Jake Drum, Frank’s younger brother, has a stutter and is more devout than his cynical older brother. The tension between Nathan, Frank’s father, and Emil is palpable in multiple moments over the course of the book. Emil was also engaged to Frank’s mother, Ruth, before running out on her to seek fame in New York City, prior to his move to Hollywood. Emil has returned to New Bremen blind and disfigured from a war injury prior to serving, he was a successful music composer in Hollywood, “finding easy work in the music side of the film business…and in with a good-time Hollywood crowd” (63).

Ariel also helps Emil Brandt, Karl’s uncle, with transcribing his memoir. Her boyfriend, Karl Brandt, is the son of wealthy local beer magnates, and lives in the Heights, New Bremen’s wealthier area, while the Drums live in the Flats, which is middle- and working-class. Ariel, a talented singer and pianist, is eighteen years old and has been accepted to Juilliard for the following fall semester. Ruth, despite her presence in the church, is not a true believer she drinks, smokes, and questions God’s existence over the course of the book.įrank has an older sister, Ariel, and a younger brother, Jake. After college, Nathan had planned to be a lawyer, but served in World War II and came back a changed and devout man. Frank’s mother, Ruth, leads choir for church services. Frank’s father, Nathan, is a Methodist minister for three area churches in and around New Bremen.

Ordinary grace by william krueger