Butler, Nickolas. The Hearts of Men. New York: Harper Collins. 2017. Print.
First Sentences:
Description:
Butler, Nickolas. Shotgun Lovesongs
The Bugler needs no alarm.
In the musty close canvas darkness, his smallish hands fumble for the matchbox, scratch the blue sulfurous tip against the box, the match catching and burning, and finally the golden kerosene glow of the lantern, the wick burning like a lung on fire.
Description:
There is just something I love about Nickolas Butler, author of one of my favorites, Shotgun Lovesongs, and now his second novel, The Hearts of Men. He really gets into the minds and hearts of his characters, putting them in everyday situations and then watching how they deal with the world around them, other characters, and their own moral codes.
Set primarily at Boy Scout Camp Chippawa in upstate Wisconsin, The Hearts of Men follows the life of Nelson Doughty, the camp's young bugler, a very principled, disciplined and therefore outcast boy sent from a family that is slowly breaking up. Longing for friends, but unwilling to compromise his code of conduct, his life is a mix between being bullied, enjoying the world outdoors, and spending golden hours with the equally-disciplined World War I veteran scoutmaster, Wilbur, who has stories of his own and shares Nelson's values.
Only one older boy, Jonathan Quick, seems to stick up (occasionally) for Nelson. But when the chips are down, Jonathan is conflicted on his efforts regarding Nelson.
It is Jonathan who is the center of the second part of Hearts of Men. Thirty-three years later, Jonathan is now a successful businessman, married, and dropping off his own teenage son, Trevor, at the same Camp Chippawa. They spend the last night learning about each other, including Jonathan introducing Trevor to Deanna, another scout camp parent who is staying at the same hotel and having an affair with Jonathan. The last night of this father and son revolves around conversations and events created by Jonathan to try to educate the naive Trevor in the ways of the world - with mixed results.
Finally, the last section pick ups up the story twenty-three years later of Trevor and his wife, Rachel who are dropping off their son, Thomas, at (you guessed it) Camp Chippawa where Nelson, the former bullied bugler, is now the head scoutmaster. Much remains the same at camp as when Nelson was a scout there but much has changed in his life as well as in the camp life and parents.
A thoroughly engaging book that provides real characters facing common challenges that make up our modern world. You really care about these people and the choices they make that change their lives. You are pulled in, page after page, as these characters struggle with events that challenge their personal codes of behavior, their goals, and the people they love.
Set primarily at Boy Scout Camp Chippawa in upstate Wisconsin, The Hearts of Men follows the life of Nelson Doughty, the camp's young bugler, a very principled, disciplined and therefore outcast boy sent from a family that is slowly breaking up. Longing for friends, but unwilling to compromise his code of conduct, his life is a mix between being bullied, enjoying the world outdoors, and spending golden hours with the equally-disciplined World War I veteran scoutmaster, Wilbur, who has stories of his own and shares Nelson's values.
Only one older boy, Jonathan Quick, seems to stick up (occasionally) for Nelson. But when the chips are down, Jonathan is conflicted on his efforts regarding Nelson.
It is Jonathan who is the center of the second part of Hearts of Men. Thirty-three years later, Jonathan is now a successful businessman, married, and dropping off his own teenage son, Trevor, at the same Camp Chippawa. They spend the last night learning about each other, including Jonathan introducing Trevor to Deanna, another scout camp parent who is staying at the same hotel and having an affair with Jonathan. The last night of this father and son revolves around conversations and events created by Jonathan to try to educate the naive Trevor in the ways of the world - with mixed results.
Finally, the last section pick ups up the story twenty-three years later of Trevor and his wife, Rachel who are dropping off their son, Thomas, at (you guessed it) Camp Chippawa where Nelson, the former bullied bugler, is now the head scoutmaster. Much remains the same at camp as when Nelson was a scout there but much has changed in his life as well as in the camp life and parents.
A thoroughly engaging book that provides real characters facing common challenges that make up our modern world. You really care about these people and the choices they make that change their lives. You are pulled in, page after page, as these characters struggle with events that challenge their personal codes of behavior, their goals, and the people they love.
Happy reading.
Fred
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If this book interests you, be sure to check out:
Butler, Nickolas. Shotgun Lovesongs
Five childhood friends re-unite in their hometown to celebrate a wedding, but uncover closely held secrets and relationships that change their lives. Wonderfully gentle, powerful writing with penetrating dialogue and insights for each character. One of my favorite books. (previously reviewed here)
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