Jeanne Keresztesi, born in December 1925, published her first book, “An Unmade Life”, in the summer of 2016. She tells the story of her own mother, born in 1905 in Grand Rapids, often visiting relatives on a west Michigan farm. The title captures the many unplanned developments and disappointments of her mother’s life as well as its unusual aspects.
 
For example, as Jeanne relates, “…she joined the Communist Party when still in her late teens as a way of furthering her father’s goals” (he was a pacifist during WWI). In addition to bringing her mother to life, author Keresztesi also captures the vibrant lifestyle of West Michigan families during the early years of the 20th century.
 
As a whole, the book honors the rich rural background of her family heritage as well as vivifies the identity crisis and other struggles of single motherhood. Reviewer Barry Wolf, sociologist from the Ann Arbor area, has written of the book: “Jeanne judiciously and nonaggressively integrated both left-wing political and erotic themes without being overly forceful.”
 
Author: Jeanne Keresztesi
Published 2016
Paperback