I struggle with books like Buckeye. Their authors write so well, their characters are so engaging, and their subject matter is so interesting. The one thing their stories lack is decency.

Take Cal Jenkins, son of a bitter World War I veteran. After Pearl Harbor Cal is eager to serve in World War II but is rejected because of a birth defect. Or Becky Hanover, who has a gift for communicating with dead souls. Then there’s Margaret, who grows up wondering why her mother abandoned her to an orphanage. And Felix Salt, whose secret sexual yearnings threaten his marriage. Patrick Ryan paints all these characters with a depth of understanding that keeps the reader enthralled and sympathetic.

Set in various parts of Ohio before, during, and after the war, Buckeye carries us through decades of sorrow as members of two families find themselves disappointed in each other. All the characters suffer internal and interpersonal conflicts that emerge in numerous poignant scenes. They do things they come to regret, things that cause collateral damage to their children. But their individual ways of compromising for the sake of love and family make them memorable, endearing, and deeply moving.

This is the kind of book I would enjoy reading again if I didn’t have to wade through the profanity, vulgar language, and explicit sexuality that doom so many novels these days. Gifted writers like Patrick Ryan should know better. My four-star rating is better than his effort deserves.

Chevron Ross's novels include Weapons of Remorse, The Seven-Day Resurrection, and The Samaritan's Patient. Click here for more information.