Review by Stacsads -- The Thundering Herd
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Stacsads
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Review by Stacsads -- The Thundering Herd
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Thundering Herd" by John E. Peltier.]
2 out of 4 stars
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On a quest to keep his family’s history alive, John Peltier pens A Thundering Herd as a gift to his family and future generations. While titled a memoir, John’s account is autobiographical; more facts and less feeling. The first three chapters introduce the reader to John’s ancestors, tracing the Peltier family’s roots from 1634 France and the Keillor roots from 1881 Scotland. John’s personal experiences enter into the story in chapter 4. As the book continues, John shares what it was like being the fifth of twelve children growing up in the 1950s on a rice and cattle farm in Texas. He also tells of his time as a medic in the Vietnam War. He rounds the book out with stories of his marriage, children and starting his own successful construction business.
Through his stories, John brings us back to a simpler time. He writes with nostalgia for a by-gone era where hard work was expected, siblings worked and played together, and dinner around the family table was the norm. He adds enough detail to put the reader right in the middle of the adventure. Interesting bits of history are imbedded in the stories. His book would likely appeal to those who grew up on a farm, a part of a large family, in what we would now consider a simpler time. Some of the longer detailed stories are not likely to keep a younger generation’s attention.
John writes simply and straight forward saying, “Writing is not one of my natural abilities.” But the reader can give him grace, knowing his intention is to chronicle his own history and not to become a literary master.
In the early 80s, John has a turning point. Up until this part of the book, we are enjoying story after story, mostly positive and matter of fact. Now, it seems, he does some soul searching. He has been too selfish, too independent and too distant from God. He has “it all” yet feels alone. It is time to let his wife have things her way, with the caveat, “But there were still issues I had to take the lead on.” We aren’t privy to what those issues were. Around this time he learns of some farm land he’d like to own. Rather than making the decision himself, as he says he would likely have done in the past, he gathers his family and tells them they can decide if this move is something they want to do. Ultimately, they return to him with a yes, and we are to congratulate him for being unselfish. But I think the more revealing story would have been one where his family was given the chance to make the decision and that decision wasn’t in exact accordance to his wishes. I wonder, how would he have responded if the decision was a resounding no? Would that story have made it into this book? Would he have justified why he was going to overrule them? Would he have accepted that answer and moved on? I learn nothing of his growth with this story, although I think it was added to the book to show growth.
And as far as his religious growth, the spiritual epiphany seems a little thin as well. It felt like he thought the book should have some climactic ending so he added in a “return to God” bit. He may well have had this rededication, but we are not shown the growth. At one point, he is angry with God “for the death and destruction he allowed“ in the Vietnam War, though after mulling over a bible verse for a few days, he’s suddenly reconciled. He does share that he goes to church with his wife “on some Sundays” and we know about his time on the church’s Mission team. Once again, he tells what he’s done but not who he is.
I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. The book lacks the depth needed to give it 4 stars and too many grammar errors for 3 stars. If possible, I would give it 2.5, as the time and love put into creating this story is evident. I do believe John’s descendants will cherish these stories as connecting tissue to their roots.
******
The Thundering Herd
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
2 out of 4 stars
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On a quest to keep his family’s history alive, John Peltier pens A Thundering Herd as a gift to his family and future generations. While titled a memoir, John’s account is autobiographical; more facts and less feeling. The first three chapters introduce the reader to John’s ancestors, tracing the Peltier family’s roots from 1634 France and the Keillor roots from 1881 Scotland. John’s personal experiences enter into the story in chapter 4. As the book continues, John shares what it was like being the fifth of twelve children growing up in the 1950s on a rice and cattle farm in Texas. He also tells of his time as a medic in the Vietnam War. He rounds the book out with stories of his marriage, children and starting his own successful construction business.
Through his stories, John brings us back to a simpler time. He writes with nostalgia for a by-gone era where hard work was expected, siblings worked and played together, and dinner around the family table was the norm. He adds enough detail to put the reader right in the middle of the adventure. Interesting bits of history are imbedded in the stories. His book would likely appeal to those who grew up on a farm, a part of a large family, in what we would now consider a simpler time. Some of the longer detailed stories are not likely to keep a younger generation’s attention.
John writes simply and straight forward saying, “Writing is not one of my natural abilities.” But the reader can give him grace, knowing his intention is to chronicle his own history and not to become a literary master.
In the early 80s, John has a turning point. Up until this part of the book, we are enjoying story after story, mostly positive and matter of fact. Now, it seems, he does some soul searching. He has been too selfish, too independent and too distant from God. He has “it all” yet feels alone. It is time to let his wife have things her way, with the caveat, “But there were still issues I had to take the lead on.” We aren’t privy to what those issues were. Around this time he learns of some farm land he’d like to own. Rather than making the decision himself, as he says he would likely have done in the past, he gathers his family and tells them they can decide if this move is something they want to do. Ultimately, they return to him with a yes, and we are to congratulate him for being unselfish. But I think the more revealing story would have been one where his family was given the chance to make the decision and that decision wasn’t in exact accordance to his wishes. I wonder, how would he have responded if the decision was a resounding no? Would that story have made it into this book? Would he have justified why he was going to overrule them? Would he have accepted that answer and moved on? I learn nothing of his growth with this story, although I think it was added to the book to show growth.
And as far as his religious growth, the spiritual epiphany seems a little thin as well. It felt like he thought the book should have some climactic ending so he added in a “return to God” bit. He may well have had this rededication, but we are not shown the growth. At one point, he is angry with God “for the death and destruction he allowed“ in the Vietnam War, though after mulling over a bible verse for a few days, he’s suddenly reconciled. He does share that he goes to church with his wife “on some Sundays” and we know about his time on the church’s Mission team. Once again, he tells what he’s done but not who he is.
I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. The book lacks the depth needed to give it 4 stars and too many grammar errors for 3 stars. If possible, I would give it 2.5, as the time and love put into creating this story is evident. I do believe John’s descendants will cherish these stories as connecting tissue to their roots.
******
The Thundering Herd
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
