The Beech Tree

An insightful look at and through the America of the Lake Michigan region in the 20th and early 21st centuries, this sweeping novel follows the lives of several well-developed characters who have as common touch point a great beech tree on the shores of the Great Lake. The interwoven lives of generations of soldiers, baseball players, and activists tell tales of love lost and regained, and opportunities that go by to be captured. The Beech Tree presents the defining moments of 20th century America seen from the Midwest perspective and also gives practical tips such as how not to drown in Lake Michigan or how to navigate the complex love-hate relationship between Illinois an Michigan. A timely book of redemption and a reminder that all is not ever lost.

Your writing is excellent. Your readers want more and more because we can intuitively feel the inner emotions of your characters and we can feel the mood in the air with every scene. You're poetic and captivating. You make your readers hold their own breath and lose track of their own space and time as you transport them right smack-dab in the middle of an alternate reality that's filled with emotional power and life.  The Beech Tree

Definitely five stars. I'd give ten if that were an option. The characters were so real, I could see myself in each of them. The trains, the places, the philosophy, and the tree, were so poignant. I cried, laughed, and cried again. A truly excellent book. This is the kind of book that makes you better for having read it.

A lengthy cast of characters makes you wonder at times how they all fit in as the book progresses. Author has great knowledge of the accuracy of history and the setting being near where I live was an added bonus. I personally have read this book more than once and thought highly enough of it to buy it for a friend. My copy was read by another friend who also loved it.

Excellent, easy, entertaining, read. I read through this book quickly, and I miss the characters; I didn't want it to end! I grew up in Southwestern Lower Michigan, near the cities of Saint Joseph and Benton Harbor and the Lake Michigan Shore, where part of the story is set, which endears me to this book, the places, the history, and its believable characters. But you don’t have to be from the area to appreciate this novel; the author's writing of the Great American Novel is a raving success.

This was such a good book. I learned a lot and it was so nice to see mention of the area I grew up in. Don has an excellent style of writing and you will enjoy meeting each of the characters and following them to the end.

What a walk down memory lane this was for me. The author really captured the essence of an era, songs and all. A sad yet heartwarming book.

I finished THE BEECH TREE last night and thoroughly enjoyed it, especially all the local references since I was raised in Benton Harbor/St. Joseph. I might even reread it. It would be a great book-signing event at local West Michigan towns and a great souvenir for the FIPS. Haha. Great job.