Where the Heart Was Glenn G Boyer Books
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It is the depths of the Depression. In the words of President Franklin Roosevelt, "One third of the country was ill-housed, ill-clothed, and ill-fed." Young Bennie Todd and his family—forced to live in an unheated, sparsely furnished apartment in Waubonsee—are no exception. Bennie, sickly and always hungry, longs for the place where he was born—the family farm on the Wisconsin Cut-Over. When mysterious Uncle Newt arrives from Alaska and makes the move back possible, Bennie's world enlarges, encompassing the swamps and woodlands of northwestern Wisconsin and the legends surrounding them, the story of his Sioux great-grandmother, and eventually the tender passion of his first and lasting love. In part an autobiography of his Depression childhood, and a multigenerational family saga, Boyer brings to life the mood, the desperation of those years, a re-creates memorable moments in our common history—truly a book for our time.
Where the Heart Was Glenn G Boyer Books
When I tackled this book I thought I would never get finished reading it. The size was humongous! But, as I read on I discovered there was very little the author could have left out of his story. "Where the Heart Was," tells a family linage story that goes from the 1800's through Pearl Harbor in 1941. It is told in a memorable way that probably would align with many of our own families if we went back far enough. The descriptions that the author ingrains in your mind will not leave you whether they are happy, sad, or just simple occurrences. The characters can be pictured as you read each page. You will travel with some of history's well-known people such as Abraham Lincoln, General Grant, and other famous military figures on and off the battlefield, and someone that could have been your grandpa or grandma while they remember those famous people they knew, or knew of, from history. Some in war, some in peace, some deep in Indian territory, some while courting, some in saloons or whorehouses, or just riding in an old automobile on roads so rough that your insides might move around a lot. Falling in love usually started quite young and, as today, some lasted and some didn't.You will be on the field when Custer made his last stand; when Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address; when Sitting Bull and other great Indian leaders ruled the range; when men were called to war in several periods of history; when men flew "by the seat of their pants" in old cloth covered biplanes; be aware of change of seasons in various areas of our nation; when you hear stories of your forefathers and live as they did; live through the great depression while your life becomes dependent on little or nothing, sometimes scratching for the simplest of food and supplies to live; visiting battlefields where your early families describe what occurred and who they lost or almost lost due to injuries; live in a medical area where no anesthetic existed and limbs were severed in great pain; learn how to milk a cow properly or kill it for needed food; walk through a meadow or glen and take in all the scents; cross rivers that routinely flood; you will live many days in your forefathers stead as they lived and carried on regardless of pain until their body could not take any more.
I could go on and on with this great story but I think you have a good idea by now what Glenn Boyer's story is telling. You won't forget it and you will greatly appreciate what your past generations went through and how good a life you have thanks to them regardless of the problems you might have during your living years. You will appreciate the huge and dramatic improvements those former families gave our generation. As I said, do not be wary of the size of this book because it tells a story of history that needs a book the scope of this one.
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Where the Heart Was Glenn G Boyer Books Reviews
In this novel, Mr Boyer traces the history of the American republic from the Revolution through the Civil War and the Great Depression. A number of different characters, together with the novel's protagonist Bennie Todd cover this span of history.
Bennie is a youth of the Depression, living with his parents in a cold-water flat in an industrial suburb of Chicago. Bennie longs for his lost paradise - the family farm in Wisconsin - left behind for economic reasons. Bennie's story, or at least aspects of it, will be familiar to many Americans. Benny and his family return to farming life, and this period of Bennie's life is filled with both joy and learning. Bennie grows to manhood as the USA enters World War II after the bombing of Pearl Harbour.
On one level, this is a novel is about a man and generations of the family to which he belongs. This is also a novel about the building of a nation the people and events that have forged the USA. Partly biographical, this novel portrays an aspect of American life and recent history that may not be well known to those born after World War II. Written history is often about big events, decisions by government, and well-known people. Few of us see our own participation in that version of history. And yet we all, just like Bennie Todd and his family (and especially his uncle) represent an important part of history.
Beautifully written, with very human characters, this is a story to savour. It is a celebration.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Rarely have I come across a book which leaves such a strong impact, a sense of presence and truth. Each chapter strikes a chord of resonance with the past. I feel a strong kinship with the characters, the places they lived and the challenges they faced. I feel totally in accord with the praise and accolades written on the jacket cover. This book covers a rare time, the Great Depression. It reveals how one family struggled to survive these tumultous times and the uncertainty they faced as they lived day to day. Their courage, sacrifices and the many emotional upheavals they experienced while facing difficulties and challenges is told through the eyes of Bennie Todd who was a young boy in the early 1930s. What I love most about the book is how the author wove into this novel his vast knowledge about the American Revolution, the Civil War and various Indian Wars. It is Bennie's interest in history which often provides an opening to the past which should never be forgotten. One gets a strong sense of the debt we owe to those who fought in these wars and provided us the freedoms we often take for granted. There is an authenticity about the stories and lives of the main characters that makes this book very difficult to put down. There are extraordinairy experiences and adventures which keeps the reader spell bound and anticipating, hoping for more of the same. The author does not disappoint in this regard. The author creates a sweeping epic story which displays the human spirit in its full range courageous, weak, loving, sensitive, and caring. The author's lyrical style of writing is both highly impressive and original but his use of the nonlinear technique to provide background information, although necessary for the story, can be daunting at times. Overall, this is a highly impressive literary achievement which leaves the reader appreciating a part of history which should not be forgotten.
The book begins with the recollections of Newt Edwin Cheek when he was an eleven year old and had been enlisted as a drummer boy in the Civil War. Newt had wanted very badly to accompany his father Lt. Colonel Robert Cheek to this war and his mother reluctantly agreed. The impressions, feelings and interpretations of events as told through Newt's memories provide great insight into this time in history. In the next chapter, the reader is given a glimpse into the thoughts and feelings of Abe Lincoln as he prepared to give his great address at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In this manner, the author lays a foundation about how freedom and the common man who fought for it go hand and hand and neither should ever be taken for granted. Next, the reader is introduced to Bennie Todd, his parents and grandparents and their interwoven complex lives. One branch of the family were Wisconsin farmers. They took pride in their independence and ability to live off the land by their own hard labor from dawn 'til dusk. Another branch of the family were more educated, which included a minister, whose son became a teacher and later Bennie's great grandfather. He was an eccentric character who was a cardshark and a great shot with a gun, as well as a good-looking ladies man. The author does a superb job of providing deep insights into human behavior and the eccentricities of his unique characters particularly the relationship of Bennie's mother and father. The personalities and behavioral traits of the main characters which include their strengths and flaws is very well written.
It is after Uncle Newt returns from Alaska where he made his fortune in the gold rush that Bennie's life is turned around. Uncle Newt joins the family on their road trip back "up north" to return to the land of their origin, the farm and cabin they owned in the past. Due to the Depression, Bennie's father lost his job and could no longer provide a living for the family so they return to Wisconsin. There Bennie befriends a full blooded Indian and Bennie's spirit more fully awakens to his own Indian roots. Since his youth, Bennie has had special feelings for the land and visions which now make sense. Along with exploring his Indian roots, Bennie connects spiritually with the land, his family and his past. Bennie grows up and becomes a man in every sense of the word. Bennie finds romance and develops a deep love relationship. The relationship between Bennie's parents evolves and changes in surprising and unexpected ways. As Bennie learns more about his family history, he develops a deeper love and understanding of the importance of famly and country. His fascination with history and the past comes full circle. At the end, the reader learns Bennie is willing to sacrifice his life for his family and his country. This is a highly engaging book with fascinating characters about a very important subject. It is most highly recommended. Erika Borsos
When I tackled this book I thought I would never get finished reading it. The size was humongous! But, as I read on I discovered there was very little the author could have left out of his story. "Where the Heart Was," tells a family linage story that goes from the 1800's through Pearl Harbor in 1941. It is told in a memorable way that probably would align with many of our own families if we went back far enough. The descriptions that the author ingrains in your mind will not leave you whether they are happy, sad, or just simple occurrences. The characters can be pictured as you read each page. You will travel with some of history's well-known people such as Abraham Lincoln, General Grant, and other famous military figures on and off the battlefield, and someone that could have been your grandpa or grandma while they remember those famous people they knew, or knew of, from history. Some in war, some in peace, some deep in Indian territory, some while courting, some in saloons or whorehouses, or just riding in an old automobile on roads so rough that your insides might move around a lot. Falling in love usually started quite young and, as today, some lasted and some didn't.
You will be on the field when Custer made his last stand; when Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address; when Sitting Bull and other great Indian leaders ruled the range; when men were called to war in several periods of history; when men flew "by the seat of their pants" in old cloth covered biplanes; be aware of change of seasons in various areas of our nation; when you hear stories of your forefathers and live as they did; live through the great depression while your life becomes dependent on little or nothing, sometimes scratching for the simplest of food and supplies to live; visiting battlefields where your early families describe what occurred and who they lost or almost lost due to injuries; live in a medical area where no anesthetic existed and limbs were severed in great pain; learn how to milk a cow properly or kill it for needed food; walk through a meadow or glen and take in all the scents; cross rivers that routinely flood; you will live many days in your forefathers stead as they lived and carried on regardless of pain until their body could not take any more.
I could go on and on with this great story but I think you have a good idea by now what Glenn Boyer's story is telling. You won't forget it and you will greatly appreciate what your past generations went through and how good a life you have thanks to them regardless of the problems you might have during your living years. You will appreciate the huge and dramatic improvements those former families gave our generation. As I said, do not be wary of the size of this book because it tells a story of history that needs a book the scope of this one.
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