, too, had his secrets which Rose would come to know with time.
Reading this book, I grew to love Rose! I loved her inner strength, her honesty and pragmatism, her willingness to do what was required of her. Most of all, I loved her big heart. Rose had great compassion for her brother-in-law’s abused girlfriend and was willing to speak up for her when no one else in the family had the courage. She exhibited understanding and care for her disabled nephew. If her mother-in-law had been willing to reach out to Rose, she would have had a daughter in spirit as well as in fact.
By the book’s end, I grew to love Jack Conner as well. He matured a great deal, understanding that he wanted his marriage to work and that it was time he stepped away from his mother’s dominance and became his own person.
If you’re looking for a story that celebrates traditional family values, determination and compassion, you should pick up “Corn Rose.” Like me, I think you’ll find yourself falling in love with this strong, beautiful woman, and recall with appreciation the qualities of the people of her era – qualities that helped make America a great country.
Source: http://kateloveton.wordpress.com/2013/12/01/book-review-corn-rose-by-karen-ross-epp/
Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)
This review is from: With Love Stan: A Soldier’s Letters from Vietnam to The World (Paperback)
With Love Stan: A Soldier’s Letter from Vietnam to the World is an anthology of letters home written by Vietnam soldier Stanley D. Ross, who served honorably and was killed on October 20, 1969. Stan’s sister Karen Ross Epp has gathered his letters along with vintage photographs to provide a memorial tribute not only to her brother, but to all who served bravely with him and have their own tale to tell. A vivid presentation of the rigors of basic training, and a realistic look at the conflict in Vietnam, With Love Stan is increasingly relevant in the modern day as young men and women are called upon by their country to risk and sometimes give up their lives in the Iraq conflict. Karen Rose Epp also interjects her own reflections amid the verbatim letters, in this timely and welcome addition to wartime correspondence reading shelves. “Until Desert Storm, I was always bitter about losing a brother like Stan. As I watched Desert Storm take place, I realized the reason we were taking so few casualties was these troops were led by Vietnam veterans. The country may not have learned, but we (the veterans) did.” Highly recommended.
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent, well-written tribute to all former Redcatchers of the 199th LIB, October 4, 2007
By Bobby Jack Gouge “HHC-199th Infantry Brigade” (Western North Carolina)
This review is from: With Love Stan: A Soldier’s Letters from Vietnam to The World (Paperback)
Karen Ross Epp has written and published an immensely touching, informative, and scholarly book dedicated to her brother, SGT Stanley D. Ross, and the rest of the men from Charlie Company of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade (Sep)(Lt) that served with him in-country from April 1969 until Stan’s untimely death in a firefight in Long Khanh Province, north of Xuan Loc and FSB Blackhorse, on 20 October 1969.
The book is 329 pages long and is filled with large numbers of quality photographs, poems, letters, and countless recollections written by not only her brother, but from the other infantrymen that gallantly served in C/2-3 during the same time.
This is one of the best books that I have read in quite a while and I would highly recommend this valuable piece of history to all that served with the 199th Infantry Brigade in Vietnam and Cambodia. It is a genuine tribute to the men, both living and deceased, that once served in the best and most professional Light Infantry Brigade that fought in Vietnam and Cambodia.
– RJG
This review is from: With Love Stan: A Soldier’s Letters from Vietnam to The World (Paperback)
(Note: This review is written by my father, Robert Kreider, PhD; Retired historian.)
Karen Ross Epp’s book, With Love Stan–a Soldier’s Letters from Vietnam to the World, is a captivating story of war at its raw, earthy, killing and being killed level of war–the story told by a 19-year old infantryman (a grunt), a fun-loving Iowa farm boy just out of high school. On October 20, 1969, Stan Ross was killed in action. Reading With Love Stan on the heals of watching Ken Burn’s documentary on World War I, “The War,” I was jolted by the striking parallelism of two wars at their elemental infantryman base. This, too, is an Ernie Pyle, Bill Mauldin kind of story.
Stan’s sister Karen in her editing deftly splices into the flow of Stan’s letters also excerpts from writings of other soldiers in the killing fields of Vietnam. Here is not only a war journal, but a sensitive portrait of an Iowa farm family lovingly identified with their son and brother: a youth longing for home, letters serving as a “lifeline to sanity,” photos in the wallet acquiring iconic value, home front flashbacks that give war a startling context. One also senses the alienation of the grunts toward generals with their inflated rhetoric and military dismissed as in soft jobs in the rear. Karen Ross is to be congratulated for giving voice to Vietnam War’s voiceless. I have read dozens of books on Vietnam; I rank With Love Stan among ones at the top.
– Robert Kreider, PhD; Retired historian
Deborah is a well known and recognized Christian Author.
Touching Tribute
By Deborah Raney on June 9, 2007
Format: Paperback
This is a sister’s touching tribute to the brother who gave his life for his country in Vietnam. Told with page after page of Stan Ross’s own letters, photographs and other facsimiles of his service in Vietnam, the book is a fascinating chronicle of one soldier’s life, and one family’s unimaginable grief. The book moved me to tears, and left me with a greater understanding of the terrible price of that war, yet an appreciation of the honor with which its soldiers served. Highly recommended.
Teenager to Soldier – One Man’s Vietnam Story
By Jeff Lowenthal on December 26, 2007
Format: Paperback
Sgt. Stanley Ross was one of more than 58,000 men killed in the Vietnam War.
With Love Stan personalizes the story of this man and the effect of that war on his family.
Karen Ross Epp, his sister, has compiled many of his letters home. In total, they show us a self-described “Iowa farm boy,” from his first days in basic training, progressing from a “new guy” to a hardened, decorated soldier, Included are tributes and reminiscences from his comrades, as well as explanatory text to tell us what was going on in his family at the time. Epp has been candid enough to describe even the stresses due to her marriage to a conscientious objector (who served his obligation in a non-combat role), while conversely Stan was sent to Vietnam.
Included are some letters speaking of the unwinding done on “stand downs,” but these only add to the picture of a 19-year-old, lonely and far from home. As well, they show us that Epp has chosen to show us other sides of Stan, without any effort to expurgate these intimate communications with family and friends.
Through it all, underneath he remains the Iowa farm boy; asking for an Instamatic camera, and his favorite chocolate chip cookies, sending his a mother custom-made bible, and tiny jacket for his younger brother Phill, all the while assuring them he was “ok” even when he wasn’t.
What comes across is the banality of much of the life in Vietnam; periods with nothing to do, bad food, limited equipment and terribly harsh living conditions interspersed with dangerous confrontations with a wily and often underestimated enemy. Over time, you feel his anger:
“When I think of you back in the world [the States], everyone friendly, no one trying to kill you, or the constant worry of getting it next, it’s almost hard to believe that there is such a wonderful land. The funny part of it is that 80% of the people over here don’t even pack a weapon or even see action.”
Chafing under the unfairness of the situation, with Infantryman staying on the front lines for weeks with no break, he wrote: “I heard there were over 350 men killed here last week It makes me so damn mad, words can’t express it. I wished to hell every one of those high-filluting (sic) government men would come over to this hell-hole one day. ”
And “Like I say, it’s hard to explain the way it is. Just thank God you’re in the wonderful U.S.”
He was only one man, but his letters speak to the feelings and experiences of many.
Unfortunately there is no happy ending to this story. Stan never got to ride the Harley his father bought for him, or see his little brother again. Stanley Ross died October 20, 1969.
But he left behind a story we should all read, all the more relevant in light of our current “adventure” in Iraq, because those who ignore history are bound to repeat it.
– Jeff Lowenthal
REVIEWS FOR WITH LOVE STAN:
With Love Stan: A Soldier’s Letter from Vietnam to the World is an anthology of letters home written by Vietnam soldier Stanley D. Ross, who served honorably and was killed on October 20, 1969. Stan’s sister Karen Ross Epp has gathered his letters along with vintage photographs to provide a memorial tribute not only to her brother, but to all who served bravely with him and have their own tale to tell. A vivid presentation of the rigors of basic training, and a realistic look at the conflict in Vietnam, With Love Stan is increasingly relevant in the modern day as young men and women are called upon by their country to risk and sometimes give up their lives in the Iraq conflict. Karen Rose Epp also interjects her own reflections amid the verbatim letters, in this timely and welcome addition to wartime correspondence reading shelves. “Until Desert Storm, I was always bitter about losing a brother like Stan. As I watched Desert Storm take place, I realized the reason we were taking so few casualties was these troops were led by Vietnam veterans. The country may not have learned, but we (the veterans) did.” Highly recommended.
– MBR Bookwatch
5.0 out of 5 stars A good read, July 17, 2014
By T J Corbett – See all my reviews
Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: Corn Rose : A Novel (Kindle Edition)
A good read to be sure. A unique window into life right after WWII, A beauty from an Italian immigrant family meets and falls in love with a strong handsome farm boy from Iowa.They marry and head for rural America to set up home where they are tested by a culture clash that awaits them.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars “Corn Rose” – by Karen Ross Epp, December 1, 2013
By Kate Loveton (Glen Rock, Pa. United States)
This review is from: Corn Rose : A Novel (Kindle Edition)
What’s the perfect way to begin the holiday season? Perhaps with a book that celebrates love, friendship, family values, and the remembrance of things past. I found a book that did just that.
“Corn Rose,” a novel by Karen Ross Epp, is based on the life experiences of the author’s mother and father in the post World War II era.
The daughter of Italian immigrants who settled in California, Rose Calamia was a lovely, sheltered young woman working at the Lockheed Aircraft Factory during the latter part of World War II. Like many women of that era, Rose left the protective confines of her parents’ traditional home to work in the factories while servicemen were overseas. It was at Lockheed that Rose met the love of her life, Jack Conner, and married him after a whirlwind courtship that surprised her as much as it did her disapproving parents.
Two more different personalities would be hard to find. Rose was warm and passionate, a city girl who liked pretty clothes, and one who had been surrounded by the love of her old-fashioned Italian family. Jack was an Iowa farm boy, raised in a part of the country where modern day conveniences were considered luxuries and where the people were hard-working and resourceful – and slow to offer acceptance to outsiders. And Rose, with her dark Italian beauty and city ways, was definitely considered an outsider – especially by Jack’s taciturn mother. Jack longed to leave the factory in California, knowing his heart and future was in farming, and finally made up his mind to return to Iowa. While Rose was unconvinced by the wisdom of his choice, she loved Jack and consented to the move.
Her life in Iowa was certainly different from what she’d previously known. Jack’s parents’ farm was struggling, still feeling the economic effects of the Great Depression. Life was harder than it had been in California. The farmhouse that Rose and Jack moved into had no indoor plumbing, no electricity. Winters were long and harsh.
The physical hardship was easier to bear than the emotional. Jack’s mother was overbearing and unwilling to give Rose a chance. She bullied the young girl – so much so that Rose questioned her own judgment about what was good for her newborn baby. In the early months of their marriage, Jack was very influenced by his mother, and several times tended to ignore his mother’s bossiness – and a time or two held her up as an example to Rose.
There were other problems in the family – Jack had an bullying, abusive older brother who was several times married and bad news for any woman foolish enough to love him. Jack, too, had his secrets which Rose would come to know with time.
Reading this book, I grew to love Rose! I loved her inner strength, her honesty and pragmatism, her willingness to do what was required of her. Most of all, I loved her big heart. Rose had great compassion for her brother-in-law’s abused girlfriend and was willing to speak up for her when no one else in the family had the courage. She exhibited understanding and care for her disabled nephew. If her mother-in-law had been willing to reach out to Rose, she would have had a daughter in spirit as well as in fact.
By the book’s end, I grew to love Jack Conner as well. He matured a great deal, understanding that he wanted his marriage to work and that it was time he stepped away from his mother’s dominance and became his own person.
If you’re looking for a story that celebrates traditional family values, determination and compassion, you should pick up “Corn Rose.” Like me, I think you’ll find yourself falling in love with this strong, beautiful woman, and recall with appreciation the qualities of the people of her era – qualities that helped make America a great country.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Corn Rose: A Novel by Karen Ross Epp, October 11, 2013
By Sheryl L McDonell
This review is from: Corn Rose : A Novel (Kindle Edition)
I gave a 5-star rating, because it is realistic love story, set in an era of difficult times for Americans. It is beneficial for us to relive how those that came before us struggled and kept families strong. My Mother is 86 and would recommend this novel for Mom; I am 66 and highly recommend the novel; my nieces are in their 30’s and 40’s would encourage them to read it; I have sons in there 20’s and 40’s and would also encourage they and their girl friends read the novel!!!+ One comment in the negative is the swearing.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, October 3, 2013
By Rose Mary Wise
This review is from: Corn Rose (Hardcover)
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I too could not put it down after I started reading. The author’s wonderful descriptive style took me to an era where I had not lived. I didn’t realize how tough it was in those years but a vivid picture was painted for me of the times and of Rose. Rose was a loving and kind woman who endured a lot but didn’t give up on her life or her marriage. Thanks Ms. Epps!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read!, October 3, 2013
By Joan McGinnis
This review is from: Corn Rose : A Novel (Kindle Edition)
I thought it was a sweet story. I was anxious to read it because I know the author and the parents upon whom the main characters are based.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Rose, a model of womanhood for the ages., September 23, 2013
By Kathy Wiley (Mt. Pleasant, Iowa USA)
This review is from: Corn Rose (Hardcover)
Corn Rose is an American Story opening with Jack Conner patrolling Venice Beach in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor Attack and contemplating his future in the military so far from home. A beautiful young woman named Rose would soon surprise herself into his life even as Jack surprises himself inter hers. From the Shores of California to a working family farm in Iowa these two young lovers journey not only through changing landscapes, but also through family relationships and inherited visions to a life bound together by love, hard work and faith. A tribute to a woman who found her way into the hearts of those she met, it is a story that speaks to the inner strength of women everywhere finding their grit within one another. I am thankful to women like Rose who model womanhood for their daughters and sisters across all cultures.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Corn Rose, August 1, 2013
By Carolin I Moore (Newton, KS United States)
This review is from: Corn Rose (Hardcover)
Corn Rose follows the desires, dreams, flaws and sufferings of a woman navigating the peaks and valleys of young love. If that wasn’t enough, she has been transported from her life in LA to a rural Iowa farm and a not-so-understanding mother-in-law. The vividly described setting, atmosphere and family dynamics showcase the strength and courage required of Rose to adapt and succeed as well as the author’s talent.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming, July 20, 2013
By Linda Devinger
This review is from: Corn Rose : A Novel (Kindle Edition)
Nice tribute to the author’s Mother as she adjusted to being a farmers wife. It was tough times in Iowa back in those early years.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Corn Rose, July 19, 2013
By Kathleen M. McAtee
This review is from: Corn Rose (Hardcover)
Just finished Corn Rose and what a wonderful summer read! The author does a great job with descriptive words, making one feel as if they are there. I did not want to put it down once I started reading it. What a wonderful tribute not only to Rose, but to all of the women of that era who sacrificed so much for their families. It is still relevant today for women everywhere as we face the challenges of marriage, child rearing, and fulfilling our own personal dreams.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Corn Rose, July 5, 2013
By PAR
This review is from: Corn Rose (Hardcover)
Ms Epp has evoked a wonderful nostalgic view of life on an Iowa farm just after the end of World War Two. She has some beautiful similes and metaphors to be on the look out for. Rose will capture your heart with her unceasing courage.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Corn Rose, June 11, 2013
By Sharyl Van Dorin
This review is from: Corn Rose : A Novel (Kindle Edition)
Corn Rose : A Novel
Wonderful story of a young woman who has left her great life in California to move and conquer the hardships of living on a farm in Iowa during the 1940’s. She has no idea of what she is to endure. You soon realize what a wonderful person she is “inside and on the outside” and always showing her faith. You see her love for her husband and her family as she becomes accustomed to her new way of life. Could not put this novel down….would recomend buying the book and getting the author’s signing.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it., June 10, 2013
By Judith L. Calamia
This review is from: Corn Rose: A Novel (Paperback)
Couldn’t put it down. Great story of a woman who married with great hopes and finds herself in a situation completely opposite to what she expected and not in a good way! This book shows what she does to make a marriage work under harsh conditions emotionally and physically. Story tells what a hardship it was in the 40’s to grow up in a city and ends up on a small farm in Iowa.