Road to Bountiful

by Donald S. Smurthwaite

A lousy grocery store box boy. How did business major Levi Crowne's life culminate in a summer job so pathetic? Just when it seems impossible to utter "will that be paper or plastic?" one more time, his wealthy Aunt Barbara offers Levi a golden opportunity: she will pay him to drive her elderly father, Loyal, from North Dakota to the Utah retirement home that awaits him. Eager to make a quick buck, Levi accepts the job. How bad could it be? Escort the old man to Glad Tidings Assisted Living Facility as quickly as possible, collect his pay, and get on with life. But nothing ever goes as planned. As the unlikely duo cross the plains--navigating through everything from tornadoes to seedy motels to biker bars--he's surprised at the feeling of kinship he develops with his passenger. In what becomes a life-changing adventure, Levi finds himself transformed by a gentle and wise old man who inspires him to slow down and enjoy the ride.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Fiction

179 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I've been avoiding most LDS (Mormon, for those of you who don't speak the lingo) fiction for ages, because a lot of it is clunky and heavy-handed. But this book is charming, elegant in its brevity, and sweet without being saccharine. Levi gets hired by his wealthy aunt to retrieve her father from North Dakota so he can move into an assisted living facility near her home. Loyal is quiet, thoughtful, and restrained--everything Levi is not--but as they get to know one another, each begins to appreciate the other's inner qualities. There are no big surprises here, and while it's not at all doctrinaire, it would help to have at least a nodding acquaintance with Mormon theology and culture to understand all the references. In short, this is the sort of thing I want to see more of from my co-religionists, combining heartfelt sincerity with absorbing writing.

[Princess · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple of my favorite passages:

"But I should have shown more faith because the Lord often allows us to feel foolish just before He blesses and enlightens us."

And

"I think again about worlds and how there are different worlds right here in front of us. I counted the worlds. There was my world, and Levi's world, the word of fishes. There was the world of the canyon and the world of the sky and the world of the sun and the world of the rocks on this beach. There was the world of the red-tailed hawk matted against the blue sky. And there was the world of the little bugs that crawled across the rocks and lived near the edge of the water. I count all of these worlds and think of a scripture: 'And worlds without number have I created.' I begin to understand something that had been around me all of my life yet I've never recognized before."

Levi is a young-ish man. He's about 24 but at times he acts much younger than that and I have a difficult time believing he's actually a senior in college. Loyal is an old man, Levi's great-uncle. Levi's aunt has paid him to go to ND then drive Loyal to UT where he will be placed in an assisted-living center. Levi wants a quick and easy buck but he soon finds that there is more to life than money.

The pacing of this book is rather slow. I wanted to race through it but found that I couldn't. Loyal's part was slow and patient, just like him. Levi's sections were hurried at first but as his relationship with Loyal grew, he slowed down too. I forced myself to slow down my usual frenetic reading pace and try to enjoy the journey from ND to UT along with them.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't the kind of book I usually like, but something clicked with this one and I liked it a lot. My biggest complaint was the younger man who acted more like seventeen than twenty-four, though I understand why the author made him so immature since it gave him more room to grow and mature. There are some wonderful observations throughout the book.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book. Makes you think about what is important.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, slow pace and all. I picked it up because I have read and been uplifted by several other books Smurthwaite has authored, and I was not disappointed. It was a gentle, thoughtful, and patient sort of a book...qualities usually used to describe people, but while reading the book, these are the impressions I developed.

Interestingly, while reading some of the other reviews (all over the map!), I began to wonder if there might be a positive correlation between the ratings given and the age of the rater. Looking back through the mists of age to my younger years (lol), I think I would have found the story to be much less interesting than I do now, when I am closer to imagining myself as Loyal than as Levi.

Though some other reviewers thought Levi's developmental arc was not believable, I would disagree, because I have, on occasion, had just such experiences. And though they didn't necessarily result in dramatic lasting change, any more than I imagine they would for Levi's character, each of those experiences contributed strongly to my personal and professional development.

I enjoyed the book quite a bit, and recommend it, especially to those willing to set aside the "realities" of a busy and harsh world, and indulge for a moment in a world where kindness, gentleness, wisdom, and connection are more sought after than acquisition and ambition.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a precious book full of love and growth between Loyal age 82 and his nephew, Levi age 24. I found my heart aching for both Loyal and Levi since I had experienced some of the things they go through in the book. I listened to this book and found myself laughing outloud in several places. A great book!

[Mister B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an easy read and enjoyable. I was pleasantly pleased by the change in characters from what how they initially started. There were some laugh out loud moments. I found I did not try to anticipate what was going to happen. "It's best to be patient, watchful, calm, and learn from it all."

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Their adventures made me want to take a similar roadtrip. The bond that this young man found with this elderly man made me mourn the fact I never thought of having that kind of relationship with my own grandparents.

[Kash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy Donald Smurthwaite's writing, and I loved the relationship that developed between a young man and his great uncle, who he is driving from North Dakota to a retirement home in Salt Lake City. It is charming, delightful, and such a feel-good book.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoy Donalds books and I was thrilled to see he had another one. His characters remind me so much of my own father. Wise, quiet, honorable, patient, and simple. As with Donald's other books, this one left me wanting to be a better person. Thanks for a great read!

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were several endearing things about this book, like the change of heart that Levi had towards his uncle. I could definitely relate to the feeling distanced from family in North Dakota and the description of the drive and scenery, having made that drive many times. However, there were plenty of things that didn't really make sense logically and they kind of drove me nuts. The carelessness with which he spent his aunt's money on so many unnecessary days at hotels and a rental car that he trashed and probably cost her a fortune pretty much negated his altruism towards his uncle. It felt like the descriptions of people were inconsistent. Even the relationship to Uncle Loyle didn't make sense. I think it described him as Levi's dad's sister-in-law's father, which wouldn't make him Levi's uncle.
It also didn't make sense how Levi would be daydreaming about falling in love with some girl with blue hair one minute and then claiming he thought about Rachel every day... but didn't bother to call her all summer. It said they texted back and forth, but then he calls her home phone that her brother answers... just a lot of details didn't add up in the story line, which were distracting.

[Lauren Perotto · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had potential. I liked the basic premise and overall lessons taught, but it could have been done without including all of the Mormon preaching. And major eye rolls turned to anger with the “biker bar” scene and the hyper-critical judgements made. I’m not against books that include LDS morals and values, but too many books written specifically for LDS audiences come across as preachy and judgy and holier-than-thou. They won’t reach non-LDS audiences and they don’t encourage LDS audiences to be inclusive. Just don’t.

[Swhe641200 · Rating 3 out of 5]

12.2017 a cute read what a grand nephew can learn on a ride to bountiful. What u can learn if you really lustrn to your heart.

[Amanda Roper · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book has a good idea but the story is very plodding. it keeps jumping between the main characters and repeats what has just happened.

[Lawana Sisam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a sweet story about a young man that learns the most important things in life. A story reminiscent of Driving Miss Daisy!

[Nancy Nurse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy short read about a relationship with a senior person (like me) and a college student. Loved the relationship built.

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet audiobook to listen to. I really enjoyed it.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heartwarming.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

In any other circumstance I think I would give this a 2. It will not stay with me, even so, but because my parents so enjoyed it and wanted to share, and because I didn't want to rain on their parade when I gave it back, and was asked what I thought, I tried really hard to read it through their eyes and find some good--and I did.

Loyal was likeable and wise. I found some good life lessons embedded in a few memorable quotes. An admirable, intergenerational relationship was portrayed.

But, the volley between character points of view was distracting and clunky. The tenses were often, and confusingly, interchanged, even within sentences. There were some attempts at humor or wisdom that just went on...and on...and on, until they grew stale and then obnoxious. Levi seemed unrealistically immature at the outset and too hastily wizened at completion. Aunt Barbara was flat and stereotypical, which lent itself to her (or is it money) being easily (and you have to wonder if unfairly) typecast as the antagonist. And the end?...well I guess he was going for "realistic", but it fell flat on it's face, and though I wasn't invested enough to do the same, I closed the book knowing I would never be back again, but glad for the brief glimpse into my parents perspective.

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an AMAZING road trip between a nephew and his great-uncle.

Levi's job is that of a boxboy and a bagger at a grocery store...Not too glamorous...
So when his aunt offers him $600 to go pick up her father he jumps at the chance!
He is purely in it for the money...
That is until he meets Loyal...

Along the way lessons will be learned...
Hearts will be softened...
Life will slow down...

Loyal will teach Levi about the beauty of patterns, the strength of slowness, the wonder of pace, and the link between wisdom and time.

Levi will, in turn, take Loyal in a fast red car, take him fishing and hiking and give him the road trip of a lifetime.
And we get to go along for the ride too!

A wonderful, tender book filled with humorous moments...
wait until you meet Evelyn and Glen...
This is truly a road trip worth remembering!

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was overall good, not great but it did make me think a little.

Like most silly goofy characters Levi irritated me. Perhaps I'm hard to please but I feel getting the goofy silly overly sarcastic character to be lovable is harder than most authors thing. Levi to me was overboard on this type of character but I appreciate him being a really good guy. Me, I would of had to smack him around a bit...heehee. Loyal on the other hand was a cool older dude, I liked him.

Levi is paid to take his great Uncle Loyal from Loyal's home in South Dakota to move closer to his daughter in Utah. She wants to move him in to an elderly retirement home nearby. The long drive becomes a life changing experience for both. This story offered some good moral points.

I think I would have liked the story better if the dufus was toned down a bit. Silly doesn't have to be annoying.

[Ada · Rating 4 out of 5]

From other people's reviews, it seems that one would either hate or love this book. I was not excited about reading it for our book club; however, when I got into it, I was so glad to have had the experience! I must be at the right age where the concerns of what happens when life turns you out of your normal rut start plaguing the mind. Levi seemed quite immature for a 24-year-old. However, it doesn't seem too far out of line for a young returned missionary to be concerned only with success and his immediate future. He catches on about life's journey fairly fast and learns that a person who is 82 isn't too old to enjoy. The premise is somewhat predictable, but I still enjoyed it very much.

[Robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is the story of a boy who is getting paid to drive his great uncle from one side of the country to the other and on the way they become friends and have some adventures.
Lame, ok only sort of lame. I liked Loyal but I don't feel the voice was authentic, then again I am not an elderly man either so I can't say if it was authentic or not. Levi was ADHD and scattered all over the place. I don't understand why he was so ashamed of getting paid to drive his Uncle. It was an honest job and that doesn't mean he can't enjoy it or make friends.
Some parts were so much preaching I totally skipped them. Over philosophized everywhere. Such promise too.

[Maria Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked up the audio book from the library to listen to while traveling. For being such a slow moving book the changes in characters seemed to happen awfully quick. There were things in the book that were thought provoking but I kept having this feeling that the author was trying too hard to make Loyal so wise and all knowing. I felt like the trip they took was supposed to be life altering for both of the men but it felt so forced to me. On the upside, there was a sweetness to a young man helping an elderly man experience things he had never had in life but if I had been the aunt paying him to deliver her father I would have been furious with him.

[Carol Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Levi Crowne starts out as a self-centered young adult, bored with life and with no goals or passions. His aunt hires him to fly out to North Dakota, rent a car, and drive her widowed uncle (Levi's great-uncle) back to Utah to live in a retirement home. At first it's all about the money, but Levi finds himself changing and growing as he and his gentle, wise great-uncle become friends and share new experiences. I enjoyed this book. It touched my heart.

[Tiffiny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is Mormon fiction, pretty light on the Mormon parts so could appeal to most anybody. However, I couldn't finish it. It took me weeks just to get halfway through. The premise is great, sweet story. It's just so slow and wordy...

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It is reflective and really makes you ponder. Donald S. Smurthwaite has captured the lessons of life to be learned through the eyes of both young and old points of view.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told from the perspective of the two protagonists (one 24 and one in his 80's) as they come to know and understand each other. A lot of interesting food for thought. A sweet story. 3.5 rounded up.

[Jody Kyburz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Checked this out by accident. Gave it a whirl.

[John Jannuzzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another poignant, insightful book by Don Smurthwaite. ' hated to see it end.