Breathing Lake Superior: a novel

by Ron Rindo

A novel steeped in the air and water and people of the rural Midwest
Overcome with grief following the death of his youngest child, Cal Franklin uproots his wife and teenaged children to a ramshackle subsistence farm in far northern Wisconsin. Withdrawn and estranged from all they know, JJ and her stepbrother, John, struggle to adapt to life off the grid and to Cal’s increasingly erratic behavior. Without electricity or even running water, the family suffers a series of calamities until Cal feels a call to preach. He builds a small log church on the property, and his unconventional message soon attracts a following. When elderly locals profess to be healed by the touch of Cal’s hands, word spreads, and desperate people descend on the church from across the country. Though overwhelmed and doubtful of his powers, in a final act of love and faith, Cal seeks to raise his young son from the dead.
Narrated by Cal’s stepson, John—named for “the chronicler of Christ’s miracles”— Breathing Lake Superior is a poignant exploration of the mystic borderland where the mental strain of overwhelming grief becomes entangled with the promise and hope of ecstatic faith.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

255 pages, Paperback

First published October 4, 2022

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. I even continued to read it in the car when traveling on a family vacation and I get nauseous reading in the car - it’s that good. A page turner. The characters are so well developed and the authors descriptiveness will transport you into the novel. This book will capture your attention. I also think it would make a fantastic movie.

[Eldonna Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set against the unforgiving backdrop of northern Wisconsin, Breathing Lake Superior explores the extraordinary depths of grief, love, and the astonishing power of magical thinking. Debut author Ron Rindo expertly narrates the stunning transformation of a Midwestern father into a self-proclaimed messiah through the eyes of his teen stepson, John. A new literary voice that exquisitely augments the Midwestern fiction genre.

[Cindy Vander Zanden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being from Wisconsin and spending a lot of time in the Milwaukee area and also northern Wisconsin and on top of those things, knowing what the loss of a child feels like, made me order this book immediately. It did not disappoint. The authors writing and descriptions of places, characters and feelings brought me back to each of these places. This would be an excellent movie.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning was intriguing and I liked that the setting was Wisconsin, but the plot went off the rails for me after they moved up north.

[Lorena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this on Hoopla and I could not read fast enough. I went in blind and every turn of the story was a cliffhanger. Beautifully written with detailed images I think i’m instantly a Rick Rondo fan. Outstanding novel. 5⭐️

[Nicole Roccas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

We bought a copy of this book at Spine Bookstore and Cafe in St. Louis, MO which is a unique place to find books you won't find many other places. The title caught our eye and it turned out to be a compelling family saga with a mix of fantasy, tragedy and family dynamics. The ending was something unexpected and yet, sort of had to be. This author has a great way with words and descriptions and the book is worth reading for that alone.

[Linda "The Book Lady" Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mental illnes, grief and religous beliefs and all up in this family story

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and emotionally wrenching.

[MaryPat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read this author's book, Life, and Death and Giants earlier this year, I knew I wanted to read something else by him. This is his debut novel. It is set in Northern Wisconsin in the late 1990's. It starts with Cal and his family living in West Allis (with references to Milwaukee) when a terrible tragedy strikes his family. Overcome with grief, Cal uproots his wife, Anna and 2 teenage children to a ramshackle farm in northern Wisconsin. No plumbing, no electricity, off grid living. Cal's behavior becomes increasingly more erratic and his daughter, JJ and stepson, John struggle to adapt. The story is told from John's POV, and it is haunting yet beautifully told. The depth of Cal's grief is unimaginable. After Cal feels a call to preach, he builds a church on his property & his unconventional message soon has a following. He begins to align with anti-government weapon carrying farmers in the area. He is a grieving father who is clearly having a psychotic break with reality.
I really enjoyed this well written, sad, yet hopeful (loved the cop at the end), story about how far one will go. It was strange and went completely off the rails about 80% in (and I'm not talking about the weird sexual stuff-if you read you'll know...) Mental illness, grief and faith make for a very interesting read. I could not put this one down.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ron Rindo writes books set in locations I know and I like that. It makes me feel close to the characters and the stories.

In BREATHING LAKE SUPERIOR, Rindo introduces us to John, his sister JJ, their brother David, Cal - JJ and David's biological father and John's stepfather and Anna - John's and David's biological mother - JJ's stepmother. Have you got that? I had to use a scorecard. Their lives are rather normal/routine until tragedy strikes and Cal becomes obsessed with dreams/visions he starts to have where he "sees" his family moved from their urban home in Southeastern Wisconsin to Northern Wisconsin near Lake Superior. He decides it what he must do.

All semblance of normalcy flies off the rails and Rindo's story leaves us reeling. There's not much more I can tell you without ruining absolutely every gut punch in the story. So, there you have it. Pick it up and prepare to be shocked but impressed with Rindo's writing and his storytelling.

Also read LIFE, AND DEATH, AND GIANTS.

[Stacy Natal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, I’m not quite sure how to explain this one. What happens when a child dies and a parent’s sanity unravels along with them? This heartbreaking family story begins almost tenderly, then quickly veers off the rails. After the death of a child/sibling, the family retreats off the grid to an abandoned farm. The father turns to preaching and falls in with anti-government, weapon-carrying farmers in the area.

And yet, beneath the “crazy farmer” exterior, there’s still a deeply wounded and caring human being, one that both his family and the reader want to save. I loved the fantastic cop character and the care he brings to handling the situation, as well as the emotional depth of the surviving son, who narrates the story.

This book is strange, unsettling, and beautifully written. It was handed to me by a fellow teacher who said, “I just want someone else to read this and tell me what they think.” Now I understand exactly why.

[Mandy Packham · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars.

Okay, what the fuck did I just read?!
I found the perfect quote to sum this book up.
"Too much hope," Mother said once, "can make you crazy."" And that it bloody did! What could have ended up a nice existence, living off the land, no technology, albeit after a huge tragedy, turned into something extremely ugly. With a father's grief and religious "calling," it came one tragic thing after another, dragging his children and wife with him.

If life allowed, I would have read this book in one sitting because, yes, it was gripping. It made a knot in the stomach as I turned the page. Aaaargh, it was just one thing after another, and just as you thought it couldn't get any worse, it did. I felt the author really conjurred up a sense of setting and that I enjoyed. Did I enjoy the feeling this book gave me, im not so sure, but if somebody can write in such a way, then its a testament to their writing skills.

[Sarah Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler:
Chasing the 5⭐️ high from Life, Death and Giants, I got my hands on an earlier Rindo publication. The writing in this book was excellent. I was so hooked on the story and I tend to love anything with a subplot about grappeling with faith. That said, this was tough to read. So many very heavy emotions and I felt like the sexual element wasn’t at all necessary to make the story better and kept it from being 5⭐️.

[Lisa N · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book description pretty much says it all. This is a story of how grief can unravel a family and change a loved one into someone you no longer recognize. Although based on a sad circumstance I enjoyed reading about this family living off the grid. I only gave it 3 stars due to the uncomfortable relationship and descriptive scenes of the 2 step-siblings. The book would have been just as good without that dynamic.

[Barbie Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly a riveting read. The story of Cal and Anna Franklin and their children, and the crippling grief that follows an unimaginable tragedy, kept me hooked and unable to get the characters out of my head. There is sorrow that leads to madness here. There is pain and love and laughter. Breathing Lake Superior is a very good book, and, in the right hands, it would make a great movie.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. I even continued to read it in the car when traveling on a family vacation and I get nauseous reading in the car - it’s that good. A page turner. The characters are so well developed and the authors descriptiveness will transport you into the novel. This book will capture your attention. I also think it would make a fantastic movie.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family moves to the country after the death of the youngest son because the father heard from God that he should start a New Eden. The father then begins to preach and heal his neighbors. He runs afoul of the law when he unearths the casket of his deceased son to bury it in their new church. Things continue downhill.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a story. Griping story of one man's travel into madness following the death of his son. Cal drags his whole family into the wilds of northern Wisconsin and what follows is quite a story. After finishing Life, Death, and Giants, I wanted to read another book by this author. It did not disappoint.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Life, and Death, and Giants, I knew I
had to read anything else this author had written, which is how I came to this book. And it did not disappoint, in fact I think it is the better of the two. I highly recommend.

[Donna Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

another winner

After reading this authors first book, I was curious to see if I would be as captivated. I no longer doubt the skilled storytelling of Ron Rindo. This is another story that takes you in and does not let go. I'm sad they're both over.

[Jenna Weissman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breathing Lake Superior was a haunting, raw, deeply emotional, and at times uncomfortable account of a man’s descent into madness and the impact it had on his family. Beautifully written and kept me hooked. Unforgettable read.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent first novel by Ron Rindo. Haunting and compelling. Truly wonderful.

[Barbara Johnstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exceptional. I couldn't put it down.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would make a good book club discussion.

[Bob Ester · Rating 5 out of 5]

this covers so many realms of life

You don’t need to be from Wisconsin or the Midwest to enjoy this read.
From the first page to the close a great read you don’t want to end

[Furneaux Reezun · Rating 5 out of 5]

A drama that lifts the spirit then breaks the heart. It made me question my beliefs and life in this modern world.

[Cynthia]

I really liked the first third of this book and then it just went off in a direction that didn’t appeal to me.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Grief Explodes and Implodes

Like the flash of a dying star. This story is bright and dark, soft and hard, clear and muddy. Swollen with emotion that nothing can restrain.

[Nancy]

After reading the first few chapters, I could tell this book was going to be too unrealistic for me.