Review of Strong Heart
Posted: 09 Feb 2022, 20:20
[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]
What began as a trek to the resting place of Tom's beloved grandfather, Bob Bob, where he would honor the family legacy in the company of good friends, shortly became a family affair. Not only that, but it became a tale of self-discovery that spans several generations and may lead to a better understanding of human history. Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon emphasizes the importance of telling a good story and building a solid foundation with relatable and engaging characters, each with their own idiosyncrasies, that serve as the paddlers to keep the story rowing.
Some of the best books take you to another place in time and space, or even a different mindset. Fantasy cannot be spelled without "fan," which is what I am, of the genre, and this story. It manages to subtly infuse fantasy and Native American folklore while balancing both with realism and history. The pacing of the general story is adept and varied enough to captivate the audience without leaving them weak in the knees and out of breath or falling asleep while sitting down (or standing up). I really enjoyed the core characters and how they interacted with one another, even grew together; some more than others.
There were some missing passages when it came to reading the kindle edition. I would click the arrow on 521 and it would take me to 542, cutting out some of the story; or I clicked on the arrow on location 1826 and it would take me to location 1857, following suit, the first time I read those pages, but when I returned to check for the discrepancy, the passages formerly missing would appear. It occurred several more times throughout, and while it was more of a technical error, it was distracting and did affect the experience in a negative manner.
I would have to give this 3 out of 4 Stars because I did enjoy the book, and the chemistry between the characters. While there were other errors I found within, most were not as distracting as the occasional missing passages upon first read. The passages of situational violence later in the book were understood but may have been a little bit too much for me and might be too much for certain readers.
When reading this book, there were passages and chapters that had me think of specific audiences this would appeal to. Trekkers may appreciate the book; the description of the path Tom and friends hiked in chapter 8, or location 585, assisted in visualizing the scenery, and is only one example. Kayakers, or Seamen, may appreciate some of the imagery that occurs later in the book. Lastly, there is a specific person that may find this story intriguing, my uncle, and his daughters may enjoy the book as well.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
What began as a trek to the resting place of Tom's beloved grandfather, Bob Bob, where he would honor the family legacy in the company of good friends, shortly became a family affair. Not only that, but it became a tale of self-discovery that spans several generations and may lead to a better understanding of human history. Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon emphasizes the importance of telling a good story and building a solid foundation with relatable and engaging characters, each with their own idiosyncrasies, that serve as the paddlers to keep the story rowing.
Some of the best books take you to another place in time and space, or even a different mindset. Fantasy cannot be spelled without "fan," which is what I am, of the genre, and this story. It manages to subtly infuse fantasy and Native American folklore while balancing both with realism and history. The pacing of the general story is adept and varied enough to captivate the audience without leaving them weak in the knees and out of breath or falling asleep while sitting down (or standing up). I really enjoyed the core characters and how they interacted with one another, even grew together; some more than others.
There were some missing passages when it came to reading the kindle edition. I would click the arrow on 521 and it would take me to 542, cutting out some of the story; or I clicked on the arrow on location 1826 and it would take me to location 1857, following suit, the first time I read those pages, but when I returned to check for the discrepancy, the passages formerly missing would appear. It occurred several more times throughout, and while it was more of a technical error, it was distracting and did affect the experience in a negative manner.
I would have to give this 3 out of 4 Stars because I did enjoy the book, and the chemistry between the characters. While there were other errors I found within, most were not as distracting as the occasional missing passages upon first read. The passages of situational violence later in the book were understood but may have been a little bit too much for me and might be too much for certain readers.
When reading this book, there were passages and chapters that had me think of specific audiences this would appeal to. Trekkers may appreciate the book; the description of the path Tom and friends hiked in chapter 8, or location 585, assisted in visualizing the scenery, and is only one example. Kayakers, or Seamen, may appreciate some of the imagery that occurs later in the book. Lastly, there is a specific person that may find this story intriguing, my uncle, and his daughters may enjoy the book as well.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon