Fourth Grade Journey

A Fourth Grade Teacher's Journey Through the World of Books

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler

How I Heard About It:  Opposite order for reading Nickolas Butler's novels.  I first read The Hearts of Men which is his newest work of fiction.  That was such an enjoyable read that I ordered this novel which was his first.  This one was just as good if not better.  

What It Is About:  Henry, Lee, Ronny, and Kip all grew up in a small Wisconsin town called Little Wing.  They hung out in a variety of ways during their youth.  Each one of them set off to accomplish something BIG.  Lee is an artist with many top selling songs.  Kip is making a lot of money in the financial district of Chicago.  Ronny is a big-time Rodeo star that has never been quite the same since all of his injuries.  Henry is the glue that holds all of these men together.  He has remained in Little Wing where he works a farm with his wife Beth.  These four men come together years after being "pals" for a couple of weddings.  Some of these marriages are meant to be, and others will not last long.  Henry is surprised to learn a secret that his best friend Lee and his wife Beth have been keeping for years.  Each chapter is told from the view point of one of these five main characters.  Life in small-town can be ideal and easy, but it can also cause stress, difficulties, and pain for those that live there.  

What I Thought Of It:  Stories like these are a pure joy to read.  Butler is such a strong and incredible writer.  He draws the reader in and makes them feel like they are actually in the story.  I so enjoyed reading about these four men, their life in Little Wing, and what they went off to do in their adult lives.  There was a surprise here or two, but nothing earth shattering.  Even though it was a plain and simple story about people living their lives, it kept my interest for the entire read.  It was fun for me too because there were many references to places in Wisconsin and Minnesota that I was familiar with.  

Who Should Read It:  This is a great novel for the adult reader that enjoys well-written fiction with the focus on the characters and their development.  Both of Butler's books are excellent and I recommend them for your spring and/or summer reading.  Happy Reading!  

Rating:  5 STARS out of 5 Stars



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