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FRANCINE FALK-ALLEN grew up and resides in northern California. She had polio in 1951 and has lived her life as a disabled person making an effort to be a “normie.”
Falk-Allen was originally an art major and later completed her BA in Managerial Accounting, then ran her own business for thirty years. She has always sought creative outlets, such as painting, singing, and writing; has published three books, a song, and many essays and articles in national journals.
She began doing extensive family genealogy research in 1999, and has traced both her maternal and paternal ancestors back to the 1600’s.
Her two books, Not a Poster Child: Living Well with a Disability—A Memoir and No Spring Chicken: Stories and Advice from a Wild Handicapper on Aging, and Disability, have received the Kirkus star for excellence and won other awards.
Her third book is A Wolff in the Family, a riveting early twentieth century saga set in the western United States and based on scandalous family history.
Francine facilitates a polio survivors’ group as well as a writing group and volunteers on her town’s Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Committee. She loves the outdoors, swimming, gardening, movies, well-written literature, being with friends and sharing British tea and a little champagne now and then. She resides in San Rafael, California, with her husband, Richard Falk, and their young and feisty cat, Cleo.
Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
A Wolff in the Family by Francine Falk-Allen is a riveting narrative based on true events, weaving together a tapestry of family strife and resilience against the backdrop of early 20th-century America. The story explores the complexities of the Wolff family, marked by themes of misogyny, prejudice, and profound passion. The story begins with Frank and Naomi Wolff, a couple whose marriage seemed destined for happiness. Settling in Ogden, Utah, their union flourished despite Frank’s demanding job as a railroad engineer, which frequently took him away from home. Naomi, a Kansas farmgirl turned devoted mother of fourteen children, epitomized the era’s ideal of domesticity, where her days were consumed with child-rearing and managing a bustling household. However, Frank’s decision to place their younger children in an orphanage far from home marks a pivotal scandal in the Wolff family history, shrouded in secrecy for eighty years.
What’s notably apparent is that Francine Falk-Allen has meticulously researched A Wolff in the Family to deliver a compelling tale that captures the essence of a bygone era. The narrative is compassionate, and Falk-Allen tells the story with emotional depth and historical authenticity. A glossary at the beginning of the book helps readers with keeping track of the many characters and their position in the family hierarchy. Naomi is a character readers will care about and root for as she has amazing resilience and determination. Without giving away too much, Falk-Allen wrote Frank so perfectly that readers may find they have a love/hate relationship with him. Overall, A Wolff in the Family is a poignant and thought-provoking read about the power of forgiveness and the enduring legacy of secrets kept hidden throughout generations.
