For The Strength of The Hills by Hiram J. Bertoch

An attempt at describing a picturesque sunset, for example, when the effort suddenly reminds you that this is the work of some person who is trying to impress you with their ability. Few things are more bothersome to me in a book than being jolted from the story by a sudden display of writing. There is something that is of utmost importance to me as a reader, and that this book pulled off successfully: I was not aware that I was reading someone's writing. At one point James remembers eating the spring mulberries and I felt like I was right there with him. I was able to not only forgive the landscape that made their lives so hard, but to love it. The environment that James and his family lived in was often brutal in the winter, and while it was splendid in the summer months, they were constantly working the land. The effort he must have put into that was worthwhile in my opinion, because by spending time with each character, gaining insight into their private thoughts, I was able to care about each of them. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and sometimes found it hard to put down, staying up too late to read 'just one more chapter.' I loved the way the author gave each character a life of his or her own, making it very easy to engage with them and the story. Although religion was the focal point, it remained in the background for the story itself to shine, and I was perfectly comfortable with it. Also, I knew it was about Mormonism and being of no particular religion myself, I was curious to discover how the book would feel to me. I knew this was the author's first novel so I really didn't know what to expect. I was very pleasantly surprised when I read this book.

For The Strength of The Hills by Hiram J. Bertoch