Review by sara_cottingham -- Strong Heart
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Sara Barnes Cottingham
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Review by sara_cottingham -- Strong Heart
[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]
Strong Heart is an immensely beautiful book by Charlie Sheldon. Set in the Pacific Northwest, Strong Heart is the tale of Sarah’s transformative journey while lost in the wilderness. Handed over to her grandfather just as he is about to set out on a backpacking trip, Sarah is brought along without having any experience. Reluctant at first, Sarah soon discovers that this trip is more than meets the eye. William, an old friend of Sarah’s grandfather is leading the expedition to return an atlatl to the place where he found it years prior. During the journey, Sarah leaves the safety of the group and is lost for several days. When she finally returns, she begins to tell the tale of her experience that takes place thousands of years in the past. It is a journey to the past that may help shape the group’s future.
I found the characters to be authentic with their desires well thought out. The setting was beautiful, and the separation between the main story and Sarah’s retelling was timely and well placed within the narrative. The inclusion of the Clovis Center story arc pairs wonderfully with the journey that Sarah experiences in the past. It is a well thought out way to connect the two timelines. The thing that brought the whole book together was the style of Sheldon’s writing. He mimics the cadence and rhythm of oral storytelling in his novel so that when Sarah begins her story it is reminiscent of storytellers of the past. It is an excellent addition to the work that fits the story well.
There were a few times where certain name changes were confusing. Tom is called both 'Grandfather' as well as his given name, and I sometimes found it difficult to keep track of certain relationships because of these name changes. This was relatively minor as it only came up a few times, but I think clearing this up would allow for smoother reading. Overall, I would say my biggest complaint about the book would be the clarity of character relationships, but I also found Sarah’s backstory added little to the overall development of her character.
I happily give Strong Heart a 4 out of 4. I thought the book accomplished exactly what it set out to do, and it did so with aplomb. There are a few minor issues that I mentioned above, but they do not cause enough of an issue that I feel a lower score is worthy.
I would happily recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the history of the Pacific Northwest and those who love a touch of mysticism in their readings. There are some places where graphic detail is needed to show the peril of certain situations, so that is something to consider, but it was not gregarious nor out of line for the setting.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Strong Heart is an immensely beautiful book by Charlie Sheldon. Set in the Pacific Northwest, Strong Heart is the tale of Sarah’s transformative journey while lost in the wilderness. Handed over to her grandfather just as he is about to set out on a backpacking trip, Sarah is brought along without having any experience. Reluctant at first, Sarah soon discovers that this trip is more than meets the eye. William, an old friend of Sarah’s grandfather is leading the expedition to return an atlatl to the place where he found it years prior. During the journey, Sarah leaves the safety of the group and is lost for several days. When she finally returns, she begins to tell the tale of her experience that takes place thousands of years in the past. It is a journey to the past that may help shape the group’s future.
I found the characters to be authentic with their desires well thought out. The setting was beautiful, and the separation between the main story and Sarah’s retelling was timely and well placed within the narrative. The inclusion of the Clovis Center story arc pairs wonderfully with the journey that Sarah experiences in the past. It is a well thought out way to connect the two timelines. The thing that brought the whole book together was the style of Sheldon’s writing. He mimics the cadence and rhythm of oral storytelling in his novel so that when Sarah begins her story it is reminiscent of storytellers of the past. It is an excellent addition to the work that fits the story well.
There were a few times where certain name changes were confusing. Tom is called both 'Grandfather' as well as his given name, and I sometimes found it difficult to keep track of certain relationships because of these name changes. This was relatively minor as it only came up a few times, but I think clearing this up would allow for smoother reading. Overall, I would say my biggest complaint about the book would be the clarity of character relationships, but I also found Sarah’s backstory added little to the overall development of her character.
I happily give Strong Heart a 4 out of 4. I thought the book accomplished exactly what it set out to do, and it did so with aplomb. There are a few minor issues that I mentioned above, but they do not cause enough of an issue that I feel a lower score is worthy.
I would happily recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the history of the Pacific Northwest and those who love a touch of mysticism in their readings. There are some places where graphic detail is needed to show the peril of certain situations, so that is something to consider, but it was not gregarious nor out of line for the setting.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci by Belle Ami
