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5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Funny, explicit, and life-affirming Nov 26, 2008
By voxsusanna
"Clear Heart" opens dramatically on a construction site and then winds through the lives, hands, and hearts of its characters like a two-lane mountain road: head-long down the straight-aways, carefully through the shade-dappled curves, and gently around slippery, leaf-covered hairpins. I loved the ride.
The plot in "Clear Heart" emerges from its clearly drawn and convincing characters in the San Francisco Bay area: construction workers, high-tech entrepreneurs, Hells Angels, engineers, immigrants, students, and suburbanites. Will Wally, main character and home-builder, survive -- physically, emotionally, and financially -- his construction of a multimillionaire's custom home in the hills above Silicon Valley? His clients, family, construction crew, and love-interest Opal support and sabotage him all the way to the last page.
The characters are portrayed with humor and respect, and I enjoyed watching all of them work through their own problems. Every one of them is believable, from 2-year-old Ronny to 55-year-old Wally and everybody in between. There's emotional suspense, from teen pregnancy to middle-age romance; moral predicament, from financial sabotage to marital infidelity; and physical danger, from accident to assault.
Through it all, "Clear Heart" is as textured and real and carefully crafted as a handmade wooden jewelry box. The book is honest and built to last, just as Wally would want it.
Author Joe Cottonwood's home town of La Honda, California -- just over the western hills from Santa Clara Valley -- is better known as the former home of counter-culture novelist Ken Kesey. Cottonwood's experience as a carpenter and home-builder in the area, and as author of seven previously published novels, helps him make the book deliciously detailed and convincing. It must be his own heart that makes it so fun and satisfying.
(Note that there's some strong language and explicit action in this book. Cottonwood has written novels for youngsters, but this one is VERY adult.)
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
I [heart] Clear Heart! May 27, 2009
By Kari A. Hultman
Clear Heart is about a 55 year old ex-hippy carpenter named Wally--his bond with his workmen, love for his work, respect for wood, relationship with a "perky Presbyterian" and her kids, Job-like patience, and determination to build the perfect house, despite seemingly insurmountable odds.
But more than that--it's about the connection and interaction between men who are true craftsmen, their good-natured joking, routines and habits (like sometimes getting too friendly with female clients), temperaments, and respect for one another's capabilities. It's male bonding at its finest.
And it's filled with endearing characters like Juke, FrogGirl, Abe, Opal, and fast-paced, nail-biting mishaps.
It's about second chances, belief in the things that truly matter, mentoring, teaching, and friendship.
And it made me want to ask Wally: "You hiring?"
Kari Hultman
http://villagecarpenter.blogspot.com
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
A Great American Novel Aug 27, 2011
By Brian B. Kelly
Set in California, Joe Cottonwood's Clear Heart constantly turns and evolves, as its warm-hearted, socially conscious, carefully wrought story captures the spirit of America at its present age. Ever intriguing, hard to put down, like a new friend that you long to see more of, it brings you home to your own country, while you can't stop thinking about its myriad characters and wondering what they're going to do next. Then, once you've realized you don't want it to end and after it does so quite satisfyingly, you are happily surprised to find that its fascinating people stay with you to remind you what it is to be human, and to want a better world for those you love. It's a great read, and clever, and wise.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
RealLife Oct 14, 2010
By Arlene Radasky
"AuthorofTheFox"
Clear Heart by Joe Cottonwood, is a story about life. Just that, life. There are no car chases or gunfights or deadly diseases, although there is one race with death that had me praying for a positive outcome.
Wally, a building contractor is just existing, each day a struggle to overcome the death of his wife as well as her betrayal. His highest hope is to create a house that is as close to perfect as possible for an impossible client, while his own life and home are in chaos.
His best friend, Juke, is a misfit with no responsibilities and seemingly no cares except to do his best work for his boss, Wally.
A fateful accident introduces Opal, the force that causes a catharsis, the healing and growing that takes place in this tale of life.
Abe, Opal's son, an immature high school grad who was accepted into Princeton until he pulled a trick on the wrong man.
And last but not least is Frog Girl, Amanda, a pregnant, seventeen-year-old run away.
Throw all these personalities into a pot and stir, add a few side characters for spice and the race to finish the perfect house as the fire. Let it stew. With these ingredients, it simmers, boils, and simmers again. Just like life.
As a member of the audience, allowed a peak into the life of these people, you are shown all the imperfections of Wally and watch as he was able to say good bye to his wife and fall in love again. Watch as Opal realizes she does not need the perfect man, a banker or lawyer for a partner. Watch as Abe and Juke both mature into men who, after being tossed around the water, floundering a bit, learn to grab hold of life and realize what is important. Watch as Frog Girl discovers the mystery and bonds with her unborn baby and makes better and stronger decisions as her life continues.
There were times I did not like the characters, just as in real-life. Some decisions were made that would not be the decisions I would have made, but usually, after some learning and searching, things got back on course again.
I did not like Opal very much, all the way through. I thought she learned the least and did not really understand the minor miracle that was happening in her life. But that is just like real-life, too.
Joe Cottonwood is a carpenter. The details are sometimes overwhelming, but embellish the story and add a "scent" (I could smell as well as feel the redwood).
All in all, when I finally got the very end and looked back, I was amazed at the depth of this book. A story does not always need a car chase to be an excellent tale. I really liked Clear Heart.
3 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Vivid characters, wonderful book Dec 07, 2008
By Gail Posey
Joe Cottonwood has written a novel full of Characters with a capital C.
I listened to Joe read the book (free at[....], thanks Joe and Susan!) and after only a chapter or two was worrying over injuries and bad life decisions; enjoying the small machine races and wishing I could carry a bag of cement and attend the Friday barbecues.
Clear Heart is profound, sometimes intense, and always entertaining. I really love this book.
See all 7 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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