While I reviewed William Kent Krueger’s This Tender Land back in September (http://bit.ly/2jZZJ4k), it’s always nice to have a different take on a book. And, of course, Sandie Herron is reviewing the audiobook with Scott Brick as the narrator. That makes a difference as well. Thank you, Sandie.
THIS TENDER LAND
Written
by William Kent Krueger
by William Kent Krueger
Narrated
by Scott Brick
by Scott Brick
Unabridged
Audiobook
Audiobook
Recorded
Books (September 3, 2019)
Books (September 3, 2019)
Listening
Length: 14 hours and 19 minutes
Length: 14 hours and 19 minutes
This Tender Land is a story of a different era,
the Midwest during the Great Depression. I chose to read this via
audiobook since the main character was a story teller, something reiterated
many times, so I wanted to listen as if he were telling me his story in his own
voice. Scott Brick did a fabulous job reading, never distracting from the story
yet adding emotions as appropriate. While there are many characters, the
narrator used just one voice, Odie’s, since this is his story.
the Midwest during the Great Depression. I chose to read this via
audiobook since the main character was a story teller, something reiterated
many times, so I wanted to listen as if he were telling me his story in his own
voice. Scott Brick did a fabulous job reading, never distracting from the story
yet adding emotions as appropriate. While there are many characters, the
narrator used just one voice, Odie’s, since this is his story.
It is 1932 in rural Minnesota. Author Kent Krueger gives
us the story of four young orphans and their search for home. All are
connected to the Lincoln Indian Training School on the banks of the Gilead
River. Odie O’Banion and his older brother Albert were taken in when
their widowed father died. The only
white boys in an Indian school, they befriend a young boy nicknamed Mose, a
Sioux brought to the school with his tongue cut out, necessitating the use of
sign language. The fourth is their friend Emmy, the young daughter of
Cora Frost, a favorite teacher living nearby,
us the story of four young orphans and their search for home. All are
connected to the Lincoln Indian Training School on the banks of the Gilead
River. Odie O’Banion and his older brother Albert were taken in when
their widowed father died. The only
white boys in an Indian school, they befriend a young boy nicknamed Mose, a
Sioux brought to the school with his tongue cut out, necessitating the use of
sign language. The fourth is their friend Emmy, the young daughter of
Cora Frost, a favorite teacher living nearby,
The school is run by Thelma Brickman and her husband.
Thelma Brickman serves many roles at the school as teacher, superintendent,
punisher, disciplinarian. It is a daunting task teaching Indian children
forced from their homes and families, stripped of their Indian-ness, and
forbidden to speak their native language. She does these not with
kindness but with an iron fist. Rules
are to be obeyed, or punishment followed.
This often included a beating followed by time alone in the ”quiet”
room. Denial of meals was another, if you could call what they were
served meals.
Thelma Brickman serves many roles at the school as teacher, superintendent,
punisher, disciplinarian. It is a daunting task teaching Indian children
forced from their homes and families, stripped of their Indian-ness, and
forbidden to speak their native language. She does these not with
kindness but with an iron fist. Rules
are to be obeyed, or punishment followed.
This often included a beating followed by time alone in the ”quiet”
room. Denial of meals was another, if you could call what they were
served meals.
It was summer now, and school was out. That didn’t mean
the work stopped. The children were
always doing some sort of manual labor, upkeeping the school and property or
working for nearby farmers as needed. On a sweltering day Mrs. Frost
requests that the three boys help in her garden and orchard. She asks them if they would consider living
with her this summer, for their labor, yes, but also for their
companionship. Thrilled at the prospect, they are crushed when a tornado
thrashes through the school and changes their lives forever.
the work stopped. The children were
always doing some sort of manual labor, upkeeping the school and property or
working for nearby farmers as needed. On a sweltering day Mrs. Frost
requests that the three boys help in her garden and orchard. She asks them if they would consider living
with her this summer, for their labor, yes, but also for their
companionship. Thrilled at the prospect, they are crushed when a tornado
thrashes through the school and changes their lives forever.
Crucial events follow, and the four children escape their
tormentors and run away. Taking a canoe and a few provisions, they embark
on a journey full of wonder and sorrow, sadness and joy, terrors and triumphs.
They are forced to work for a bitter man who threatens to turn them in to the
authorities. Times are rough, and people
everywhere are looking for food and shelter. The four spend some time in
a town made of discarded material you might find at the dump, a Hooverville
known as Hopersville, where young
love blossoms. Another leg of the
journey takes them to a revival and the wisdom and healing powers of Sister
Eve.
tormentors and run away. Taking a canoe and a few provisions, they embark
on a journey full of wonder and sorrow, sadness and joy, terrors and triumphs.
They are forced to work for a bitter man who threatens to turn them in to the
authorities. Times are rough, and people
everywhere are looking for food and shelter. The four spend some time in
a town made of discarded material you might find at the dump, a Hooverville
known as Hopersville, where young
love blossoms. Another leg of the
journey takes them to a revival and the wisdom and healing powers of Sister
Eve.
Wherever the river takes them, the vagabonds find both hope and
despair. Their destination is Ithaca Street in St. Louis where Odie and
Albert hope their aunt still resides. Odie’s voice rings strong in the
stories he continues to tell. The
four-some may have left horrors behind them, but they find home in their love
for each other. Forces threaten to split them apart, yet somehow they
find their ways back to each other.
despair. Their destination is Ithaca Street in St. Louis where Odie and
Albert hope their aunt still resides. Odie’s voice rings strong in the
stories he continues to tell. The
four-some may have left horrors behind them, but they find home in their love
for each other. Forces threaten to split them apart, yet somehow they
find their ways back to each other.
It is a gift author Kent Krueger has given to us in his
writing. As I listened, I closed my eyes. Listening to Odie’s
voice in the narration of Scott Brick, I pictured everything from the so-called
school all the way the end of the journey. I very much enjoyed sitting
down to each chapter in their odyssey. So many places they visited, in
body and in heart. There were so many characters throughout. I loved
most of them, and the ones I didn’t, I had strong feelings against. Many
times on the journey I was surprised by what came next, and my jaw hung
open. Several times I cried. Thinking of the vagabonds even now
gives me chills.
writing. As I listened, I closed my eyes. Listening to Odie’s
voice in the narration of Scott Brick, I pictured everything from the so-called
school all the way the end of the journey. I very much enjoyed sitting
down to each chapter in their odyssey. So many places they visited, in
body and in heart. There were so many characters throughout. I loved
most of them, and the ones I didn’t, I had strong feelings against. Many
times on the journey I was surprised by what came next, and my jaw hung
open. Several times I cried. Thinking of the vagabonds even now
gives me chills.
I believe that this story is reachable, touchable, kind and
cruel both, full of wonder and awe, and, mostly hope.
cruel both, full of wonder and awe, and, mostly hope.
Thank you for running my audio review. It seems especially poignant since much of the book was relayed by Odie, the storyteller.
I know, Sandie. I was happy to read the opening, and know Odie lived.