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peaknit's review against another edition
4.0
Big hearted and charming. Midwestern references I could truly appreciate. A good solid story of friendship among men, a nice break away from all the stories available about women and friendship. Good stuff.
zaza_bdp's review against another edition
4.0
Nickolas Butler signe, avec "Retour à Little Wing" (ou plutôt avec "Shotgun lovesongs", le titre VO, nettement plus porteur de sens), un premier roman qui m'a beaucoup plu. Il s'agit d'un roman choral, porté par cinq narrateurs qui prennent la parole à divers moments. Ils sont cinq donc, quatre hommes, une femme. Cinq amis ayant grandi et vécu dans la même petite ville paumée de Little Wing, au fin fond du Wisconsin, état rural du Midwest.
Les points communs entre un ex pratiquant de rodéo, un fermier, un courtier et un songwriter très connu ? Une amitié forte, qui perdure malgré les années, malgré les brouilles, les accidents de la vie, les maladresses, les rancœurs, les secrets ... Il y a aussi cette petite ville donc, archétype de la petite bourgade rurale du Midwest, avec son bar des anciens combattants, son église, et ses lieux de vie et de rencontre locaux.
À Little Wing, comme le dit très justement l'un des personnages :
J'ai aimé la lenteur qui se dégage de ce roman, l'atmosphère un peu décalée de cette ville, qui semble suspendue hors du temps. Le destin plus ou moins banal de ces personnages imparfaits m'a fortement éloigné de mes lectures habituelles.
Ronny est certainement le personnage qui m'a le plus émue, il dégage beaucoup de simplicité et de fragilité, c'est le jeune homme que toute la ville a pris sous son aile, le bon copain sur lequel on veille, qu'on traite parfois comme un gosse. Lui aussi est suspendu dans une sorte d'entre-deux, c'est vraiment un personnage singulier. Hank, c'est l'homme de la terre, l’ami fidèle, l'épaule solide sur laquelle se reposer en toutes circonstances. Kip est le personnage le plus difficile à cerner, un mec pas très sympa de prime abord, assez c*n, mais on finit quand même par lui accorder notre sympathie. Quant à Lee … Lui aussi est un personnage singulier, c’est le plus paumé de tous les quatre, et plus on avance dans le roman, plus on mesure l’étendue de sa solitude.
En fait, ce qui est étonnant dans ce livre, c’est cette temporalité assez floue, ainsi que l’âge des personnages. Puisque chaque chapitre est porté par une voix différente, des scènes diverses nous sont contées, et même s’il existe une trame générale dans le livre, on a plus une succession de tranches de vie qu’une réelle intrigue qui occupe tout le roman, avec de nombreuses digressions, ce qui fait qu’on ne sait pas toujours combien de temps s’est écoulé entre tel et tel moment. Ce qui m’a perturbée aussi, même si le terme est un peu fort, c’est l’âge des personnages. Je n’avais pas l’impression de lire une histoire avec des personnages dans leur trentaine, mais j’avais la sensation qu’ils étaient en fait plus âgés, peut-être parce qu’on a l’impression qu’ils ont vécu déjà tellement de choses, et ont pas mal de recul sur le passé.
Je me suis pas mal égarée dans cet avis, mais je peux conclure en disant que j’ai pris beaucoup de plaisir à me plonger dans l’atmosphère si particulière de cette petite ville, dans cette représentation d’une Amérique rurale et pauvre, une Amérique de carte postale un peu jaunie par le temps.
Les points communs entre un ex pratiquant de rodéo, un fermier, un courtier et un songwriter très connu ? Une amitié forte, qui perdure malgré les années, malgré les brouilles, les accidents de la vie, les maladresses, les rancœurs, les secrets ... Il y a aussi cette petite ville donc, archétype de la petite bourgade rurale du Midwest, avec son bar des anciens combattants, son église, et ses lieux de vie et de rencontre locaux.
À Little Wing, comme le dit très justement l'un des personnages :
"Ici, la vie s'articule autour des saisons. Ici, le temps s'écoule lentement, divisé en moments à savourer, comme de délicieuses parts de desserts : mariages, naissances, réussites aux examens, inaugurations décès. Rien ne change beaucoup, en général."
J'ai aimé la lenteur qui se dégage de ce roman, l'atmosphère un peu décalée de cette ville, qui semble suspendue hors du temps. Le destin plus ou moins banal de ces personnages imparfaits m'a fortement éloigné de mes lectures habituelles.
Ronny est certainement le personnage qui m'a le plus émue, il dégage beaucoup de simplicité et de fragilité, c'est le jeune homme que toute la ville a pris sous son aile, le bon copain sur lequel on veille, qu'on traite parfois comme un gosse. Lui aussi est suspendu dans une sorte d'entre-deux, c'est vraiment un personnage singulier. Hank, c'est l'homme de la terre, l’ami fidèle, l'épaule solide sur laquelle se reposer en toutes circonstances. Kip est le personnage le plus difficile à cerner, un mec pas très sympa de prime abord, assez c*n, mais on finit quand même par lui accorder notre sympathie. Quant à Lee … Lui aussi est un personnage singulier, c’est le plus paumé de tous les quatre, et plus on avance dans le roman, plus on mesure l’étendue de sa solitude.
En fait, ce qui est étonnant dans ce livre, c’est cette temporalité assez floue, ainsi que l’âge des personnages. Puisque chaque chapitre est porté par une voix différente, des scènes diverses nous sont contées, et même s’il existe une trame générale dans le livre, on a plus une succession de tranches de vie qu’une réelle intrigue qui occupe tout le roman, avec de nombreuses digressions, ce qui fait qu’on ne sait pas toujours combien de temps s’est écoulé entre tel et tel moment. Ce qui m’a perturbée aussi, même si le terme est un peu fort, c’est l’âge des personnages. Je n’avais pas l’impression de lire une histoire avec des personnages dans leur trentaine, mais j’avais la sensation qu’ils étaient en fait plus âgés, peut-être parce qu’on a l’impression qu’ils ont vécu déjà tellement de choses, et ont pas mal de recul sur le passé.
Je me suis pas mal égarée dans cet avis, mais je peux conclure en disant que j’ai pris beaucoup de plaisir à me plonger dans l’atmosphère si particulière de cette petite ville, dans cette représentation d’une Amérique rurale et pauvre, une Amérique de carte postale un peu jaunie par le temps.
lindsayaunderwood's review against another edition
3.0
A solid story with very real characters. Nothing Earth shattering or overly creative. It just felt like a real story with real people set in a real town.
avolk10's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was so cool that this was a WISCONSIN story through and through. But I kind of felt like it was just a dump of WISCO trivia. Almost over done. I’m also not usually a literal fiction fan, so this took me a bit to get into. 3 stars cuz I’m happy I read it, but the ending felt abrupt and still don’t know what truly happened.
nathan64's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Audiobook performed by Ari Fliakos, Maggie Hoffman, Scott Shepherd, Scott Sowers and Gary Wilmes
Henry, Kip, Lee, Ronny and Beth (Henry’s wife) have known each other since they were children growing up in the same small town of Little Wing Wisconsin. All but Henry (who stayed on his family’s dairy farm) have left for a time: Beth went to college, Kip worked as a commodities broker in Chicago, Ronny rode the rodeo circuit, and Lee is a hugely successful folk-rock musician with a number of hit records. Now, they’ve all come home to Little Wing. Kip has purchased the old feed mill with plans to turn it into a destination in that corner of Wisconsin. Ronny, his rodeo career ended after he suffered a traumatic brain injury, is looked out for by everyone in town. Lee has a recording studio in the converted schoolhouse on the outskirts of town, where he comes home to recuperate after a tour.
This is a distinctly Midwest novel. Butler writes prose that is poetic and atmospheric. His descriptions of the landscape make this fictitious town an important character in the novel.
The October air filled with corn dust enough to make each sunset a postcard, with colors like a benign nuclear explosion. And then snow. Snow to cover the world, to cover us. Our world left to sleep and rest and heal underneath those white winter blankets. The forests that in October threw hallucinogenic confetti at the world now withdrawn, bereft, composed, and suddenly much thinner, looking like old people who know their time has just about come.
More importantly, this is a novel of friendship, and of men growing to adulthood. Each of the characters, including Beth, has a chance to narrate. So the reader gets some insight into each of their inner thoughts and feelings, the ways they interpret one another’s actions and why they react as they do. The reader also has the opportunity to hear their observations on the others in the quintet. It seems that the central relationship being explored is that of Hank and Lee – best friends despite their very different lifestyles, loyal to one another without question, loving one another despite a major falling out.
Kip seemed to me to be nearly an outsider. His concerted efforts to leave Little Wing and be a big shot in Chicago has changed his perspective in such a way that he doesn’t seem able to fit in. Whatever effort he makes just misses the mark, and seems to come only from his own need to be recognized rather from any genuine concern for his friends or the community. As the only woman with a voice in the novel Beth provides an interesting counterpoint. And it is through Beth’s eyes that the men’s wives/girlfriends are shown.
And then there is Ronny – my favorite character in the group. A handsome, strong man with an injured brain, an alcoholic kept from drinking by all his friends (who seem to do nothing but consume alcohol), he longs to get back some independence.
I want to break out of here so bad and I don’t even know where I want to go. Maybe Anyplace, I guess. I know they think I can’t take care of myself, but I sure as hell can. I’m not a smart man – I know that – but I ain’t dumb. And the way things are, it’s like I’m in a cage. … I am a man. I’m a goddamned person. And I’m restless as hell.
My heart just breaks for him.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy character-driven novels.
The audiobook employs five different performers – each taking on one of the major characters. I found this very effective. It really helped to make each of the men unique. And having a woman voice Beth’s chapters lent a quality of gentleness and femininity to an otherwise tough and masculine book.
Henry, Kip, Lee, Ronny and Beth (Henry’s wife) have known each other since they were children growing up in the same small town of Little Wing Wisconsin. All but Henry (who stayed on his family’s dairy farm) have left for a time: Beth went to college, Kip worked as a commodities broker in Chicago, Ronny rode the rodeo circuit, and Lee is a hugely successful folk-rock musician with a number of hit records. Now, they’ve all come home to Little Wing. Kip has purchased the old feed mill with plans to turn it into a destination in that corner of Wisconsin. Ronny, his rodeo career ended after he suffered a traumatic brain injury, is looked out for by everyone in town. Lee has a recording studio in the converted schoolhouse on the outskirts of town, where he comes home to recuperate after a tour.
This is a distinctly Midwest novel. Butler writes prose that is poetic and atmospheric. His descriptions of the landscape make this fictitious town an important character in the novel.
The October air filled with corn dust enough to make each sunset a postcard, with colors like a benign nuclear explosion. And then snow. Snow to cover the world, to cover us. Our world left to sleep and rest and heal underneath those white winter blankets. The forests that in October threw hallucinogenic confetti at the world now withdrawn, bereft, composed, and suddenly much thinner, looking like old people who know their time has just about come.
More importantly, this is a novel of friendship, and of men growing to adulthood. Each of the characters, including Beth, has a chance to narrate. So the reader gets some insight into each of their inner thoughts and feelings, the ways they interpret one another’s actions and why they react as they do. The reader also has the opportunity to hear their observations on the others in the quintet. It seems that the central relationship being explored is that of Hank and Lee – best friends despite their very different lifestyles, loyal to one another without question, loving one another despite a major falling out.
Kip seemed to me to be nearly an outsider. His concerted efforts to leave Little Wing and be a big shot in Chicago has changed his perspective in such a way that he doesn’t seem able to fit in. Whatever effort he makes just misses the mark, and seems to come only from his own need to be recognized rather from any genuine concern for his friends or the community. As the only woman with a voice in the novel Beth provides an interesting counterpoint. And it is through Beth’s eyes that the men’s wives/girlfriends are shown.
And then there is Ronny – my favorite character in the group. A handsome, strong man with an injured brain, an alcoholic kept from drinking by all his friends (who seem to do nothing but consume alcohol), he longs to get back some independence.
I want to break out of here so bad and I don’t even know where I want to go. Maybe Anyplace, I guess. I know they think I can’t take care of myself, but I sure as hell can. I’m not a smart man – I know that – but I ain’t dumb. And the way things are, it’s like I’m in a cage. … I am a man. I’m a goddamned person. And I’m restless as hell.
My heart just breaks for him.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy character-driven novels.
The audiobook employs five different performers – each taking on one of the major characters. I found this very effective. It really helped to make each of the men unique. And having a woman voice Beth’s chapters lent a quality of gentleness and femininity to an otherwise tough and masculine book.
dewey_scrapper's review against another edition
5.0
Do you still have friends that have been friends since childhood? Shotgun Lovesongs is about four friends who grew up together in a small Wisconsin town. Henry stayed to work on his family’s farm, Kip became a commodities trader, Lee traveled the world as a musician, and Ronny was a champion bull rider. No matter how far they strayed, they can’t stay away from home or each other. As they get older, they’re learning how to navigate adult friendship.
I couldn’t put this book down. It reminded me of the friendships I’ve had, and the struggles that friends sometimes go through. Butler brings each of his characters to life. I will be thinking about them for a long time to come.
I couldn’t put this book down. It reminded me of the friendships I’ve had, and the struggles that friends sometimes go through. Butler brings each of his characters to life. I will be thinking about them for a long time to come.
kblain's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was surprised with how much I liked this book. It reminds me so much of the small town I live in. The author portrayed the vibe of small towns perfectly.