Sweet Mandarin by Helen Tse - Book Giveaway
I love reading and learning about Asian culture and its rich history. China certainly has no shortage of either! When you mix that with the genealogy of a family, you’ve got my interest. Growing up, I listened to my mother’s stories of our ancestors as she uncovered their secrets while studying our family tree. While there are no Chinese branches on mine, there is a wonderful Asian twist that has given me a lifelong fascination with the Orient. That’s why books like Sweet Mandarin always manage to grab me and hang on.
Sweet Mandarin is more than a true story. It is several true stories all woven into one amazing family history that is author Helen Tse’s. Starting with the story of her great grandparents, it works its way from generation to generation, giving a beautiful account of what makes her family unique. Helen Tse’s family history contains a long line of fascinating people who struggled to work their way out of difficult situations, regardless of what they were “supposed” to do. The story starts with a great grandfather who began his own soy sauce factory and the family that suffered the consequences of his success. The bulk of the focus is on the women in Tse’s family; strong, brave women who break the bonds of China’s traditions, all the while coveting their culture like a valuable pearl. Tse’s family boasts three generations of restaurant owners, all having stories that will inspire and entertain.
Sweet Mandarin is a book that will appeal to a very wide audience - men, women, even young adult. Will it ever appear on the silver screen? I wouldn’t be surprised, and I certainly hope to hear there’s a movie contract in the works. And I thought my family was fascinating…
Want to win your own copy of Sweet Mandarin?
3 Ways to Win:
1.) Leave a comment telling me a little something about your family history. (I promise I won’t tell.) Where are you from? Do you know your roots, or are they a secret? Have fun with your comment! Winners are randomly chosen, but if the name drawn doesn’t respond, I choose the next winner by comment.
2.) Email subscribers are entered into this and all future giveaways, for as long as their subscription is active. Simply place your email address in the little white box at the top of my sidebar on the right. (Please make sure to verify your Feedburner subscription by responding to the email they send you. If you don’t receive it, check your junk mail. Only verified subscriptions are entered for all the giveaways.)
3.) Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post. Come back and leave me a Comment with a link to your blog post.
Do all three, and you’ve got three entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Friday, September 5, 2008, to enter.
1bethany canfield
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 13:15
oh I would love to get my hands on this one!!
family history? well, I am a mutt..Ireland,Iceland, Italy, and France. Not any secrets that I know of!!! 
2SANDY
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 14:07
hmmm lots of family secrets but if I told you they wouldn’t be secrets….my family is mixed on one side from poland, holland, and came to ellis island..the other half came on the myflower many years before
3Kristen
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 14:13
Sounds like a great book!!!
4marci
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 15:09
would love to read this! Xie Xie!
5cindy a
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 16:29
i don’t know much about my family history other than most of my grandparents generation is from Tennessee.
6Gina Stratos
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 16:39
My Great Great Aunt traced my father’s roots back to Germany. I have all of the old newspaper clippings, etc. It’s a great thing to know.
gkstratos@yahoo.com
7Terra Heck
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 17:11
I don’t know a lot about my family history. I do know that a person on my maternal grandmother’s side of the family was a witch who was hanged in the Salem Witch Trials. I also know that my maternal grandmother’s side established the town of Walkerville in Illinois.
8Tara R.
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 19:05
My mother’s side is British, my Grandpa was born in Saskatchewan, Canada and my Grandma was born in England. My father (who has never lived with me) was adopted into a Scandinavian family but was originally Romanian.
As far as I know we have no one famous or anything
9Mary @ Adventures in Mommyland
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 19:31
My Dad’s family is Sicilian on his dads side, and english on the other side. My great grandfather was from Palermo, Sicily and came to Louisiana then to Texas. My grandfather was born in the US and so on. My moms family is Alsacian (french german) on her dads side and they were glassblowers. My moms moms side was english too. So I’m half English 1/4 Sicilian, and 1/4 Alsacian. Though I look 100% Italian. Great giveaway, thanks!
10adrienne gordon
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 19:36
we are Irish to the bone!
11ruth
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 19:37
What a wonderful giveaway. I think that it is so important and meaningful to know your roots and background. For genetics and for your descendents as well. We are Eastern European Jews. Ashkenazi Jews who came over many years ago.
12christopher h
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 19:44
mostly german on my dad’s side, mostly english on my mom’s. that’s right - we’re really really white.
13Shelly
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 19:46
I am Australian - of Irish/Welsh descent
14Nora
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 19:52
To know the generations of time and the reality as a woman.
15Susan
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 19:58
My dad’s side is from Hungary - my mom’s side is a strange mix of English, Irish French Canadian. The most confusing part to me is that I may or may not have Native blood. No one has straight answers when that comes up.
16geekbearinggifts
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 20:06
Thanks for the offer of a fascinating-sounding book! My background is mostly Scottish, German, Welsh, and a little bit of Cherokee. Most branches of the family have been in the U.S. since before the it was the U.S. Our traditions are what most people consider “American” and “Southern”, but my father was military, so we ate food from all over the world growing up, and added new things everywhere we lived.
17Alyce
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 20:06
For the longest time I only knew half of my family history because my mom was adopted. A few years ago my mom got a copy of her birth certificate and last year finally asked me to research her birth family. Since we knew her birth mother’s name, it only took me two weeks to find her information. Unfortunately she passed away about ten years ago. We were able to determine from the obituary that she had a half-brother and half-sister living near us. A few months later we met with my mom’s siblings, and it was a joyous reunion. They actually knew about her,and had talked about searching for her but they didn’t have enough information to pursue it. Since then, my mom has been filled in on her genealogy and family history(at least on her mom’s side). So now I know that I am: English, Scottish and German from my dad’s side and English (and who knows what else) from my mom’s side.
18Kimberly V.
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 20:20
This sounds like a lovely book.
I don’t know anything about my maternal side of the family (my biological mother abandoned me when I was a toddler). I do know some about my paternal side.
My paternal great-grandmother came to the US from Norway. Her name was Margit Mattesan. They couldn’t pronounce her name at Ellis Island so they changed it to Margaret Olsen. She then went on to marry a man with the last name Larsen only to have his disappear. She later remarried a man name Hansen. So my maiden name could have been Mattesan, Olsen, Larsen or Hansen. My grandfather kept the last name Larsen.
I know that most people with the last name Larsen are Norwegian (with the “e”).
Sorry to ramble. LOL!
19Amanda
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 20:38
I am Australian, and one of my ancestors (Peter Hibbs) came out on the First Fleet as a sailor on the flag ship, the Sirius. It was shipwrecked at the colony of Norfolk Island, where he then settled, taking a wife from among the convicts of the Second Fleet. He was also the master of the ship that Matthew Flinders sailed to circumvigate around Tasmania, and there are a couple of landmarks on the west coast named after him. After being shipwrecked again doing supply runs between Sydney and Norfolk Island, he gave up the life of the sea, and settled to farming on the Hawkesbury River north of Sydney. They were flooded out a number of times. And when he died he was the oldest First Fleeter.
20Gaye McGill
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 20:58
It was a secret until my great-grandfather died that he had a whole other family (wife and children) living in Germany.
21marleen davis
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 21:20
Family-German Polish & Russian. Grandfathers side-seven of nine children and young adults lost in German war camps during WWII. Only my grandfather and great uncle made it to safety.
22Kathy Scott
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 21:29
I do not have a clue where my family came from.
23danandmarsh
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 21:39
I am from my moms side, german,my dads side canadian french, Pennsylvania dutch.
Am already a subscriber.
24Susan Smith
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 21:50
My family came from England and Ireland
25Ginny
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 22:02
My mom was born in England, her parents were born both in Scotland I believe. I’m not 100% sure on my dad’s side, I know it is a big mix of many: Irish, Polish possibly some German.
26Cindi Aylor
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 22:28
My paternal great grandfather was a castaway on a boat over from France. Both my great grandmothers were full blood Indians on each side: Comanchee and Coushatta tribes. I wish I could have meet them or know more about them.
27Cindi
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 22:46
Hi, What a lovely book to look at and it sounds lovely to read. My husband has begun traveling to Japan and has just returned from Singapore. He brings home the most lovely pictures to share with us and I got a Kimono this time! He thought Japan had a wonderful history and culture. My paternal grandmother came to the USA when she was 13. Her parents and she came over from Calais, France on a cattle ship. They landed at Ellis Island. My maiden name was Spencer and my great-grandfather came from England. My mom’s side is mostly German. Please enter me in your wonderful book drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
28CanCan (Mom Most Traveled)
wrote on 2 September 2008 at 23:54
My husband has been researching our geneology. Our distant relatives are from France. My grandmother was from Ukraine.
I love reading about Asia; I worked in Asia for 5 years so it will always be close to my heart!
29C Duran
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 0:04
My family is German, but has been in the US for several generations. However, my grandparents were raised in an area where everyone still spoke German and my oldest aunt only spoke German until she was 5 and went to school. Unfortunately, she doesn’t remember ANY of it now.
30raych
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 0:10
Ooh, I want in! I’m German (Mennonite, actually) and so is my husband. We haven’t looked too far back in our family trees, but if our kids end up with three eyes…(too gross?)
31Danielle
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 1:38
We know my father’s side originates from France, but they have been in Canada and America for many generations. My mother was born in Coventry, England and moved to the US as a child. An interesting story? Apparently my maternal grandparent’s enjoyed square dancing. When my grandparents divorced they remarried people who had previously been married to each other. My grandfather thought his new wife’s ex-husband would be a great match for my grandmother, so he introduced them and they ended up getting married to each other. Both couples stayed happily married until the death of each of my biological grandparents.
ldsmom2201 at yahoo dot com
http://juanshappywife.blogspot.com
32Janet F
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 5:17
I don’t know much about my roots and there are no secrets that I know of.
I am of Italian descent. I would like to learn more about my family.
The books sounds very interesting to read.
Thank you!
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
33Alessandra
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 6:51
I’d love to win this one! Please enter me!
34Susan C
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 7:18
I have German and English on my fathers side and American Indian and English on my mothers side. I am sad to say I don’t know much except one of my great-great-great– uncles was General Joseph Hooker-not much too be proud of, but a fun fact.
35Deborah Rose
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 7:54
When my father’s father came to America in the early 1900’s, his English was ok but he had a very heavy Italian accent.
The immigration clerk had a hard time understanding him and instead of looking at his paperwork, wrote down his name as he (the clerk) thought it should be spelled, not how it actually was spelled. This changed my father’s family name for all time.
36Jean Fischer
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 8:19
I know I’m 1/2 German, and 1/2 Irish. My two daughters are adopted, and were born in China.
37Pickering
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 9:01
my Fathers family are relater to COLONEL TIMOTHY PICKERING responsible for the Canandaigua Treaty as it is now called between the indians and whites in ustate NY
38Fankie
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 9:55
The book looks really great. I hope if I do not win it that my library has it!
Both of my grandfathers were poor dirt farmers in Mississippi. Each spring they mortgaged the farms. Each fall they repaid the loan when the cotton was picked. Both were very proud that they owned their land.
39Ginny
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 10:00
I’m an email subscriber.
40Trish
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 10:21
Thanks for having this giveaway! I would love to read this book.
As for family history, I know that my grandma’s ancestors were either given land by William Penn or they purchased land from him.
My ancestors are from France, Scotland, and Germany.
41Victokirsh
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 11:06
I study Chinese History, so I’d like to win this one!
42Bebemiqui
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 11:44
I’m 1/2 Dutch, which is pretty remarkable considering how long my family’s been in the US…I didn’t find out until I was 18 that my grandma had been married before and that my dad’s older brother was his 1/2 brother.
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
43Jodi
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 11:50
I don’t know much about my mother’s side. However, my great great great (you get the idea) grandfather, came over from Ireland as a stow a way on a boat.
44Mya Brooks
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 12:24
My family is from Hungary.
45elaina
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 13:03
My father’s family comes from Spanish descendents of the Canary Islands. They settled in St. Bernard Parish in South Lousiana two generations ago. It’s a very rich culture that has really retained its roots.
My mother’s side is a less interesting East Texas blend of Scot-Irish, English, and Cherokee.
I want to say that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone’s rich histories. I read every single note on this entry!
46Adena
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 13:17
The American melting pot describes my family tree. Scot Irish, Polish, French, English, German and other ethnicities that haven’t been uncovered yet!
47Desmond
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 13:32
My father received the Bronze Star during WWII; I’ve always been kind of proud of that.
48Alicia
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 13:42
cool
49julia magrath
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 13:55
Don’t know much about my ancestory, but I love to read about other peoples’.
50stephanie
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 13:55
i am chinese, and I’m living the “west”, and while growing up, there’s always this mentality that the western standards are the way to go - i.e. food, way of living, etc etc that we kind of neglected the asian part of our culture. But as i grow older, and am actually living in the states, I’m much, much, much more appreciative of all things “East” and will definitely be bringing up my child to be proud of his/her heritage and to be a well-rounded individual in terms of culture and different ways of living.
51Paula S.
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 14:00
One of my ancestors fell overboard from the Mayflower and had to be rescued!
52Angela J
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 14:29
This sounds like a good book.
53Alice Hansen
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 14:57
My Mom is really into researching our family history - we’re basically Polish but of course the borders changed a lot through the years! This book sounds great - thanks for the chance!
54Linda Pinto
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 15:35
My family is English and German and my husband’s family is from India.
55mark
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 16:11
I have a european back ground. That’s about it.
56Denise B.
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 16:37
My mother grew up in Germany living through WWII.
57Mike Weisberg
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 16:50
this looks like it would be a good read
58Natasha
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 17:15
I would love to give this a read! As for my family history, my father is from the Philippines and my mother is of Eurpean descent. My father (a nurse) immigrated first to La, then Tx, and to Ca, before leaving for Canada - where he met my mother. I know more about his heritage than my maternal side of the family, mainly, i think, because they immigrated so long ago. Thank you for the chance to win!!
59Anne
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 17:23
I would love to read this book!
A little something about my heritage…I’m English, Scottish, Welsh and second generation Canadian.
My grandfather has the most colourful history of anyone I know! He was a pilot for the RCAF (Royal Canadian Airforce) in the First World War.
He was once shot down by the Japanese, survived the crash and went in the direction of voices talking english. I guess he was shot down in the middle of fighting between the Japanese and English speaking soldiers.
He was also shot down by the Germans (I know, he was shot down a lot lol). This time he was taken Prisoner of War and was the highest ranking prisoner. One day, he decided to get the guards drunk (how, I have no idea) and he taught them to sing God Save the King and as a result, grandpa was courtmartialed by the Germans.
I could go on and on, but I’ll stop lol
Thanks
60eda
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 17:46
in my genealogy there is a relative who crossed on the boat with george washington.
61Judy
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 17:58
I have been doing a lot of reading this summer (surgery), so I’ve had 6 wks off of work. I can go back only 4 generations in our family. Wish I could go back one more, as my great-grandmother was Cherokee and we have had trouble finding any birth records for her. I am very interested in finding out more about my Native American heritage. I just read two of Amy Tan’s novels and one by Anchee Min. I will definitely love reading this novel.
62JOHN
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 18:37
adopted - found out mom is from Montreal, Canada
63Andrea R.
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 18:39
This books sounds great. Count me in!
64Megret
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 20:23
I have Scottish roots for the most part. My Dad was always sure to keep us attached to that culture growing up, and it stuck — it’s not uncommon for me to play bagpipe music around the house while the kids play.
Thanks!
Megret
musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com
65Anita Yancey
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 20:54
I don’t know much about my family history. Except my great grandmother was full blooded American Indian and my father’s family is from Germany.
66SharonC
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 21:12
I am going to live and work in China next year!!! I am so excited. I would love to win this book! Great giveaway.
67Zoey Smith
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 21:24
My parents were born in Indonesia - they were Dutch Indonesians. We went to the Netherlands when I was six months old.
68Anne L.
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 22:14
Well, Mom says that her father told her about a relative who was a bodyguard to Kaiser Wilhelm. I think that’s as close as we can claim to a “brush with greatness”.
69Clarissa
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 22:32
I immigrated to the US from the east when I was 12 years old. I’d be interested in reading this book!
70Alyce
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 22:55
Here’s the link to my post:
http://athomewithbooks.blogspot.com/2008/09/book-giveaways_03.html
71Christine Messer
wrote on 3 September 2008 at 23:11
Thank you for the contest…The book looks intriguing!
My Grandfather was a stowaway on a ship from Russia & made his way to North Dakota…finally settling back in Washington State to work in the fruit industry.
72Laurie
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 3:33
I’m like a dozen different nationalities including French, Chinese, American Indian and Spanish.
73Beverly
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 5:12
Both of my parents were born in Arkansas, but met and married in California. I’ve lived in six different states…so far.
74Elizabeth M.
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 5:20
I am english, german and scotch-irish. The most interesting thing we’ve found out about my heritage is that on my mother’s side I am related to General George Custer. (Now he wasn’t a nice man so it kind of stinks but all the same it’s very interesting!)
75Angie P.
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 8:01
I am quite the mutt…Italian and English on one side, Polish, Lithuanian and, we thought, Austrian on the other. I recently discovered that although the “other” side had lived in Austria, my forbear was actually Italian! My, was my mother shocked to hear that! (But it explains our family dinners with way too much food!)
76Erma
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 8:05
My great grandfather was a native American cheif and my great grandmother was an native american princess.
77Carla
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 9:44
I’m from the Philippines.
78Jan Evans
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 12:06
such great comments,, my gparents camefrom england & ireland
79Annie G
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 12:06
Ah, my roots are fairly straightforward. As far as we know, my mum’s family is all Irish all the way back. My Dad’s family is all Slovak. Pretty easy.
Now my husband, and therefore our son is a true “mutt”. He is part Asian (the western side), part European (with about 6 countries mixed in), part Native American, and, although they just allude to it, we believe part African American.
We have taught our son to be proud of his 4 continent heritage because we believe he is truly lucky to be a living example of the American melting pot!
80Jenny Gibbons
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 12:38
My direct ancestors (on both my father’s and mother’s side) arrived in the US in the same. My father’s ancestors were farmers who fled Ireland during the Great Potato Famine of 1848. They landed in Canada first, then crossed the border in 1849 and farmed potatoes in Maine. (Do what you know, I guess!) My mom’s immigrant ancestor was a Scottish blacksmith who came to the US in 1849 during the California gold rush. He traveled all the way to California and found one lousy nugget of gold. After that failure he returned to New England to live — but he made that nugget into a wedding ring that’s been handed down in our family ever since.
81Rose
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 12:47
count me in
82Sharon
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 12:49
we just adopted our little girl from China, so I would dearly love to win this.
My family is Polish on mom’s side and English Irish Scottish and French Canadian on Dad’s…some of his ancestors came here about 400 years ago..
Husband’s family is Polish and Italian…
83Dean
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 12:50
I’m Italian, not that interesting, but I am fascinated by Asian culture, so this would be good to read
84Sherry Hall
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 13:17
I do not know much about my family history. I have a cousin that is in the process of doing the family tree on my mom’s side, so hopefully I will know that side soon.
I am always happy to hear stories of other peoples’ history and cultures. I know this would be a wonderful win.
Thank-you for the opportunity,
85Tammy
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 13:30
I am a first generation Canadian living in the United States. Both my parents emigrated from Germany. My mom as a child, and my dad as an adult. My mom left East Germany at the age of 7, where they actually had to escape in the middle of the night, by getting past the Berlin Wall.
86Barbara Fox
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 14:14
My husband’s great grandfather used to howl at the moon!
87Denise
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 15:34
One branch of my family tree goes directly back to Emperor Charlemagne.The other branches have not been traced so far back.
88Matthew
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 15:44
Mostly Portuguese who settled in Hawaii several generations ago and Irish,but I have family that is just about everything under the sun.
89Regina
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 16:40
Maybe folklore, but it is said my FIL was smuggled out of Greece in a basket.
90sarah
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 16:45
We just found out a couple years ago that we have some Italian blood in our family because of an adoption about 100 years ago.
91M.A.
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 17:23
Proven fact: an ancestor was granted a large oak tree covered tract of land near Quebec City by King Louis XIV.
92dart
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 17:44
The more the merrier. Learning about different cultures is always a trip.
93CHERYL A FRANCISCO
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 17:54
My family has been in “The New World” since the 1500’s. Our ancestors were not allowed to marry in the nations so they came to America.
cherylfrancisco@hotmail.com
94S
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 18:45
A great-grandparent was from Eastern Europe, but we don’t know where exactly - (my guess is Transylvania).
95Sharon Jones
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 19:10
I’m a mutt from the Slavic Countries…you name it, I came from there,
96Rita A
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 19:23
My family history has been traced back to the Revolutionary war. We are also related to Kit Carson the explorer in our large family tree.
97Janet L Hale
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 19:30
Having been to China this book will bring me back there as I read it.
98Ed Nemmers
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 19:49
Traced from the Ellis Island website, Grandma came over from Sgnseka through Rotterdam.
99sandra kao
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 21:33
growing up, i didn’t care to learn about my heritage. all i know is that my parents are from mainland china and that my mom and her family escaped to taiwan when she was little. they then moved to the us. i was born here in the us.
100Jeanne
wrote on 4 September 2008 at 22:54
My family history is mostly german and italian with a little of this and that thrown in. Which makes me a mutt. I do have an Ellis Island last name and what it was adapted from noone alive in my family knows.
101L McLendon
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 0:22
I was always told that my great grandmother was Blackfoot now that I am grown no one owns up to even saying that, now family says grandfather’s family had some Cherokee heritage. Hmmm, Sounds a bit like a mystery to me.
102Brenda S.
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 2:07
Sounds like a great book, thank you.
103Michelle Y
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 2:18
This book sounds great!! As for me, I’m half French, half Ukrainian….My family migrated to North America probably 200 yrs ago. According to my grandmother, our French ancestor was from a very wealthy family, but was disowned when he decided to move here…
104kathy
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 4:40
I am so mixed up, I don’t know who I am. Iranian, Ukranian, French, English, German and Mohawk from New York State. See what I mean? Thanks for the contest.
105Carolyn
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 7:22
My family secret? My grandmother HAD to get married. This was not the norm back in the early 1900’s! Would love to win! Great contest!
106HairySwede
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 8:07
born in Sweden. can trace family back to at least the 1600s with ease.
107kathy pease
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 10:52
my family came from canada
108Gabrielle DeRosa
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 10:56
Hm, I usually don’t enter these comment contests, but this one sparked my interest. I love learning about other peoples’ histories (I’ve had a blast just reading all the other entries) and I have a slight obsession with the orient. Heck my email means cute cat in Japanese. So, about my roots, I’m German, English, French and I’ve heard rumors that there might be a little Russian on my Mother’s side. Through that side of the family I’m related to Theodore Roosevelt (the 26th president). My Father’s side is all Italian, which he told me had ties to the mafia!! Imagine that!!
109Linda Moeller
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 13:24
My grandfather was a moonshiner!
110CHERYL A FRANCISCO
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 13:29
On my father’s side he is the first generation born in America. His Mother’s family all came from Italy and had a winery and ranch in Ukiah, CA. While the winery is gone, I believe some part of the family still owns part of the ranch, and we for sure still have a street name after my Nana’s family called Bartolomei Road.
cherylfrancisco@hotmail.com
111ELSIE
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 16:44
My mom’s and dad’s families both came from Czechoslovakia (before it split). They all came through Ellis Island, and I have found pictures of the ships that they came on! I work with ELL (English Language Learner) students and this would be a wonderful read for me, as I love anything multi-cultural. Thanks for this chance.
112sheila k.
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 17:14
My mother is a professional genealogist, and even as a child I loved hearing about who I was related to and what their lives were like. She found out that my 22nd-great-grandmother is Lady Godiva, through my father’s family line. I’ll never forget when she delivered the news to the family. We were at my paternal grandfather’s home for a family dinner, and he, being a heavy smoker and at times a womanizer, had an ashtray on the coffee table embossed with a very naked “Lady Godiva.” As soon as he heard the news he grabbed that ash tray, put a bag over it and took it out to the trash. He said he’d never be able to look at it again in the same way.
My 11-great-grandfather is Gov. William Bradford, who wrote the Mayflower Compact and was America’s first journalist.
My son married a beautiful young woman from China, and I am fascinated in learning more about the Chinese culture. I worked at an Oriental School of Medicine with many Chinese and Korean students, and I truly learned to love them and their high regard for family. Would cherish the book.
113Buddy Garrett
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 19:31
I have not been too successful in tracing my family history. I did find out my father’s family back three generations came from Union County Georgia and there is a big family reunion every year. I have heard family talk that our family owned oil wells in Texas but lost them somehow. In my research I have found Garretts all over even O’Garretts in Eire. I wish I knew my family’s history.
114Carol
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 19:44
I was born in the USA as were my parents. We can trace our family back to the year 1230 in Italy.
115Jill Lund
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 19:44
Our heritage dates very far back in the New World history. Thomas Jefferson’s name appears.
There are native americans in there too.
116Vicki wurgler
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 20:19
My great grandparents came from Norway and Switzerland-I really do not know much about them
117Lily Kwan
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 21:19
My family too is from China. This book sounds very interesting!
118Susanne Troop
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 22:08
Supposedly my mother’s father’s side came over on the Mayflower. My mother’s mother’s side came from Poland.
119Renee G
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 22:15
My grandfather was from Ireland and grandmother from Norway.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo.com
120Charlene Kuser
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 22:25
My family is from England,alot
of them fought in the Civil War.
Nice book and contest.Thanks
I love the Chinese heritage
121Helen
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 22:56
My father came from China and my mother’s family came from Mexico.
122Heather C
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 23:12
I know I’m part Dutch, part Cherokee… Interesting, yes?
123Pamela White
wrote on 5 September 2008 at 23:30
I know my grandmother came to the US from Germany at the age of 16 and was sponsored by a rich lady. She was her cook and clean for 3 years to reimburse her for the expenses.
124Donna Kozar
wrote on 6 September 2008 at 0:04
Our family is from Chekoslovokia
125Donna Kozar
wrote on 6 September 2008 at 0:04
I subscribed
126Rickey Moham Jr
wrote on 6 September 2008 at 1:18
WIN WIN WIN!!!
127sarah b
wrote on 6 September 2008 at 7:30
looks like a good book. my family history has my roots in sweden, but my son can say he is from africa too since his father is congolese
128Heather Mc.
wrote on 6 September 2008 at 11:48
My Nana’s family over in England is doing a great family tree at the moment and have traced their roots back to Scottish ancestory. My papaw’s and father’s side seem to be a mystery but I hope to start researching because geaneolgy really interest me. This book looks like a great read.
Thanks
129Ronnica
wrote on 6 September 2008 at 18:22
This sounds like a good book! My mother’s family has Danish roots. My great great grandfather was a stowaway on his way from Denmark. He refused to reveal who he was when he was found (probably because he was a criminal, but we like to think he was a runaway prince!), so they gave him the last name “Mariner,” which is my grandmother’s maiden name.
130marybeth i.
wrote on 8 September 2008 at 20:23
My family is primarily Italian - I was shocked to hear later in life that my great grandfather was Greek and had immigrated to Italy with his family years before immigrating to the US. Recently I encountered someone at work with the same last name as my mom’s maiden name and think we are related - it is an unusual last name. I checked the Ellis Island records and all of the people that had this last name immigrated from the same town in Italy. there were less than 25 people… I am fairly confident that his great grandfather and mine were cousins or siblings.