good_winter's review against another edition
4.0
Part 1 of this book was beautiful, following a boy scout named Nelson through a summer at camp. As generations pass in the other sections of the book, Nelson is still there in the background but was no longer the focus I wish that he was. Despite the disconnect I felt between the stories, get any of Nikolas Butler’s characters near a forest, a campfire, a sunset... and the writing is pure magic. His sincere appreciation for nature and love of Wisconsin is so deeply apparent. This author is pure gold, and I can’t wait to read the last of his novels he has released so far.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
5.0
A 2017 staff favorite recommended by Andrea, Jo, Ellen J. and Jean. Read Andrea's review at the Cook Library blog, Shelf Life: https://shelflife.cooklib.org/2017/03/07/andreas-pick-of-the-week-the-hearts-of-men-by-nickolas-butler/
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Shearts%20of%20men%20butler__Orightresult__U;jsessionid=E446E22EEB0CF654769C0537501CC04B?lang=eng
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Shearts%20of%20men%20butler__Orightresult__U;jsessionid=E446E22EEB0CF654769C0537501CC04B?lang=eng
stardustmelody's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Grief, Excrement, Transphobia, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Rape, Mental illness, Death of parent, Death, War, Toxic relationship, Racism, Racial slurs, Infidelity, Cursing, Colonisation, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Violence, Medical trauma, Homophobia, and Bullying
wdanger's review against another edition
Unfortunately I can’t listen to this narrator
rheyman's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
abbys_book_corner's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It took me a very long time to get into this book, and the writing style wasn’t for me.
However, the theme and message was just amazing and I loved the different parts with new POVs.
However, the theme and message was just amazing and I loved the different parts with new POVs.
bauermeyers's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
tommooney's review against another edition
5.0
THE HEARTS OF MEN by Nickolas Butler. This is the book I've been waiting for for a while. A study of changing masculinity over the past fifty years through the development of scouting in America. It begins with a young boy, Nelson, bullied by both his father and his peers, in Chippewa Scout Camp in the 60s. It progresses through Nelson, his only friend Jonathan and his descendents to the present day, analysing right and wrong and the role of men in society. There is so much to admire in this book. It is, in the most part, a fairly gentle book, though there are some darker parts, and it tackles many aspects of manliness with subtlty. I have tried to find someone's work to compare it to and the best I can do is Richard Yates, though it has a more contemporary feel. Anyway, it's superb, one of the best I have read this year.
cathi_p's review against another edition
3.0
This book started off great but skipped so much detail in building and connecting the characters over the broad time-span that it was hard to be invested in any of them or to really get a feeling of the hearts of men. Unless the message of this book is that all men are heartless and can't even live up to their own expectations.
snowmaiden's review against another edition
3.0
This book takes place at a Boy Scout camp through three different generations: in 1962, 1996, and 2019. (And why is the third section set just slightly in the future? Who knows?) I really enjoyed the first section, told from the point of view of a young and very earnest Scout. The later sections were more problematic and show the seedier side of what goes on at the camp. All in all, I found the writing of this book to be superb, and I'd gladly read something else by this author. The story itself, though, didn't cohere into a fully-formed novel for me.
(Note: I received an advance reader's edition of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.)
(Note: I received an advance reader's edition of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.)