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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
Unlike many of the reviewers, I really enjoyed this novel. I found it beautifully written, I thought the characters were appealing, I loved the setting in farmland Wisconsin, and I really enjoyed the story of what home means and what friendship means.
I think the author wants to show the "wholesome" world of middle America, though I will say this is a very white-washed world.
I think the author wants to show the "wholesome" world of middle America, though I will say this is a very white-washed world.
Two of my students decided to read this book for the Midwest Authors project we do in class. Their weekly journals about the book were really interesting, like, made me interested in read the book, so I added it to my TBR quickly, and then moved it up just as quickly.
I've gotten say, this is a great book. I'm a Midwesterner by birth, but only recently a resident of Wisconsin, and this book is so spot-on in so many respects. I love Butler's characters, as individuals, as parts of a small group of friends, and also as composites of different types of people who deal with living in the Midwest/Wisconsin. The narration is so FULL of Wisconsin traditions and cultural touchpoints that this small community outside of Green Bay seemed like its own character.. I also really liked the way the narration changed to help tell different parts of the story and get a fuller sense of the story points. I kind of hated Kip from the beginning, but his chapters helped smooth out his rough edges. Ronny seemed very flat and juvenile from Hank and Lee's perspectives, but his chapters really opened up more of his character development. Beth was a great person to add to the narration, too, since she could comment on all four of the friends, plus her own connections to each of them, although I didn't love it when Kip's wife joined the narration rotation since she wasn't a native Little Winger. There are quite a few twists and turns, though, which held my interest. I thought the low-key conclusion was a nice touch.
The narrator's voices were unique enough that I didn't have to remind myself who was narrating after the first time. I thought that Lee's narrator sounded a bit like Nick Offerman, and that was confusing a few times, but they were all pretty talented and well cast.
I've gotten say, this is a great book. I'm a Midwesterner by birth, but only recently a resident of Wisconsin, and this book is so spot-on in so many respects. I love Butler's characters, as individuals, as parts of a small group of friends, and also as composites of different types of people who deal with living in the Midwest/Wisconsin. The narration is so FULL of Wisconsin traditions and cultural touchpoints that this small community outside of Green Bay seemed like its own character.. I also really liked the way the narration changed to help tell different parts of the story and get a fuller sense of the story points. I kind of hated Kip from the beginning, but his chapters helped smooth out his rough edges. Ronny seemed very flat and juvenile from Hank and Lee's perspectives, but his chapters really opened up more of his character development. Beth was a great person to add to the narration, too, since she could comment on all four of the friends, plus her own connections to each of them, although I didn't love it when Kip's wife joined the narration rotation since she wasn't a native Little Winger. There are quite a few twists and turns, though, which held my interest. I thought the low-key conclusion was a nice touch.
The narrator's voices were unique enough that I didn't have to remind myself who was narrating after the first time. I thought that Lee's narrator sounded a bit like Nick Offerman, and that was confusing a few times, but they were all pretty talented and well cast.
Beautiful descriptive language. Perfectly encapsulates life in a tiny town.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I won this book as a Firstread.
Shotgun Love songs tells the story of childhood friends Henry, Lee, Ronny, and Kip, now in their thirties and working to keep up their friendship amidst the turns their lives have taken in adulthood.
Anyone who grew up in a small town will be able to relate to their experiences. the main characters are real and well fleshed out, with positive characteristics and flaws. I enjoyed reading this book.
Shotgun Love songs tells the story of childhood friends Henry, Lee, Ronny, and Kip, now in their thirties and working to keep up their friendship amidst the turns their lives have taken in adulthood.
Anyone who grew up in a small town will be able to relate to their experiences. the main characters are real and well fleshed out, with positive characteristics and flaws. I enjoyed reading this book.
I really liked this book. I don't think I ever fell in love with it, but I really, really liked it. I enjoyed the Wisconsin small town becoming its own character thoroughout the book. For me, some of the characters felt less developed than others. Or maybe I just connected to some more than others. I especially liked Beth. I don't want to tell you her story, so I won't tell you the specific reasons why I liked her. Let's just say, her predicament and her experience seemed relatable and authentic.
A lovely, realistic, heartbreaking, and honest novel. Some portions of the text were pure poetry. The author does such a fabulous job of taking every day happenings and turning it into something that makes you stop, think, re-read, and just let it soak in. I liked the different narratives throughout so that the reader is given many sides to the story. This takes place near Eau Claire, which is where the author lives, and being that I went to school there and grew up in a small town an hour away, it's like reading my life. I know these people. I am these people.
Nothing really happens. It’s all just Midwest vibes — maybe just not for me.