An American Mom in Asia

Originally, I had picked a different book for Austria, but about 20 minutes into it, I knew I had to change. Thankfully, I discovered another fabulous blog with lots of book recommendations from all countries! It was on this blog I found Robert Seethaler. And after searching my online public libraries, I picked The Tobacconist.

This short novel is set in Vienna, Austria in between the World Wars. The main character, Franz, leaves his idyllic countryside life as a young man to take a job in the city working with a tobacconist. Franz realizes life in Vienna is very different than he experienced as a child. He experiences emotions and moments he never imagined. He falls in love and falls out of love. And the world is changing rapidly around him. Adolf Hitler is rising in power in Austria, and distaste for the Jews is on the rise as well. Franz has befriended a well-known Jewish psychotherapist, Sigmund Freud, and processes life and meaning with him. As the World War 2 begins, Franz surprises himself with who he has become.

This novel is good, although a little slow. Franz is a likable character, although naive. He has long bouts of introspection and reflection which make the story move slowly. But the setting is fascinating as Vienna is on the brink of war. Overall, a good book.

⭐️ My rating: 3 stars of 5