The Hearts of Men

Newly minted Midwestern laureate Nickolas Butler delivers on the big-hearted promise of his bestseller Shotgun Lovesongs with The Hearts of Men . . . this novel’s examination of a fracturing relationship between a flailing father and overarchieving young son is superbly judged and Butler’s prose remains a joy to read, even when his material is tough * GQ *
The Hearts of Men is a wry, tender-hearted novel about men: their families and friendships, their vulnerabilities and foibles, their secrets and lies. Part coming-of-age narrative, part meditation on masculinity, part war story, this novel had me spellbound all the way to its riveting conclusion’ -- Christina Baker Kline, New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train and Sweet Water
The Hearts of Men is a winning second novel, by turns wistful and wise, sad and funny, eminently readable, and always atmospheric. Without a doubt, Nickolas Butler is a young writer to watch -- Jonathan Evison, author of West of Here and The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving
A marvel of storytelling. This unforgettable novel goes straight to the heart of what it means to be a man and live a life guided by the true north of a moral compass. The Hearts of Men is full of pain, joy, longing, redemption, disappointment, and beauty -- in short, all the qualities that distinguish the very best novels on our shelves -- David Abrams, author of Fobbit
Like a great campfire story, The Hearts of Men is epic and hushed in the right places, simultaneously local and universal, and brilliantly, beautifully unspooled. It's both a love letter to good men of the past and a hopeful cheer for the good men to come -- J. Ryan Stradal, author of Kitchens of the Great Midwest
[A] gut-punch of a novel . . . as grimly thrilling as anything in LORD OF THE FLIES, and also more intimate. Butler reveals exceptional sympathy for his bullied hero . . . He is a character of such vivid goodness, such moving and precise sorrow, I don't think I'll ever forget him. And in the end isn't that what we ask of a novel, that it be unforgettable? * New York Times *
Tender, insightful . . . Perfectly paced and leavened with humour, it's a wonderful read * People *
Across three generations and as many wars, this earnest novel explores the ways boys become men and how even flawed men may stand as models for the young... A well-paced, affecting read. * Kirkus *
’Butler achieves a rare triple play here of brilliant characterizations, a riveting story line, and superlatively measured prose, putting him in the front ranks of contemporary American writers of literary fiction. * Booklist *