Buckeye, a historical fiction and family saga

Catching up on reviews and blogging this week. :-)

Buckeye.

This was so good. The time period spans roughly 50 years and covers quite a bit of history from before WW II through Vietnam and the aftermath.  

The focus is on two main couples. Margaret & Felix Salt and Cal & Becky Jenkins. We see their childhood stories as well as their courtship and marriages from beginning to end.  It's hard to write about this book without giving spoilers.  You have to read the revelations as they come to see how they impact the relationships.

In the beginning Margaret sees people flooding to cars and businesses in search of a radio. Back then, breaking news arrived this way. As she searched for anyone with a radio she runs into Cal Jenkins' hardware store and hears WW II has indeed ended. In that moment she kisses Cal passionately.  Margaret Salt knows her husband Felix will return home from his tour of duty. That's not the end of Margaret's story but she doesn't appear again for a few chapters.

There are circumstances beyond the control of two of our characters but it shapes their personalities forever.  Margaret was abandoned as  a baby and never knew her mother.  She was left at an orphanage, placed in a basket with only a note stating her name was Margaret. After stints at foster homes, never knowing a permanent place and people to call mom and dad, she just grew up in the orphanage. Wouldn't that harden your heart and ability to trust? Unconditional love was a foreign concept.

Cal Jenkins was born wth a disformity.  One leg shorter than the other which kept him out of military service during WW II. He grew up with little support from his alcoholic father Everett. Cal's mother and siblings had died many years ago and Everett took solace in liquor rather than raise Cal properly.

In this small Ohio town of Bonhomie you will see love, support, grief, infidelity and best of all...forgiveness. The children play a big part in this story.  Felix and Margaret's son Tom and Cal and Becky's son Skip.    These families will be connected forever...read it to see a good story unfold.

Just a FYI - from the title Buckeye I thought it refered to the state of Ohio as this is where the story is primarily set.  Then I wondered if it refered to Tom Salt as Skip Jenkins nicknamed him Buckeye. A friend on Goodreads mentioned it was from the Buckeye tree in front of the Salt's house, as well as for Tom.

This was a buddy read with Susan at The Cue Card.  Very enjoyable and ignited great discussions.  This is one for a book club, folks.