As I listened to an audio-recording of Gail Kittleson’s Land That I Love, I felt a deep sense of empathy with and admiration for the main character, Everett Herring. After suffering the tragic death of his wife and the loss of his teaching position, Everett emigrates from England to the Texas hill country, hoping to create a new home for his young and precocious son, Donnie.
The story Everett tells is not an action adventure. (The major “action” in the book occurs across the ocean as World War Two unfolds and thus is seen and pondered from a distance.) Instead, readers join Everett, Donnie, and their friend William in exploring their new surroundings and learning what it means to live in community.
Through their eyes, we observe the realities of racism, prejudice, and mental illness, uncover the mistreatment of German-Americans during World War Two, and weep over the casualties of war. Together we discover the importance of perseverance and tenacity, affirm the value of friendship, and learn to accept the inevitability of change. And with Everett, we reflect on life choices we’ve made, contemplate the differences that divide shadows from sunshine, and find ways to maneuver through feelings of guilt and grief.
Land That I Love is a story that elicits thoughtful reflection and lends itself to group discussion. I recommend it highly.
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An emotional and insightful World War literary novel
Gail Kittleson has established herself as an author who brings World War II to life through engaging stories laced with historical fact. Like her other novels, her astute research is woven through the pages of her latest novel, Land That I Love. She uses a literary style to tell her story through the eyes of Everett Herring, a British immigrant who settles in the German settlement of Loyal Valley in the Texas Hill Country.Supported by the loyalty and deep friendship of his English butler, William, Everett struggles with the challenges of raising his young son as a single parent. He forges a new life in a new land while carrying the burden of scars incurred by a painful marriage.The author skillfully marches the fictional tale of her characters across the pages against the backdrop of authentic documentation of wartime events. She brings to light the conflicts between people of different cultures and nationalities, the devotion and friendships that develop, and the realities that often overshadow dreams.Everett possesses an enthusiasm for his young son’s education, both of basic life skills and the responsibilities that come with maturity. His desire to expose him to scholarly ideas and historical facts about his heritage and the world forges a strong bond between the two. The other characters who contribute to Donnie’s experiences provide a rich source of emotion, conflict, love, loss, and faith throughout the story.If you enjoy World War II fiction with well-defined characters and a firm foundation of historical fact, Land That I Love is the book for you.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2021
Supported by the loyalty and deep friendship of his English butler, William, Everett struggles with the challenges of raising his young son as a single parent. He forges a new life in a new land while carrying the burden of scars incurred by a painful marriage.
The author skillfully marches the fictional tale of her characters across the pages against the backdrop of authentic documentation of wartime events. She brings to light the conflicts between people of different cultures and nationalities, the devotion and friendships that develop, and the realities that often overshadow dreams.
Everett possesses an enthusiasm for his young son’s education, both of basic life skills and the responsibilities that come with maturity. His desire to expose him to scholarly ideas and historical facts about his heritage and the world forges a strong bond between the two. The other characters who contribute to Donnie’s experiences provide a rich source of emotion, conflict, love, loss, and faith throughout the story.
If you enjoy World War II fiction with well-defined characters and a firm foundation of historical fact, Land That I Love is the book for you.
An emotional and insightful World War literary novel
Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2021
Gail Kittleson has established herself as an author who brings World War II to life through engaging stories laced with historical fact. Like her other novels, her astute research is woven through the pages of her latest novel, Land That I Love. She uses a literary style to tell her story through the eyes of Everett Herring, a British immigrant who settles in the German settlement of Loyal Valley in the Texas Hill Country.Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2021
Supported by the loyalty and deep friendship of his English butler, William, Everett struggles with the challenges of raising his young son as a single parent. He forges a new life in a new land while carrying the burden of scars incurred by a painful marriage.
The author skillfully marches the fictional tale of her characters across the pages against the backdrop of authentic documentation of wartime events. She brings to light the conflicts between people of different cultures and nationalities, the devotion and friendships that develop, and the realities that often overshadow dreams.
Everett possesses an enthusiasm for his young son’s education, both of basic life skills and the responsibilities that come with maturity. His desire to expose him to scholarly ideas and historical facts about his heritage and the world forges a strong bond between the two. The other characters who contribute to Donnie’s experiences provide a rich source of emotion, conflict, love, loss, and faith throughout the story.
If you enjoy World War II fiction with well-defined characters and a firm foundation of historical fact, Land That I Love is the book for you.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2021
