A stunning achievement, Buckeye is easily one of the most emotional and touching books I have read this year. As I wipe away my tears, I am left with a feeling of awe for the time scale and depth conveyed within this tumultuous multi-generational novel. Spanning from World War II to the Vietnam War, small town America is the backdrop for this generous and realistic view of humanity within the scope of four main characters - Cal, Becky, Felix and Margaret. Their lives gently unfold, develop and intertwine through some of the most difficult and trying times of the modern age. They each live, love, make mistakes and try to do the best they can with the circumstances and time allotted to them. Written as a warm embrace, it is easy to love each of them for their faults and strengths. Cal was born with leg length discrepancy so is not accepted into the Army as he tries to enlist. This makes him one of a handful of young men left in Bonhomie, Ohio during the course of WWII. Becky is a girl he went to school with. She is kind and possesses a unique ability that sets her apart from her peers. Felix is the gorgeous, all American boy who goes off to war and finds himself irrevocably changed by the experience. Margaret was raised in an orphanage and sows her wild oats in Columbus, the big city, as she stretches her wings to find her way in life. As I said, each character is utterly dear to the reader and as they grown, make adult choices and missteps, we are with them hoping for the best. As tender as the story is, it is also a wry ode to the beauty and humour of small town life and the array of characters who people it. There are plenty of laughs as we see the town and its community change over the years with a wide supporting cast adding a great deal of colour to this rich tapestry. These feel like people the reader easily recognises as neighbours and friends we ourselves know so well. Buckeye is a rare jewel that delivers an emotional punch and appreciation for the unique beauty each life is granted. I feel honoured to have spent my time with these people at this unparalleled time in American history.

A whole wonderful saga of two families in the post Second World War American MidWest. Cal and Becky, Margaret and Felix, and their sons Skip and Buckeye, are all portrayed sympathetically and carefully as we are shown their beginnings and the interplay between their characters as they grow older and sometimes wiser. There are lots of issues to be unpicked, including abandoned children, covert homosexuality, promiscuity. alcoholism, the Vietnam war, fidelity and paternity, all wrapped up into one big gift of a story that never flags and has all the feels, from heartbreaking to heartwarming and so much more. Wonderful.

An enthralling and moving study of two families from the interwar years to the tailend of the Vietnam war. Whilst it takes a wee while to get going, I was soon completely wrapped up in the story and by the end frequently had tears in my eyes. A compelling mix of social commentary, family drama, war, sexuality, and the bonds that bind family and friends together. Quite beautiful.

“ The things that we love tell us what we are.” “ Nothing is quite as maddening as being angry at people who lovingly understand your anger.” Welcome to the town of Bonhomie- a small American town that has stories to tell. Buckeye by Patrick Ryan is simply a brilliant human-driven emotional novel about the lives of two couples mainly told over a period of four decades. This is the story of Cal and Becky and Margaret and Felix.This is a story of the joys, the challenges, the intricacies of relationships and the tragedies that befall everyone in their lives. ( The character of Everett, Carl’s father is a wonder) It is also the story of two boys - Tom and Skip - the children whose worlds are impacted upon by the actions of the adults in their lives. It would be easy to describe some of the plot but that would give away too much; this is a book to dive into and escape into the lives of others . Patrick Ryan captures the emotional fragility of all the characters - the happiness in single moments but also the things unsaid or never explored in life that indelibly leave their deep marks. The small details that describe scenes ,key events and individuals and are what make this novel so compelling As will be said by many, if you like the work of Elizabeth Strout and Ann Tyler, then Buckeye is highly recommended but move comparisons aside Patrick Ryan has written a superb novel capturing the everyday of American life during the 1940s to the. 1970s. Weaving the impact of two wars - and the futility and damage of conflict - this is much more than simply a novel about the lives of the characters, this is an all-embracing story of love and humanity that we can all relate to. Be prepared for an emotional journey that will hook you - not sentimental in any way- but should leave all readers reflecting upon about what is sometimes unsaid or said too late in life and the lasting impact . Patrick Ryan has written a modern day classic .A triumph of a great American novel .