Review by tsh1001 -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon

[tsh1001]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon is an extraordinarily creative and unique novel that is sure to keep the pages turning and for that reason I am giving it a 4 out of 4 rating. Strong Heart is very nicely edited and has astounding detail spilling out of every page. It incorporates familial tension, historical facts, claims to property, and the age-old quarrel of myth versus data, stories versus science.

Tom, William, and Myra prepare to set off on a camping trip to settle some of Tom’s unfinished business when Sarah shows up unexpectedly and changes everything. Together, the four of them embark on a journey that will change their lives forever.

When Sarah goes missing in the wooded mountains, the plot takes an interesting turn. Sarah embarks on a spiritual journey, or an impact induced hallucination, and returns 8 days later a changed person. While her recall of her journey was a great and unique concept, it was slightly confusing as the shift in narration was never clearly introduced or identified as such. While I thoroughly enjoyed Sarah’s story, my only criticism is that the native characters’ names, along with the amount of native characters introduced so quickly made the characters hard to keep track of.

Sheldon’s use of detail throughout the story does not disappoint and paints a vivid picture of the wilderness surrounding the four travelers. Throughout the whole story, the scenery is nicely described, making it easy to actually imagine the scenes in your head, and each one of the characters is well developed, as if each character is someone you had known for years. That, along with the fact that there isn’t a dull moment anywhere to be found, was my favorite part of reading this book. Another aspect of the book that I was truly fond of was the growth in Sarah and Tom’s relationship, as well as Sarah’s personal emotional growth. Sarah and Tom know very little about each other during the first camping trip they take, however, they are brought closer by the hardships that they endure together and join forces in order to protect the land that their ancestors once inhabited. There is no denying that Sarah and Tom share an ancestral bond and Sheldon portrays that very well throughout the story.

It is clear that the author has done extensive research and has a vast knowledge of the culture of characters in all aspects of the story. He incorporated not only geographical information, but also mythological accuracies of the region. Sheldon truly has a grasp on the region and time frame of which the book revolves around and does a spectacular job of linking the past to the present.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story with lots of detail, especially those interested in Native American culture. It is enjoyable for anyone, not just those with a love for native culture. This is a beautiful story of family bonds and of friends who become family. Strong Heart is intriguing, creative, and unique; a true page-turner and a must read for book lovers everywhere.

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Strong Heart
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[tsh1001]

I would love to hear others opinions on the novel!!!