Family Testament

Timothy Corcoran (Sheboygan, WI)
(August 2009)

The book by Mick Karabegovic titled Family Testament brings a word to mind. That word is "broken". In Family Testament Mick tells his life story beginning in the mid 1980's as a young man in his home country of Bosnia as he first meets the woman who he is sure will be the love of his life.

The young Mr. Karabegovic has in him a strong sense of family values and an equally strong sense of right and wrong all learned from his father and mother. At this young age he has no idea how much his values and his strength will be tested in the decades ahead. Having immigrated to America in 2002 he uses his broken English to tell a story that starts in the midst of a broken political and social system that eventually forces him to leave Europe with his family. His unedited and sometimes humorous use, or maybe I should say misuse, of English adds to the reader being able
to relate to and empathize with Mick. He tells of how he deals with broken moral values, broken vows, a broken social services system and a legal system that only adds to the problem. It's a tragedy, but it is also a love story. As he tells of his feelings for
Olivia, the love of his life, only the luckiest of readers will be able to relate. The rest of us will be reminded, or maybe feel for the first time, how love and devotion can drive a person. Then you will feel Mick's broken heart as things unravel in his marriage and
family life.

The story of Mick's life reads like a romance fiction novel, but the story is true and it contains within it a very strong social commentary about family values and the government and social systems on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean that can help tear
families apart.

Tim Corcoran
Sheboygan, Wisconsin USA 2009


Source: John Budrecki (Sheboygan, WI)
Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009

What I liked about Family Testament was the way Mick told his story. He would tell his story, then break it down and give you some history leading up to that moment. The story is compelling, with lots of twists and turns. The love story is one you have heard before about a man who finds the woman of his dreams, but later finds out she’s a nightmare. The court trial helps you understand how messed up the judicial system is towards an innocent man who did nothing wrong. Overall I enjoyed the book and have a better understanding of how a man in today’s society can be unjustly accused and be told “that’s just the way it is”.

Thank You

John Budrecki


Source: Scott McEwan (Sheboygan, WI)
Date: April, 2009

Family Testament is about the many challenges families face on a day to day basis. But more importantly it’s about societies’ view of family. The reason for gangs, shootings, and drugs can all be explained when you read Family Testament.

It is well known that a child who doesn’t get attention or gets too much attention will misbehave to feel loved or accepted.

Rights. Human rights. We all agree they are important, but are they more important than family responsibility? Responsibility to your kids? Spouse? Everyone will agree that family does come first but nobody acts like it. Why is that? People meet, get married after 2 months to a year, have kids shortly after, then divorce without any thought of consequence to their kids.

When you read a book you may ask yourself, “Do I like this book?” If it’s a no, you put the book down, and don’t think twice about it. But WHY don’t you like it? Was there enough drama, or real life situations? Could you relate to it in any way? Did it make you think? And finally, did it get you emotionally involved? If not, then yes, that was probably a terrible book. Family Testament however, is not. Family Testament is a story about a man’s struggle for his family over 20 years and 5 countries from Bosnia to the fictional Town of Eslington, WI. Family Testament has everything from periods of serenity and chaos, happiness and sadness, love and hate, and will leave your view of society and moralities forever changed or not. Everyone will agree with that moral of this story but, is agreeing enough?

Scott McEwan


Source: Sasha Sedlak (Cincinnati, OH)
Date: 6:22pm March 17. 2009

This is a very interesting book; also people can find many pragmatic things. Written from bottom of a soul showing the real world we are living in.

Sasha