Where the Heart Was

WHERE THE HEART WAS
Author: Glenn G. Boyer
Copyright: 2010
Legendary Publishing
Hardback
ISBN: 978-1-887747-40-0
$34.95
552 pages
Fiction/Historical Fiction/Biographical

“ I, Edwin Newton, Cheek, rode off to war that spring I was eleven, in the warm fly-buzzing days-in the spring of the lush lilacs, 1861. I rode on my little Indian pony, Cannonball, beside my father, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cheek. I wasn’t exactly a drummer boy, though I was enlisted as one. I had more freedom. I never beat a drum. I was more a mascot. I rode down the main street at the head of the regiment with Pa and Colonel Smith, the regimental commander, passing between hunting-draped business houses, all closed in our honor.”

Through the eyes of Ben Edward Todd, the protagonist, WHERE THE HEART WAS is a journey into the real day-to-day life of growing up in America since the Civil War. This American Saga reflects the history and the determination and loyalty of diverse people from various ethnic groups all making the best of whatever situation or difficulty they encounter. This is the lovingly written story of a family and their lives in this country, especially during the Great Depression years.

The writing style reminds me of James Michener. The change in our country from the people literally living at a subsistence level to becoming educated and successful as industry became a vital component, is the underlying basis as our basic social needs changed over time. As the time progresses, Mr. Boyer actually takes the reader into the daily living trials and tribulations.

The strength of this novel is the accurate sense of time. As you read each page, the accuracy of being with each character demonstrates the strong personal voice of being there with having an understanding of the social and economic situations of the time. From dealing with the issues of racism, to wars, to the reality of life during the years of Herbert Hoover and F.D. Roosevelt, you feel as if you are thrust back into time. Glenn Boyer succeeds in using all the senses in American story.

WHERE THE HEART WAS begins with the Civil War but looks at it from the point-of-view of someone who is actually witnessing each event. There is the vision that the war was more than the slavery issue. The differences in the economic situations were more underlying causes than the obvious.

WHERE THE HEART WAS immerses your thoughts with the patriotism and history of building our country. It is obvious that this was a labor of love for the author. He truly loves his characters and their lives as he magically tells Bennie’s story, which is somewhat autobiographical based on himself.

Glenn G. Boyer based this book on his life growing up in north central Wisconsin. Previously he has been considered to be the expert on Wyatt Earp. WHERE THE HEART WAS also shows him to be a masterful storyteller about his life and his family.

Teri Davis January 6, 2010