Back to the Homeplace and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more

Buy New

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
or
Amazon Prime Free Trial required. Sign up when you check out. Learn More
Buy Used
Used - Very Good See details
$12.87 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Fulfilled by Amazon

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
Kindle Edition
Read the Kindle edition on Kindle, iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry, PC and Mac.
 
   
Sell Back Your Copy
For a $0.42 Gift Card
Trade in
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Back to the Homeplace
 
 
Share your own customer images
Search inside this book
Start reading Back to the Homeplace on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Back to the Homeplace [Paperback]

William Leverne Smith (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews) |
Price: $14.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it delivered Wednesday, May 30? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

Formats

 Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition $4.99   -- --
Paperback $14.95   -- --

Book Description

Publication Date: March 25, 2010
An extended family in crisis following the death of their matriarch must cope with this new environment. The year is 1987. The terms of an unusual will left by their parents bring four grown children, spouses, and other family members, back to the Missouri Ozarks farm where they grew up - the Homeplace. Varied backgrounds and viewpoints ignite controversy and expose long kept secrets as each family member searches for his or her share of the family legacy. While the older family members stake their claims to land and fortunes, the younger ones search for love and acceptance.

Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this book with The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel by Garth Stein Paperback $8.99

Back to the Homeplace + The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel
Price For Both: $23.94

Show availability and shipping details

  • This item: Back to the Homeplace by William Leverne Smith Paperback

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel by Garth Stein Paperback

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

From the Back Cover

An extended family in crisis following the death of their matriarch must cope with this new environment. The year is 1987. The terms of an unusual will left by their parents bring four grown children, spouses, and other family members, back to the Missouri Ozarks farm where they grew up - the Homeplace. Varied backgrounds and viewpoints ignite controversy and expose long kept secrets as each family member searches for his or her share of the family legacy. While the older family members stake their claims to land and fortunes, the younger ones search for love and acceptance.
See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

  • Paperback: 266 pages
  • Publisher: CreateSpace (March 25, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1451560400
  • ISBN-13: 978-1451560404
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,442,046 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's William Leverne Smith Page
William Leverne Smith
William Leverne Smith was born and raised on a Midwestern farm. A passion for family history and genealogy studies provides background for his writing.
He and his wife live in a cabin in the Missouri Ozarks.

The blog that goes with the book, and has updates of this and the next novel in the series [The Homeplace Revisited] is The Homeplace Series Blog: http://thehomeplaceseries.blogspot.com/
Visit: The Homeplace Chronicles on FACEBOOK
I'm happy to answer questions left in comments on the Blog, for Followers, any time. Thanks!

You may also be interested in my non-fiction books which are written under author Dr. Bill (William L.) Smith here at Amazon. Stop by.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Back to the Homeplace March 27, 2010
Format:Paperback
Back to the Homeplace by William Leverne Smith transports readers to small town American of the late 1980s. Four siblings and their families are reunited under the auspices of a unique will. Complex relationships and family secrets emerge as the Bevins family members search for their place in the local community.

The interesting introductions at the beginning of most chapters helped take me back to the news and entertainment of the 1980s. I've read many books set in the 1960s or 1970s, but this is the first that concentrates on events of the 1980s. This is important for the mood and context of the story. Smith did an outstanding job weaving social issues of the late 1980s with timeless family relationships. Growing up in the midwest, I could relate to both the small town atmosphere and the varied viewpoints represented in the book. What I found particularly interesting was how Smith followed members of both the older and younger generations dealing with issues unique to each group.

Strong character development and realistic situations draw readers into the family farm setting during the first half of the novel. Smith's creative double-twist climax keeps readers engaged through the second half of the book and the conclusion leaves readers wanting to return to the Homeplace for more.

I look forward to the next book in this great new series.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Synopsis:

An extended family in crisis following the death of their matriarch must cope with this new environment. The year is 1987. The terms of an unusual will left by their parents bring four grown children, spouses, and other family members, back to the Missouri Ozarks farm where they grew up - the Homeplace. Varied backgrounds and viewpoints ignite controversy and expose long kept secrets as each family member searches for his or her share of the family legacy. While the older family members stake their claims to land and fortunes, the younger ones search for love and acceptance.

Review:

Back to the Homeplace is an amazing journey of family values and individuals trying to find their place in life. Author William Leverne Smith brings together his love of genealogy and family storytelling in his writing of a story that could touch any one's life these days. The description of the Missouri Ozarks, which has numerous kinds of terrain, landscape and buildings, is amazingly accurate. It makes you want to go on a road trip to view the beautiful area!

The plot is well written with a will dividing a family who all want the farm for different reasons. The twist of the will requires them to live on the land for 2 years. Could you up and leave your life and start over with your family somewhere else? You will see in the story how this effects all the families involved as each day goes by and decisions have to be made. From the older generations to the younger kids, all must deal with new issues that arise from the new environment that surrounds them.

This book evolves around the year 1987. At the beginning of each chapter, there are little news clips of what was going on at the time. Many social issues were active at that time and some are covered in the story like the AIDS epidemic.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to read a great family oriented book that makes you think about the life you lead. The characters will make you think about people in your own family that may act or be like them (I sure found that out.) The writing is easy to read, but my only critique would be a more language use or slang of the area and a little less formal words used. This didn't distract me from the story, but living in the area myself, people speak a little more laid back. Take a trip in to the lives of the Bevins family and see what you may learn about those close to you.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
A Story You Can Relate To September 22, 2010
By Missy
Format:Paperback
Author William Leverne Smith takes us back to the late 1980s with a compelling story about a family that returns to their roots at the Homeplace (not necessarily by choice) in accordance with their parents' unusual will.

The introductions with the newspaper headlines for each chapter was original and helped to take you back to 1987, when the story takes place. I do have to say that all of the characters coming in at once in the beginning did confuse me and had me flipping back a few times to remember who was who. However, once you start getting into the story better, the characters start taking on personalities of their own and there is no mistaking them from there on out. Also, some of the dialogue seemed a little too formal for the time and small town feel of the story, but it doesn't take you away from the story at all.

Smith's vivid description of the Homeplace makes me want to hop in my car and travel to see this gorgeous place! This is a refreshingly original story that is so well-written, you'll feel as though you're there with the family, feeling all of the highs and lows with them. All of the characters are fleshed out and people that, even if we don't want to admit it, we can compare to people that we know in our own lives. The plot is full of realistic situations and twists that have you turning page after page until you run out of pages to turn. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll gasp - get ready for a roller coaster because your emotions will be on a wild ride!

This is honestly one of the best stories about a family saga that I have read in some time. I also found out that there will be a sequel, which is going straight on my wish list. It's a high-ranking recommendation from me!
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Don't Waste Your Money
This book had little/no plot. It was ludicrous. The characters weren't fleshed out at all and the storyline was non-existent.
Published 6 months ago by T. James
Back To The Homeplace
Back to the Homeplace is a story of families and the ties that bind them together, and the lengths the matriarchs of the Bevins family went to in order to preserve the... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Brenda Casto
Coming Home....
Back To The Homeplace is a beautiful story of family. I love family sagas and stories about family secrets. Hence this book was a perfect read for me. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Misha
A story about family and friendship
When Mildred Bevins dies, her children learn that if they want a piece of her estate, they must return to the Homeplace in Missouri where they grew up ~ and commit to staying for... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Book-Loving Mom of Two
YES, YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN....
Set against the backdrop of the Midwest during the 1980s, Back to the Homeplace revolves around a family of four grown children whose mother, the family matriarch, has just died. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Laurel-Rain Snow "Rain"
Enjoyed Back to the Homeplace!
After the matriarch of the family dies, the extended family must return to the Homeplace as per the will. The farm, located in the Ozarks, has been in the family for 150 years. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Book Loving Mommy
Back to the Homeplace
Back to the Homeplace is an engaging story of four families brought together because of the unusual stipulations of a will. Read more
Published on May 21, 2010 by L. Brandau
Let's Visit The Homeplace!
Back To The Homeplace
by William Leverne Smith
Vision to Action Publishing
2010
ISBN 978-1451560404

When their mother dies, the family gathers at the... Read more
Published on April 13, 2010 by Cyndi Beane Henry
Storytelling at it's best
In "Back to the Homeplace", the author has created an enthralling and descriptive story that captures the lives of several generations of a Midwestern family coming together after... Read more
Published on April 7, 2010 by A. Rathsack
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:
Inside This Book (learn more)
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

› Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(7)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(1)
(1)
Agree with these tags?
See all 24 tags...

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums


Look for Similar Items by Category

Look for Similar Items by Subject

Search Books by subject:





i.e., each book must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...