Micki Peluso, reviewer
Dog Bone Soup, A Boomer’s Journey
By
Bette A. Stevens
Author Bette A. Stevens writes a debut novel taking
place in the 1950s and 60s, filled with Americana and historical fiction.
Referred to as ‘Boomers,’ the people of these decades set the pace and tenor of
future generations.
Shawn Daniels might have been a typical boy in the
‘good old days’ had his father not been an abusive, wife beating drunk, spending
his money on liquor, while allowing his family to live in poverty, lacking
indoor plumbing and electricity. Still Shawn has dreams and fortitude enough to
withstand the bullying by his peers, being called ‘white trash’ by his
community, and is able to withstand all the obstacles thrown in his path. His
brother, Willie, tends to be lazy and a dreamer, but still helps out when the
family is starving, by chopping wood, and helping his mother manage the house
and care for his younger sisters, Annie and Molly.
The author deftly flashes forward as the story
opens. Shawn is preparing to head off to Army boot camp during the Vietnam War.
Enlisting might keep him from being sent overseas and give him some job
training. After a life of struggling, Shawn sees the light at the end of his
personal tunnel. As he stays up with his Mum through the middle of the night,
looking through old family pictures, his story unfolds.
This is a realistic charming, yet heartrending
story reminiscent of ‘Huckleberry Finn,’
by Mark Twain. Author Stevens manages to portray this period of history with
clarity and truth. Most amazingly her characters, while suffering more than
today's civilization, enduring a myriad of harsh circumstances, there is little
self-pity among them. If ever a people made lemonade from lemons, it was the
boomers.
Amidst the hardship, including the nightly Dog Bone
Soup, there are also times of adventure, playfulness and fun — as if Shawn and
his generation are blessed with an innate ability to cope with daily setbacks;
never losing hope and continually forging ahead aiming for better
days.
Author Bette A. Stevens writes a book full of heart
and wisdom, a book that YA/adult readers will treasure and cherish. This
generation in particular needs to read the book to learn what hard life was
like, giving them the skills to adapt to the problems of their own generation.
Dog Bone Soup, A Boomer’s Journey is a journey that the reader wishes would
never end.
Micki Peluso, author of . . . And the Whippoorwill
Sang
www.mickipeluso.blogspot.com
www.mickipeluso.wordpress.com
2 comments:
Hi, Patricia. Thanks so much for posting Micki Peluso's review of DOG BONE SOUP. Have a fantastic day, my friend. Happy reading and writing! :)
thank you. Your book sounds fascinating. It's raised to the top of my reading "bucket list."
Pat G.
Post a Comment