Review by ljurschak -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
-
ljurschak
- Posts: 3
- Joined: 13 May 2020, 19:34
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 3
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ljurschak.html
- Latest Review: Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
Review by ljurschak -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]
Charlie Sheldon's Strong Heart is an adventure-filled tale set in the Olympic Peninsula about the pursuit of justice and the mysteries of the genesis of life in North America inserted into a coming-of-age story. This unique mix melds together seamlessly to produce a complex story that leads the reader to contemplate what is real and true: scientific fact or cultural belief? When Tom, descended from American Indian heritage, received notice that he has a granddaughter named Sarah, he also received news that he is in charge of taking care of her. This change throws his life through a loop. He had been planning on making an expedition to visit the gravesite of his late grandfather with his American Indian friend William and William’s daughter, Myra. The three of them decide to take Sarah in and take her on the expedition, too. Sarah, a whiny troublemaker at first, adds extra stress onto the other three explorers; this dynamic makes Tom regret bringing her along in the first place. However, she proves her worth soon enough and begins to change the perspectives of Tom, William, and Myra about what they understand about life.
Tom's rationale for making the expedition was to return an ancient artifact found when he went with his grandfather back to where the item was originally discovered. The artifact in question is an atlatl, an old spear-thrower used by a civilization that existed thousands of years ago. However, along with this goal, a conflict of interest comes into play; a company wants to exploit the area where the atlatl was found to mine for precious metals. The group quickly finds themselves taking it upon themselves to try and save the land.
Later into the trip, disaster strikes. Sarah goes missing and goes on an adventure that the rest of the group has a hard time believing even happened. She gets badly injured as a result and what's worse, the atlatl is missing. Fighting against the clock to save the land, Tom and the others consult their friends and family and do their best to find the atlatl, the key to preserving the territory. Along the way, the group comes across familial conflicts and differing viewpoints within their group and with others about subjects such as creation theories. Their struggles culminate to create a moment the majority of them did not expect.
The elements of magical realism mixed with American Indian beliefs and traditions combine in Strong Heart to make an enthralling story. The book has an incredibly entertaining plot, complex and believable characters, and serves as a reminder that the present day is an infinitesimal part of the history of life on Earth. It also addresses how life is magical and unbelievable at times, but that does not mean it is any less real. I enjoyed following the character arcs of various figures throughout the book. Many issues such as American Indian oppression and mistreatment of the environment are addressed.
One great aspect of the book is that the American Indian emphasis in Sheldon’s work exceptionally portrays the intersection of culture and science. When reading about American Indian creation stories, I felt small and inconsequential because they reminded me that I am just one part of one civilization on an Earth where multitudes of civilizations have risen and fallen. This realization invites a sense of wonder for the world and all that it holds in a very profound way. I genuinely enjoyed reading about creation theories and the American Indian culture. I did not know that different native tribes have different creation theories. I also did not know that their creation theories have been at war with scientific accounts of the start of life in this region for years. Moreover, the ways of the people who have been in North America before many knew that the region existed are enlightening. What these people understand about the world is so impressive; many people could learn from their sustainable lifestyle practices and how they respect their elders. However, the American Indian emphasis also meant that topics such as the cultural assimilation of American Indians in schools and other public places were addressed. I appreciated that Sheldon included this in his book because it is not often taught in schools.
On top of the intersection of culture and science, Sheldon also discusses the intersection of the environment and money in his work. The importance of nature is a predominant idea throughout the work; it provides examples of nature's wonders and extraordinary phenomena that show themselves to those who are ready to experience them. However, these wonders are not made available if the land and its resources are exploited. Money is one of the main contributing factors to pollution and other environmental threats. Thus, this work is a great reminder to treat our land well, keep it clean, and save it from exploitation as much as possible. Additionally, Sheldon portrays how American Indian lifestyle patterns and the environment intersect; these peoples have many sustainable ways they have made a living for years. To save the planet from further disrepair, everyone should take these practices to heart and adopt some for their lifestyles.
Strong Heart has a strong narrative, enticing characters, and a few magical occurrences that show the prevalence of tradition. However, one of the detriments to having a complex, engaging plot is that it is hard to tie up all parts of the story with so many subplots. If I were to critique anything, I would have liked to have more closure and an overall resolution for some of the conflicts addressed in the story. Even so, the ending as it is now is great at focusing on what is more important: the wonders of nature and the importance of the bonds one forms in life.
The book Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon is exceptionally well-written and entertaining. It addresses many serious issues in the world today within the context of a fictional adventure story. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because it has the intrigue, character depth, and complexity of a well-crafted story. It also appears to be professionally edited. I especially recommend the book to anyone who enjoys magical realism, adventure stories, and learning about American Indian cultures and creation theories.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Charlie Sheldon's Strong Heart is an adventure-filled tale set in the Olympic Peninsula about the pursuit of justice and the mysteries of the genesis of life in North America inserted into a coming-of-age story. This unique mix melds together seamlessly to produce a complex story that leads the reader to contemplate what is real and true: scientific fact or cultural belief? When Tom, descended from American Indian heritage, received notice that he has a granddaughter named Sarah, he also received news that he is in charge of taking care of her. This change throws his life through a loop. He had been planning on making an expedition to visit the gravesite of his late grandfather with his American Indian friend William and William’s daughter, Myra. The three of them decide to take Sarah in and take her on the expedition, too. Sarah, a whiny troublemaker at first, adds extra stress onto the other three explorers; this dynamic makes Tom regret bringing her along in the first place. However, she proves her worth soon enough and begins to change the perspectives of Tom, William, and Myra about what they understand about life.
Tom's rationale for making the expedition was to return an ancient artifact found when he went with his grandfather back to where the item was originally discovered. The artifact in question is an atlatl, an old spear-thrower used by a civilization that existed thousands of years ago. However, along with this goal, a conflict of interest comes into play; a company wants to exploit the area where the atlatl was found to mine for precious metals. The group quickly finds themselves taking it upon themselves to try and save the land.
Later into the trip, disaster strikes. Sarah goes missing and goes on an adventure that the rest of the group has a hard time believing even happened. She gets badly injured as a result and what's worse, the atlatl is missing. Fighting against the clock to save the land, Tom and the others consult their friends and family and do their best to find the atlatl, the key to preserving the territory. Along the way, the group comes across familial conflicts and differing viewpoints within their group and with others about subjects such as creation theories. Their struggles culminate to create a moment the majority of them did not expect.
The elements of magical realism mixed with American Indian beliefs and traditions combine in Strong Heart to make an enthralling story. The book has an incredibly entertaining plot, complex and believable characters, and serves as a reminder that the present day is an infinitesimal part of the history of life on Earth. It also addresses how life is magical and unbelievable at times, but that does not mean it is any less real. I enjoyed following the character arcs of various figures throughout the book. Many issues such as American Indian oppression and mistreatment of the environment are addressed.
One great aspect of the book is that the American Indian emphasis in Sheldon’s work exceptionally portrays the intersection of culture and science. When reading about American Indian creation stories, I felt small and inconsequential because they reminded me that I am just one part of one civilization on an Earth where multitudes of civilizations have risen and fallen. This realization invites a sense of wonder for the world and all that it holds in a very profound way. I genuinely enjoyed reading about creation theories and the American Indian culture. I did not know that different native tribes have different creation theories. I also did not know that their creation theories have been at war with scientific accounts of the start of life in this region for years. Moreover, the ways of the people who have been in North America before many knew that the region existed are enlightening. What these people understand about the world is so impressive; many people could learn from their sustainable lifestyle practices and how they respect their elders. However, the American Indian emphasis also meant that topics such as the cultural assimilation of American Indians in schools and other public places were addressed. I appreciated that Sheldon included this in his book because it is not often taught in schools.
On top of the intersection of culture and science, Sheldon also discusses the intersection of the environment and money in his work. The importance of nature is a predominant idea throughout the work; it provides examples of nature's wonders and extraordinary phenomena that show themselves to those who are ready to experience them. However, these wonders are not made available if the land and its resources are exploited. Money is one of the main contributing factors to pollution and other environmental threats. Thus, this work is a great reminder to treat our land well, keep it clean, and save it from exploitation as much as possible. Additionally, Sheldon portrays how American Indian lifestyle patterns and the environment intersect; these peoples have many sustainable ways they have made a living for years. To save the planet from further disrepair, everyone should take these practices to heart and adopt some for their lifestyles.
Strong Heart has a strong narrative, enticing characters, and a few magical occurrences that show the prevalence of tradition. However, one of the detriments to having a complex, engaging plot is that it is hard to tie up all parts of the story with so many subplots. If I were to critique anything, I would have liked to have more closure and an overall resolution for some of the conflicts addressed in the story. Even so, the ending as it is now is great at focusing on what is more important: the wonders of nature and the importance of the bonds one forms in life.
The book Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon is exceptionally well-written and entertaining. It addresses many serious issues in the world today within the context of a fictional adventure story. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because it has the intrigue, character depth, and complexity of a well-crafted story. It also appears to be professionally edited. I especially recommend the book to anyone who enjoys magical realism, adventure stories, and learning about American Indian cultures and creation theories.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
