Hartsburg, USA: A Novel

by David Mizner

Hartsburg, Ohio, is a vintage rust-belt town on the wane; the factories and foundries are closed. And as the local cineplex gives way to yet another fundamentalist church, an ideological turf war has begun.

Oppressed by a dominant culture hostile to her values, born-again Christian mom Bevy Baer decides to run for a spot on the school board. Her plucky door-to-door campaign finds trouble when it runs into Wallace Cormier. A failed Hollywood screenwriter who has returned to his hometown to raise his daughter and churn out an uninspired newspaper column, Cormier fears that he's gone soft. When Bevy knocks on his door, he decides to fight for his town and his beliefs. But has he jumped in over his head? Signs are posted, debates scheduled, sausage-making contests endured…and then big-time political advisers get involved. Soon Cormier and Bevy find themselves in a passionate, nationally televised, tooth-and-nail battle that leaves voters wondering which candidate, if either, is on the side of the angels. It's red versus blue, Christian versus atheist, and the future of the country―or at least of one town and two families―seems to hang in the balance.

Hartsburg , USA is at once absurd and utterly believable, a portrait of people on both sides of the American political divide, their stark differences and common humanity.

Genres: Fiction

368 pages, Hardcover

First published August 21, 2007

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading a description of this book, I was looking forward to a hilarious red state versus blue state bloodbath. I hoped this book would be funnier than it turned out to be. It was also too crass for my taste. On the up side, there were a couple of moments where I thought about political issues, and people, from a new perspective. Oh, and I learned the real words to a couple of lines from "Mrs. Robinson" that I didn't even know I didn't know before.

[KELLY · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was ready to dislike this book based on a lot of bad reviews on here but I actually kind of liked it. Wasn't a chore to finish, I didn;t like the two main characters at first but they grew on me. It was a bit wordy with the dialouge at times, I did find myself skimming when i could tell it had nothign to do with the plot. Otherwise, not bad.

[Julian · Rating 1 out of 5]

This wasn't good enough to finish. Completely contrived. This book is a good lesson in why telling is way worse than showing, for writers.

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe, in the right circumstances, I could have liked this. But I cashed it in after the 100 page investment. Just didn't take.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Both main characters really started to get on my nerves, so I never finished the book.

[Kirstin · Rating 1 out of 5]

boring story, a bit preachy at times and lots of bad language

[Courtney Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun read. Highly recommended, especially if you like down and dirty contemporary politics.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read and very timely. Mizner treats his characters with compassion and humor.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, really I did, but ultimately I found myself rushing through the end just to be finished with it - and sighing with relief after it was all over.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

quick, easy read; interesting concept with elections coming up; writing style basic; characters could all easily be somebody you know, although didn't really connect with any.

[Jeremy Unger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really wanted to like this book but just never could into it. Had to put it down after about 100 pages