riedingplace 's review for:

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

5.0

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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Sometimes the best books are the ones you stumble upon by chance.

When I first picked up This Tender Land, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Perhaps a sprinkling of American history, or a coming-of-age tale laced with hope. What I didn’t anticipate was how much a book could be all-encompassing and actually delivered it.

“Do you believe in God?” I could see him rolling the question around in his head. I don’t know about the God in the Bible, he signed. But I know you and Albert and Emmy, and now Sister Eve. And I think about Herman Volz and Emmy’s mother. I know love. So if it’s true, like Sister Eve says, that God is love, then I guess I believe.

My most favourite aspect is how Krueger explores the intersection of faith with remarkable nuance. He doesn't push a particular worldview; instead, he invites us to think: Who Why do we believe? What does faith look like, and can it take different forms?

Following a group of self-proclaimed young vagabonds, it is intrinsically mature in thought as they grapple with loss, identity, and belonging. Even though the entire story unfolds through Odie’s perspective, each character were still able to shine with their own unique voices and depth. What I felt for Odie, I felt for everyone. Behind each new name was a person, just like in the world we live in.

You can feel that Krueger poured his whole heart into this novel. Every chapter feels purposeful. Every page matters. By the end, I’m not part of this story, this story is part of me. I will not shut up about this book now.