BUCKEYE by Patrick Ryan
Set in a small town in Ohio during the middle half of the 20th century, this novel tells the story of 3 generations of 2 families linked by secrets.
Describing its plot any further would make this book sound melodramatic, as if it were nothing more than a soap opera, but Ryan’s real achievement is in the emotional authenticity of his characters, even the minor ones. The entire cast rings true, and not just in a hackneyed way. The entire cast rings true, and not just in a hackneyed way. These are not caricatures. They are fully-fleshed characters living out their lives.
I found myself not just suspending disbelief. I actually started to care about these people, even when they weren’t at their best. And, again referencing (however obliquely) Ryan's plot, they all get their due.
I got to the last page of this book with deep sense of satisfaction, grateful for the journey.
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