Shotgun Lovesongs; Nickolas Butler
Thomas Dunne Books/Macmillian - 2014
Shotgun Lovesongs is a quiet novel about four men and one woman who grew up in a small
Wisconsin town of Little Wing. Each of them has taken different paths and they are
reunited for the fancy wedding of Kip a Chicago stockbroker. The other friends
are Hank and Beth who have clung to their WI roots after Hank inherits his
father’s farm that has been in the family for generations. Ronny battles alcoholism
after a head injury put an end to his success as a rodeo star. Lee is a famous rock star of sorts who made it
big in the international music scene, and there is Kip who should be
center-stage as all gather for his wedding bash, but it’s Lee and his Hollywood
girl-friend who everyone is watching.
Shotgun Lovesongs makes you think about whether you can go home again, and if you could do things over would you choose a different path. These are the kinds of questions I think many readers will ask themselves. The author goes deep inside the minds of his characters, and does this by alternating chapters with multiple viewpoints. The best part of the novel for me was the way the author captured the feel of small town life. The challenges each individual faced was well drawn out and the author does an awesome job creating a sense of community and friendship.
Although I enjoyed this novel, it moved a bit too slow at times for me. It’s a simple story -- more thoughtful and reflective. It’s a story that captures small town life, its people and their conflicts perfectly. It’s the type a story which will appeal most to readers who don’t need a lot of action for them to feel satisfied.
4/5 stars (eGalley)
Shotgun Lovesongs makes you think about whether you can go home again, and if you could do things over would you choose a different path. These are the kinds of questions I think many readers will ask themselves. The author goes deep inside the minds of his characters, and does this by alternating chapters with multiple viewpoints. The best part of the novel for me was the way the author captured the feel of small town life. The challenges each individual faced was well drawn out and the author does an awesome job creating a sense of community and friendship.
Although I enjoyed this novel, it moved a bit too slow at times for me. It’s a simple story -- more thoughtful and reflective. It’s a story that captures small town life, its people and their conflicts perfectly. It’s the type a story which will appeal most to readers who don’t need a lot of action for them to feel satisfied.
4/5 stars (eGalley)
Sometimes I like slow. Most of the time, I gravitate more towards novels with more action in them though. I like the sound of this one and the questions it raises. I will have to look for this one. Thanks for your insightful review, Diane.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds good - I've read several positive reviews of it recently. Thanks for telling me more!
ReplyDeleteSue
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I'm about to start this one! Glad to know going in that it's slow moving.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is slow going. One that I started, put down and pick back up.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds good but I have to be in just the right mood for the slower ones.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy books about small town life because I grew up in one. And even though I ran as fast as I could to escape the "small town world," there is a nostalgic feeling to revisiting those places. This does sound like an intriguing story...thanks for your review.
ReplyDeleteAnother blogger was kind enough to send me a copy so I will be reading it at some point. I am okay with the slower pace.
ReplyDeleteGreat review Diane. I like that it raises questions many people might ask themselves.
ReplyDeleteI've got this one coming up soon in my audio pile. Hopefully it's not too slow for me but I can always switch to print.
ReplyDeleteSometimes stories of smalltown people can be quite a nice read. I've seen reviews on this one... it's a maybe for me :)
ReplyDeleteShotgun Love Songs touched me where I live...literally. I know these people. I know small town life. Loved this book.
ReplyDelete