Into No Man's Land - Adventure Travel Backpack for Hiking & Camping | Durable Outdoor Gear for Explorers & Survivalists

My favorite historian David McCullough says that to write a presidential history you need to tell a good story. In the spirit of David McCullough’s approach, Mr. Bachus’ novel “Into No Man’s Land” is a great American story. Bachus’ lead character Nick, a young journalist, finds himself back on family property upon the death of his father and aunt. Without giving too much of the plot away, Nick finds himself in a life situation with lots of uncertainty. “Into No Man’s Land” has many stories woven together. There’s the unfoldment of Nick’s purpose and his friendships. For me, the richest is the story of Nick’s grandfather Colonel Joe Becker. Colonel Becker’s military experiences, including WWI, and his letters home make for an exciting and genuine story . The Great World War elements of this story are historic but also deeply personal. Bachus takes us into the trenches with Joe and his soldiers and tells their story. They are soldiers’ stories. Yes, you learn about history but at the same time you are in the trench smelling the stench, preparing for the oncoming attack, defending your buddies, and killing enemy soldiers. Because Bachus switches scenes and eras with the telling of Nick’s story and Nick’s grandfather, the Reader gets the modern-day story of Nick making his way in the beautiful surroundings of Northern Michigan and the Reader is given the rich military story of Colonel Becker. To top things off, there’s a mystery element to Nick’s story. For me, “Into No Man’s Land” is what I love to read. I love to read about solid people, striving people, and intelligent people. I don’t like reading books where the writer uses manipulation and horrendous events to shock the reader into feeling and caring. Bachus’ story needs none of that gimmickry. This is solid Americana and a darn good yarn. To me Bachus’ storytelling feels like you had several afternoons of sitting with a good friend and his grandfather while they reveal the richness of their lives. Many thanks for sharing your American story with us, Mr. Bachus!