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Land That I Love
Set in the German Hill Country of Texas during World War II, Land That I Love is a sweeping literary novel of love and loss; friendship and animosity; fathers and sons; and coping during times of war and peace. Yet it is more than a love story. It is about the racism and bigotry that still exist in our world. As author Gail Kittleson's characters struggle with the problems of everyday life, they teach us that we survive hard times by being good neighbors despite our differences and that hatred can be conquered by love, understanding and forgiveness.
330 pages, Paperback
Published August 30, 2021
About the author
Gail Kittleson
27 books94 followersThe World War II fiction bug bit Gail after she penned a memoir. Since then, she's written eight novels, with two more waiting in the wings. You can count on her make-do Greatest Generation characters to exhibit tenacity and spunk (or 'pluck' if they're British) in the face of grave danger and distress.
The best compliment her stories have ever received is that her heroines and heroes receive no easy ways out of pat answers. But just as in real life, doubts and challenges produce real strength and hone honest faith.
Recently, she added several nonfiction titles to her list. She instructed college expository writing, edits, and facilitates writing workshops. She and her husband split their time between Iowa and Arizona Rim Country.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 7, 2022
It’s been a long time since I’ve cried at the end of a book. But I did with this one. Gail Kittleson weaves a tapestry of characters, plot, and historical events like no other book I’ve ever read. The realistic and down to earth characters bring this story to life amidst the alluring backdrop of WWII, Great Britain, and Texas. The author’s judicious research is compelling along with her unique literary style. I found myself so entrenched with Everett, Donnie, William, and Lillian that every time I picked up this book to read, my heart reverberated with them with every turn of the page.
October 18, 2021
Gail Kittleson has established herself as an author who brings World War II to life through engaging stories laced with historical fact. Like her other novels, her astute research is woven through the pages of her latest novel, Land That I Love. She uses a literary style to tell her story through the eyes of Everett Herring, a British immigrant who settles in the German settlement of Loyal Valley in the Texas Hill Country.
Supported by the loyalty and deep friendship of his English butler, William, Everett struggles with the challenges of raising his young son as a single parent. He forges a new life in a new land while carrying the burden of scars incurred by a painful marriage.
The author skillfully marches the fictional tale of her characters across the pages against the backdrop of authentic documentation of wartime events. She brings to light the conflicts between people of different cultures and nationalities, the devotion and friendships that develop, and the realities that often overshadow dreams.
Everett possesses an enthusiasm for his young son’s education, both of basic life skills and the responsibilities that come with maturity. His desire to expose him to scholarly ideas and historical facts about his heritage and the world forges a strong bond between the two. The other characters who contribute to Donnie’s experiences provide a rich source of emotion, conflict, love, loss, and faith throughout the story.
If you enjoy World War II fiction with well-defined characters and a firm foundation of historical fact, Land That I Love is the book for you.
Supported by the loyalty and deep friendship of his English butler, William, Everett struggles with the challenges of raising his young son as a single parent. He forges a new life in a new land while carrying the burden of scars incurred by a painful marriage.
The author skillfully marches the fictional tale of her characters across the pages against the backdrop of authentic documentation of wartime events. She brings to light the conflicts between people of different cultures and nationalities, the devotion and friendships that develop, and the realities that often overshadow dreams.
Everett possesses an enthusiasm for his young son’s education, both of basic life skills and the responsibilities that come with maturity. His desire to expose him to scholarly ideas and historical facts about his heritage and the world forges a strong bond between the two. The other characters who contribute to Donnie’s experiences provide a rich source of emotion, conflict, love, loss, and faith throughout the story.
If you enjoy World War II fiction with well-defined characters and a firm foundation of historical fact, Land That I Love is the book for you.
May 28, 2022
As I listened to an audio-recording of Gail Kittleson’s Land That I Love, I felt a deep sense of empathy with and admiration for the main character, Everett Herring. After suffering the tragic death of his wife and the loss of his teaching position, Everett emigrates from England to the Texas hill country, hoping to create a new home for his young and precocious son, Donnie.
The story Everett tells is not an action adventure. (The major “action” in the book occurs across the ocean as World War Two unfolds and thus is seen and pondered from a distance.) Instead, readers join Everett, Donnie, and their friend William in exploring their new surroundings and learning what it means to live in community.
Through their eyes, we observe the realities of racism, prejudice, and mental illness, uncover the mistreatment of German-Americans during World War Two, and weep over the casualties of war. Together we discover the importance of perseverance and tenacity, affirm the value of friendship, and learn to accept the inevitability of change. And with Everett, we reflect on life choices we’ve made, contemplate the differences that divide shadows from sunshine, and find ways to maneuver through feelings of guilt and grief.
Land That I Love is a story that elicits thoughtful reflection and lends itself to group discussion. I recommend it highly.
The story Everett tells is not an action adventure. (The major “action” in the book occurs across the ocean as World War Two unfolds and thus is seen and pondered from a distance.) Instead, readers join Everett, Donnie, and their friend William in exploring their new surroundings and learning what it means to live in community.
Through their eyes, we observe the realities of racism, prejudice, and mental illness, uncover the mistreatment of German-Americans during World War Two, and weep over the casualties of war. Together we discover the importance of perseverance and tenacity, affirm the value of friendship, and learn to accept the inevitability of change. And with Everett, we reflect on life choices we’ve made, contemplate the differences that divide shadows from sunshine, and find ways to maneuver through feelings of guilt and grief.
Land That I Love is a story that elicits thoughtful reflection and lends itself to group discussion. I recommend it highly.
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January 18, 2024When Everett's mentally ill wife sets the house on fire, he saves his son and emigrates from England to the US, maintaining a pond of peace in the chaos of WWII.
Everett admits to wandering thoughts--it took a while for me a get used to his narrative voice. He jumps around in time, sometimes leaving a thought incomplete, sometimes not defining a pronoun. Yet he's such a good guy. He gently teaches his son by answering his questions about history, nature, geography, current events. He's good-natured, avoiding a contentious neighbor, yet taking an opportunity to be kind. If your life is full of drama and trauma, Everett's life might be an oasis to you.
Descriptions of the Texas Hill Country have me wanting to visit.
Everett admits to wandering thoughts--it took a while for me a get used to his narrative voice. He jumps around in time, sometimes leaving a thought incomplete, sometimes not defining a pronoun. Yet he's such a good guy. He gently teaches his son by answering his questions about history, nature, geography, current events. He's good-natured, avoiding a contentious neighbor, yet taking an opportunity to be kind. If your life is full of drama and trauma, Everett's life might be an oasis to you.
Descriptions of the Texas Hill Country have me wanting to visit.
October 1, 2021
Land That I Love is an engaging book on so many levels – a journey from England to the Texas Hill Country to start a new life, loyalty and friendship, love and loss. The author has thoroughly researched the locale and the time period which enrich the story. Details of World War II have been skillfully woven into the story and its impact on the lives of families that you come to care about. History does repeat itself, but when anger and hate are met with kindness and forgiveness, lives change.
I loved the many quotable phrases and copied them to share with my granddaughter. Land That I Love is a treasure filled with insight, wisdom, and the power of faith in challenging times.
I loved the many quotable phrases and copied them to share with my granddaughter. Land That I Love is a treasure filled with insight, wisdom, and the power of faith in challenging times.
February 12, 2023
Thoroughly Researched World War Two
In Land That I Love, Gail Kittleson gives us the history of World War Two through the eyes of a British man and his young son who moved to Texas a few years before the war. Their adjustment to life in an area with a German population gives us a view of the lives of two foreign families in war against each other while they live on foreign-to-them soil. I highly recommend this excellent research source to everyone interested in World War Two whether in fiction or nonfiction.
In Land That I Love, Gail Kittleson gives us the history of World War Two through the eyes of a British man and his young son who moved to Texas a few years before the war. Their adjustment to life in an area with a German population gives us a view of the lives of two foreign families in war against each other while they live on foreign-to-them soil. I highly recommend this excellent research source to everyone interested in World War Two whether in fiction or nonfiction.
May 13, 2022
The story was somewhat interesting, but I was disappointed in the quality of the writing. The author's use of adjectives/adverbs that did not seem to fit kept putting me off, and there were many spelling errors (poor editing) that was also a bit distracting. The story itself was a bit disjointed, jumping around in time and topic. All in all, I was disappointed in this book.
July 7, 2022
This book is interesting and the research that the author completed is apparent. However, after a while it tends to plod along. When there is an opportunity for there to be significant conflict, the author seems to gloss over the events. It seems like she is taking a safe way out, but it makes the book a little dull for the reader.
January 23, 2022
TTBC BOTM Not my normal genre and surprisingly, I truly enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the local history and could relate with Everett's misgivings about the past and his choices but I wish also to relate to the way he moves forward past those choices.
February 28, 2022
I found Land That I Love by Gail Kittleson personally inspiring. The main characters depict qualities of courage and wisdom that are applicable today. The hill country of Texas has landed in my bucket list of places to visit and explore.
October 24, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews