Buckeye

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (2025) Can’t remember where I came across this—but naturally, being from Ohio—the title got my attention—it all takes place in the Buckeye State—though there’s also a character nick-named Buckeye. It struck me that I never knew anyone with that handle—it would seem too weird—are there any out there? For the most part, the novel rang true enough to be quite satisfying—and since it’s about the Second World War generation, I wasn’t there—but I sure have seen a few movies about the time. This story extends over a lifetime, and I’ll admit, that’s something that’s usually not my thing, to put it mildly—but I was willing to go with it, here, once I got into it. There are very strong characters who we get to love and know—and naturally, there were a few I wanted to get to know more, but it’s already a pretty long novel. I almost even cried at one point—only didn’t because I never do—and in this case, kind of turned on the story for being soap-opera-ish—but then was happy to forgive it. It’s set mostly in a fictional northwestern Ohio town—I tried to imagine a few places, based on size, and my travels, seeking out diners, in decades past. The feeling of the town is familiar and convincing. A couple things, by chance, really hit home. One character moves to Columbus—and had strong connections to the Lazarus department store, there, as I did. (I was fascinated with the store when younger, and later worked there, and was disillusioned. Jobs!) And then, my hometown, Sandusky’s famous amusement park (where I had my first job) figures in, especially near the end. I’ve written quite a bit about the terrifying double Ferris wheel—so I was happy, here, that it’s fresh, and metaphorical—yet still rides the edge between disaster and transcendence.

1.15.26