In 1962 at age thirteen, Nelson Doughty is a social outcast,
the classic geek who is an over-achiever but doesn’t have any friends. Every
summer, Nelson goes to Camp Chippewa, a Boy Scout camp among the forests and
lakes of Wisconsin. Nelson, is, of course, a stellar Scout, earning more merit
badges than anyone else and aiming for Eagle Scout before he turns sixteen and
then the military. He’s also the camp bugler, waking the other boys and
counselors every morning by playing his WWI veteran grandfather’s battered
trumpet.
This summer, Nelson thinks he might finally have made a
friend. Jonathan is older than Nelson, but he was the only person to show up
for Nelson’s birthday party back home. Jonathan is popular, handsome, and
athletic, but he has shown some small kindnesses to Nelson. That summer at
camp, Nelson suffers some horrible bullying, and though Jonathan doesn’t openly
befriend Nelson, he does try to squelch some of the abuse and for that, Nelson
is grateful and considers Jonathan a friend.
After immersing the reader in that summer of 1962 at Camp
Chippewa, the novel then jumps forward in time several decades. Nelson did
indeed join the military and fought in Vietnam, carrying scars both physical
and emotional. He has now become the Scoutmaster of Camp Chippewa and once
again spends his summers there. Jonathan married and took over his father’s
company, making it a success, though he carries plenty of bitterness. The two
erstwhile friends are reunited when Jonathan brings his teen son to camp.
Then the story once again jumps ahead in time several
decades to Jonathan’s daughter-in-law and grandson, as they head to Camp
Chippewa in this generational family tradition. The teen boy is not excited to
still be going to camp, but his mom, who is chaperoning, is looking forward to
seeing Nelson, her father-in-law’s old friend and the venerable head of the
camp for many decades. The audio production brought all of these generations of
men (and one woman) to life.
The Hearts of Men
is an immersive story that pulls you into the woods of Wisconsin and the rustic
Camp Chippewa along with its characters. Butler has developed a distinctive
sense of place – and, in later chapters, nostalgia – that carries through time.
It’s fascinating to see how the events of their youth affect both Nelson and
Jonathan and the repercussions through multiple generations. It’s a sad (even
horrifying) novel at times, addressing issues of bullying, abuse, infidelity,
and divorce, and neither of the original two characters has a particularly
happy life. But the novel also focuses on healing, family, and hope, bringing
that old friendship full circle by the end. I enjoyed this emotionally complex
and absorbing novel peopled with multi-dimensional, flawed characters.
400 pages, Ecco
You can listen to a free audio sample at the Audible/Amazon link below.
I received this book from the publisher in return for an
honest review. My review is my own opinion and is not influenced by my
relationship with the publisher or author.
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I like it when a story allows us to know all the background/childhood of characters to really understand why they are the way they are as adults.
ReplyDeleteMe, too, Helen! Here, we saw not only how the children grew up into adults but also how their actions in 1962 affected their children & grandchildren!
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