Douglas Cavanaugh gave me a copy of The Long Way Around to facilitate my review. All thoughts are 100 % honest and my own.
The Long Way Around takes place in rural Iowa and can be purchased at Amazon.Com. A nice young man named Ryan is raised by his Grandfather after his parents die. His Grandfather was in World War 2 and won a purple heart. I love how the author tells about the war experiences of his Grandfather. I have read many World War 2 books in my lifetime, and the author has mastered the affairs of the young man’s Grandfather. The Long Way Around is a novel, but I consider it historical fiction at its best.
I have lived in rural Iowa all of my life, and the author grew up in Iowa. I have been to almost every town the author mentioned in the book, and how he says the villages is how I remember them. He mentions the different roads you take to the other towns in Iowa and what the towns have going for them. My parents and I traveled to these towns, and the book brings back wonderful childhood memories of each city.
The young man’s Grandfather is a master deer hunter who teaches his Grandson the art of skill. I have read Field and Stream magazines, and the deer hunting experiences are spot on. Ryan goes hunting on the grounds of one of his Grandfather’s war buddies. Ryan fell out of his tree stand, suffered terrible injuries, and had a long road to recovery. His Grandfather and friends were by his side during his recovery. Ryan’s Grandfather also teaches Ryan what he needs to know later on in life to succeed. Ryan’s Grandfather died, and Ryan missed him immensely.
Ryan travels and leaves Iowa for a while. He has adventures when he is gone and makes new friends along the way. Ryan decides to come back home and live on his Grandfather’s farm. His girlfriend he had in high school has something to tell him that he is glad to know. Ryan is going to be a Father. He marries the love of his life, and they go to college and have successful careers. They have a wonderful family and are blessed with a beautiful life.
I would highly recommend reading this well-written and thought-out book. The Long Way Around can also be purchased at goodreads.com. The towns in Iowa came to life as I read the book.
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