Buckeye, a novel by Patrick Ryan is a mesmerizing story of two midwestern families that span from just before World War II to the late twentieth century.
In Bonhomie, Ohio, population 6,000, young men are leaving to serve in the military. Some will go to Europe, and later, to the South Pacific. Cal Jenkins tries to enlist, but because he has a deformity—one leg is shorter than the other—the army won’t accept him. Instead, he volunteers for the Citizens Defense Corps. He marries Becky, who has a spiritual gift: she is a seer who can contact the dead. She doesn’t capitalize on her gift, she offers her services for free, helping people connect with lost loved ones. At times, Cal is annoyed with the steady stream of people who come to their home seeking Becky’s comfort.
When Margaret Salt was a baby, she was left at a Bonhomie orphanage with no name or explanation. Although she was placed in homes a few times, she was always returned. She’s treated well at the orphanage, but longs to live a normal life, an exciting life. She dreams of living in a big glamorous city, like Columbus. As soon as she becomes an adult, she moves to Columbus and loves the glamor of city life. She meets and later marries handsome Felix Salt, but is bitterly disappointed when his new job takes him to the small town of Bonhomie, the very town she’d hoped to escape.
War raged in the South Pacific, and Felix is called to serve on a ship that delivers supplies needed for the war effort. He had served 2 ½ years when the ship is struck by a torpedo. Felix is rescued but suffers from much more than his physical injuries.
During all the turmoil of war, chance encounters become a driving force that transform the lives of these two families over generations.
Buckeye is an amazing, sweeping novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. The war years took their toll in many ways, both on the battlefields and at home. Secrets are not kept forever and when they surface the pain can be overwhelming and life-changing. This novel is about life and loss, and about bringing truth to light with understanding and forgiveness.