Review of Heroland

[Leonardo Jackson]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Heroland" by Michael Hempen.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Heroland by Michael Hempen is a nonfiction book about the author's personal and emotional experiences. From the onset, the author shares his trials and tribulations and the lessons he has learned from life. The book begins with a confessional tone that leaves the reader wanting more. Through this book, readers are invited to enjoy humor (both dark and light) while reminiscing on themes such as childhood struggles, mischief, and rebellion.

Glenwood Military School for Boys is not for the weak. It is a place where a man is what happens to a boy. While this phrase might seem convincing at first glance, I invite readers to share this author's journey so they can relate. The author shared many stories about his time in military school and how he coped with the strict discipline and bullying. If you like books about military life or school settings, this book might appeal to you.

I like how the author employs a conversational tone to tell his story. The balance between tragedy and humor makes the book more enjoyable because although there are sad moments, you can't go a whole chapter without a laugh. I must commend the author for describing the places because it was detailed, and on some occasions, I felt like I was in the book as well. This book contains frequent profanity, so it might be important to warn readers. It also bears moderate sexual or erotic content, so you definitely would not recommend it to children.

As for editorial quality, the book stands out and is perfectly edited. I could not pick out any errors, which is truly positive considering the length of the book. The drawback to this book is formatting inconsistencies, as the text sometimes breaks between sections due to a lack of proper alignment. It was off-putting to me on such occasions. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars to reflect its strengths and weaknesses, and I recommend it to readers who enjoy books with a military school setting, summer camps, and childhood experiences.

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Heroland
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[Joe Alex 2]

The mix of humor and tough life lessons really caught my attention. The author’s time in military school seems like a wild ride, with the balance of discipline and personal struggles making it all the more intriguing. While I haven’t read it myself, the way it’s described makes me think it’s perfect for anyone into books about childhood challenges and military life, though it sounds like it’s more suited for adults due to its mature content.