Review by kathcavin -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
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kathcavin
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- Latest Review: Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
Review by kathcavin -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]
In Charlie Sheldon's Strong Heart, elderly Tom is preparing for a camping trip with his friend William and William's daughter Myra, when his ex-wife arrives unexpectedly. She brings Sarah with her, the teenage granddaughter that Tom did not know existed. Sarah's mother was Tom's late daughter, the product of Tom's ill fated marriage shortly after he returned from Vietnam. Against his better judgement, Tom brings Sarah along on their trip to visit the grave of his grandfather. Tom struggles to break through Sarah's surly exterior and connect with her. This group of friends must prove that the land around the grave of Tom's grandfather belonged to his family before the mining company claims it. This story of family strife and reconnection is set against the stunning backdrop of Washington's Olympic Peninsula.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. The plot was engaging and Sheldon made his characters relatable. Significant character development was missing and caused this book to lack the depth required to make it a bestseller. The author did an excellent job incorporating elements of magical realism into this novel. This book is relatively short, but feels like a complete story.
I enjoyed the contrast between Tom and his granddaughter Sarah. There is a significant age difference between the two, yet they are similarly stubborn and healing from the loss of Sarah's mother. Sarah's character is really the only one that develops throughout the book. She learns to trust Tom and she connects to her Indian heritage. I also appreciated the references to the Native American legends passed down by William and Tom. It helped the reader to understand William and Tom's backgrounds and added an extra layer of interest to the book.
I found some parts of this book to be corny and unrealistic. For example, on page 36 when William says to Myra, "We think we brought Sarah on this trip, but maybe it is she, who is taking us." I also did not think the characters were developed enough. The reader is given the least information about Myra. She is a major character but practically all that is said about her is that she is William's daughter. I also would have preferred for the book to end on a more definite note. I wanted to know what happened with the mining company and what each character's future looked like.
Due to an absence of profanity and sexual content, I would recommend this book for ages 14 and older. This book does contain some violence and one use of profanity. It seems to be written for an adult audience and would not be of interest to individuals younger than 14.
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Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
In Charlie Sheldon's Strong Heart, elderly Tom is preparing for a camping trip with his friend William and William's daughter Myra, when his ex-wife arrives unexpectedly. She brings Sarah with her, the teenage granddaughter that Tom did not know existed. Sarah's mother was Tom's late daughter, the product of Tom's ill fated marriage shortly after he returned from Vietnam. Against his better judgement, Tom brings Sarah along on their trip to visit the grave of his grandfather. Tom struggles to break through Sarah's surly exterior and connect with her. This group of friends must prove that the land around the grave of Tom's grandfather belonged to his family before the mining company claims it. This story of family strife and reconnection is set against the stunning backdrop of Washington's Olympic Peninsula.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. The plot was engaging and Sheldon made his characters relatable. Significant character development was missing and caused this book to lack the depth required to make it a bestseller. The author did an excellent job incorporating elements of magical realism into this novel. This book is relatively short, but feels like a complete story.
I enjoyed the contrast between Tom and his granddaughter Sarah. There is a significant age difference between the two, yet they are similarly stubborn and healing from the loss of Sarah's mother. Sarah's character is really the only one that develops throughout the book. She learns to trust Tom and she connects to her Indian heritage. I also appreciated the references to the Native American legends passed down by William and Tom. It helped the reader to understand William and Tom's backgrounds and added an extra layer of interest to the book.
I found some parts of this book to be corny and unrealistic. For example, on page 36 when William says to Myra, "We think we brought Sarah on this trip, but maybe it is she, who is taking us." I also did not think the characters were developed enough. The reader is given the least information about Myra. She is a major character but practically all that is said about her is that she is William's daughter. I also would have preferred for the book to end on a more definite note. I wanted to know what happened with the mining company and what each character's future looked like.
Due to an absence of profanity and sexual content, I would recommend this book for ages 14 and older. This book does contain some violence and one use of profanity. It seems to be written for an adult audience and would not be of interest to individuals younger than 14.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
