Customer Reviews

Heartsong

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I have enjoyed all of James Welch's novels but "Heartsong" is far and away his masterpiece and so well written that the critique by the herald stated, "this is a novel that Robert Louis Stevenson would approve". I agree. Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens, Thomas hardy, all you humanitarians out there in the ether, here is a book to compare to yours. Heartsong has been referred to as the American "Les Mis".

It is a story that needed to be told, surprisingly beautiful in a contemporary piece, written with a pleasing rhythm that soothed me through the rough reality the main character survived. Charging Elk's huge spirit that shone around him followed him perfectly throughout his life. He retained his stone-age innocence. That is what is meant by,"Believe what is good and pure, whether it is true or not"(from Second Hand Lions). Charging Elk trusted the universe, and took his chances. He did not beg for assurance or help and confided in nobody. With what bravery did he go forward into his life! He did not try to find an interpreter or seek all the answers like a white man, but accepted his circumstances stoically.

The only book that has told the native heart so well for me, is Margaret Craven's, "I Heard the Owl Call My Name."