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Land That I Love: a Novel of the Texas Hill Country Hardcover – September 8, 2021
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Set in the German Hill Country of Texas during World War II, Land That I Love is a sweeping literary novel of love and loss; friendship and animosity; fathers and sons; and coping during times of war and peace.
Yet it is more than a love story. It is about the racism and bigotry that still exist in our world. As author Gail Kittleson's characters struggle with the problems of everyday life, they teach us that we survive hard times by being good neighbors despite our differences and that hatred can be conquered by love, understanding and forgiveness.
- Print length332 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherWordcrafts Press
- Publication dateSeptember 8, 2021
- Dimensions6 x 0.88 x 9 inches
- ISBN-101952474833
- ISBN-13978-1952474835
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Product details
- Publisher : Wordcrafts Press (September 8, 2021)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 332 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1952474833
- ISBN-13 : 978-1952474835
- Item Weight : 1.45 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.88 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #9,621,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #10,816 in Historical World War II Fiction (Books)
- #12,548 in World War II Historical Fiction (Books)
- #15,785 in 20th Century Historical Romance (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
When Gail's not steeped in World War II historical research, writing, or editing, you'll find her reading for fun, gardening, or enjoying her grandchildren in Northern Iowa. She delights in interacting with readers who fall in love with her characters.
Women of the Heartland, Gail's World War II series, highlights women of The Greatest Generation: In Times Like These, April 2016, With Each New Dawn, February, 2017 (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, and Word Crafts Press, December, 2017.)
These heroines make do with what life hands them and face great odds with integrity. No easy outs or pat answers for their struggles - it's the thick of World war II. The same can be said of Dottie in In This Together, Gail's first historical novel (Wild Rose Press/Vintage Line), and of the women in her memoir, Catching Up With Daylight (WhiteFire Publishing.)
Gail Kittleson taught college expository writing and ESL before writing women’s historical fiction. From northern Iowa, she facilitates writing workshops and women’s retreats, and enjoys the Arizona Ponderosa forest in winter.
Customer reviews
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Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the characters realistic and down-to-earth. They appreciate the author's judicious research and unique writing style. The book is described as a great story and history lesson.
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Customers like the realistic and down-to-earth characters. They say they bring the story to life.
"...That I Love, I felt a deep sense of empathy with and admiration for the main character, Everett Herring...." Read more
"...But I did with this one. Gail Kittleson weaves a tapestry of characters, plot, and historical events like no other book I’ve ever read...." Read more
"Land that I Love is an excellent written story with inspiring characters. I read a lot of historical fiction and thoroughly enjoyed this book!" Read more
Customers appreciate the book's research quality. They find the author's judicious and compelling research on World War II compelling, and the story engaging as a history lesson.
"...I highly recommend this excellent research source to everyone interested in World War Two whether in fiction or nonfiction." Read more
"...Gail Kittleson weaves a tapestry of characters, plot, and historical events like no other book I’ve ever read...." Read more
"A great story and history lesson...." Read more
Reviews with images
An emotional and insightful World War literary novel
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2022As 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2023In Land That I Love, Gail Kittleson gives us the history of World War Two through the eyes of a British man and his young son who moved to Texas a few years before the war. Their adjustment to life in an area with a German population gives us a view of the lives of two foreign families in war against each other while they live on foreign-to-them soil. I highly recommend this excellent research source to everyone interested in World War Two whether in fiction or nonfiction.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2022It’s been a long time since I’ve cried at the end of a book. But I did with this one. Gail Kittleson weaves a tapestry of characters, plot, and historical events like no other book I’ve ever read. The realistic and down to earth characters bring this story to life amidst the alluring backdrop of WWII, Great Britain, and Texas. The author’s judicious research is compelling along with her unique literary style. I found myself so entrenched with Everett, Donnie, William, and Lillian that every time I picked up this book to read, my heart reverberated with them with every turn of the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2022This book grabs you early on and doesn't let go. It's different in some way I can't describe. A good different. It is easy to read, but not predictable like some historical books. Something special. I've read many books set in the same time period, but it still felt unique.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2021Land that I Love is an excellent written story with inspiring characters. I read a lot of historical fiction and thoroughly enjoyed this book!
- Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2021Great author
- Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2021Gail 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.
5.0 out of 5 stars An emotional and insightful World War literary novelGail 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.
Images in this review - Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2021Land That I Love Review
Did you know ancient Greek has eight different words for love while English over uses just one word love? Gail Kittleson’s new historical novel looks at a new found love of the Texas Hill Country gained by Everett Herring. He shares a deep brotherly love (phileo), with his faithful butler, William, inherited from his grandfather and a self-sacrificing love (agape,) for his toddler Donnie. In 1937, they leave Nottingham, England to move to Loyal Valley in the Texas Hill Country, a historic German settlement.
This move is triggered by a tragedy affecting Everett’s wife Victoria whom he loved romantically (eros) but who was unable to be the companion and helpmate he needed due to unhealthy self focus (philautia.)
As usual, the author does a superb job researching the locale and its story. This historical novel, not just a love story, is placed in the setting of World War II, so we learn along with Everett, Donnie and William how the world is changing, how Loyal Valley is changing, how the lives of their friends of German heritage are changing. Gail very naturally weaves historical facts into the lives of these fictional characters.
Learn to love (phileo) Loyal Valley along with these transplanted Englishmen, weep with them through their tragedies, rejoice in their triumphs, and share their faith and love (agape) from God that underpins their families and sustains them through life.