#Book review – Dog Bone Soup by Bette A. Stevens

Dog Bone Soup: A Boomer's Journey

What Amazon says

Whether or not You Grew Up in the 1950s and 60s, you’ll find DOG BONE SOUP (Historical Fiction) to be soup for the soul. In this coming-of-age novel, Shawn Daniels’s father is the town drunk. Shawn and his brother Willie are in charge of handling everything that needs to be done around the ramshackle place they call home—lugging in water for cooking and cleaning, splitting and stacking firewood…But when chores are done, these resourceful kids strike out on boundless adventures that don’t cost a dime. DOG BONE SOUP is the poignant tale of a dysfunctional family struggling to survive in America in the 50s and 60s, when others were living The American Dream.

My review

In preparing to write this review, I read a couple of other reviews of this book on Amazon and Goodreads. I was interested to note one comment that likened this book to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. I can see why this comparison has been drawn as Bette A. Stevens main character, Shawn Daniels, and Huckleberry Finn are both boys dogged by poverty and abusive and alcoholic fathers. Both boys are also fairly resourceful and have survival skills.

For me, however, that was where the comparison ended. Stevens depicts the Daniels family as being tight knit despite their unfortunate father. The children and their Mother work together to salvage their situation to the best extent they can. I really felt sad for the Mother as she was a victim of her own hormones and emotions and could not find the strength to break away from her selfish and abusive husband. She remained in a downward spiralling situation and ended up having a fourth child which was really unwise.

Shawn, the eldest child, does his best to be hard working, industrious and do well at school. He is a role model for his younger brother, Willie, and two younger sisters. Shawn tries to make the best of his situation and grasp opportunities that come his way.

I found this story to be very poignant and moving and Stevens’ writing is captivating. Despite some disturbing descriptions in the book I still found it to be a very uplifting book. Highly recommended.

A recent Amazon review

Gwendolyn Plano rated this book five out of five stars and said:

“Dog Bone Soup is a delightful read. First of all, the writing itself is mesmerizing. Author Stevens creates scenes with rare skill. Simple phrases and sentences, such as “The Buick was smokin’ and field grass was flyin’” and “The days we spent…flew off faster than a sweet dream…,” bring the reader into the world of the Daniels family.

The story is familiar, perhaps not the details, but the struggles of a family to stay together under notable duress, is a theme known to all. I couldn’t help but think of my own childhood as I followed the Daniels through the years. Poverty’s devastation reaches into the hearts of all those afflicted, and Bette Stevens captures its grip powerfully.

I highly recommend this book to all.”

Follow Bette A. Stevens

Blog: https://4writersandreaders.com/about/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/betteastevens

Find Maine Writers: http://find.mainewriters.org/writers/bette_a_stevens

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BetteAStevens

Purchase Dog Bone Soup

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Robbie and Michael Cheadle are the co-authors of the Sir Chocolate Book series and Robbie Cheadle is the author of Silly Willy goes to Cape Town

Purchase the Sir Chocolate books and Silly Willy Goes to Cape Town from:
https://www.amazon.com/author/robbiecheadle
OR
http://tinyurl.com/zdokqjr (currently available at a discounted price)
Follow Robbie Cheadle at:

 

Published by robbiesinspiration

Robbie and Michael Cheadle are co-authors of the Sir Chocolate series of books. We both like to write and bake.

50 thoughts on “#Book review – Dog Bone Soup by Bette A. Stevens”

      2. I’m always sad to finish a book I’ve loved too, Robbie. I don’t want to “move away” from the world of the book.

        Thanks for reviewing – it is now on my TBR list, thanks to you.
        xx,
        mgh
        (Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
        ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
        “It takes a village to educate a world!”

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Thanks for this mindful review, Robbie. I’m glad you don’t engage in that “Stars” (or other symbol) rating system. Saying what you like or didn’t and why is so much better. Not giving 5 stars can be so detrimental to both sales and morale. So why do that to people? Well done!
    You told me the kinds of things I like to know before investing my time in a book.
    I’ve always loved this title, and Bette is marvelous. Hugs all around.

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    1. Hi Tandy, I actually read the reviews after I finished the book. Once I have formed my own impressions l like to read what other people thought. This is a story about life and those are the kind of books I have always loved. I hardly ever read thrillers.

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  19. Robbie, this is a lovely review of a book that captivated me as well…I agree wholeheartedly about the mother and so wish she had found the strength to leave…the novel still runs like a cinematic reel in my mind when I think about it!

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