The Haunt of Home: A Journey Through America’s Heartland (2020) is written by award winning and bestselling author Zachary Michael Jack. The book rich in literary, poetry, and cinema research and studies, provides an informative look at rural and farming communities and culture throughout the American Midwest and Great Plains. Zachary Michael Jack has written over 20 books of various subject matter, he has previously worked as a groundskeeper, a librarian, a journalist; he is the professor of English at Northcentral College in Napperville, Illinois.
“We come from people who brought us up to believe that life is a struggle; and if you should ever feel really happy, be patient: this will soon pass.” (Garrison Keillor)


The truth is, there is nothing exciting or “glamourous” about farming. Farmers are some of the most realistic, stoic, wise, rugged and hardworking people in America. They live to fight soil erosion, polluted land and water, the harshness of unfavorable weather conditions often related to climate change, crop failure, the hazards of farming accidents, blight—it is remarkable that we have small farms at all. As a farmer contemplates retirement, or when he is too worn out to continue working, he might be “haunted by dreams and roads not taken”. His children have left the land for life and opportunities in the big city, too often he finds himself alone.
There are many personal stories and examples of a rugged determination of individuals: the arrival German immigrants in the 19th century that toiled the Midwestern lands, to “Pitchfork and Pies” a widow that turned pie making into therapy; to the birthplace of the “Casket Mills” where a casket maker from Galva, Illinois put this distinctive manufacturing craft on the map.

“The Most Forgotten Regionalist Poet” according to Jack, is Jay Sigmund (1885-1937) his poetry and short stories that depicted the tragedy and harshness of “the Middle American Gothic” were very popular and published in many newspapers throughout the region during that time. The work of Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca (1898-1936) was explored regarding fatalism/pessimism: the “Duende”—was noted as a spiritual force or concept related to “irrationality and death” that was deeply rooted in Midwest attitude and cultural ideology. In Lake Woebegone, Minnesota Garrison Keillor related hid “darkest notes” to his upbringing: the lack of money, the absurdity of “self-consciousness”. The extreme cold fostered a need for a “bitter cigarette” and the “sting of alcohol.”

However, the narrative is not all gloom and doom. In: “The Promise of New Blood” indicated a “rural rebound” that was illustrated with college educated people with incomes of $50,000 or more with partners or spouses, many with children were moving into the Nebraska panhandle (2011). The ability to work remote allows many workers to move away from the big cities with unchecked population growth and urban sprawl, to more affordable rural areas that have lower population, housing costs, taxes, and less stress. This book thoughtfully presents Midwestern cultural studies in a fascinating and new light. ** With thanks to Northwestern Illinois Press via NetGalley for the DDC for the purpose of review.

This was an interesting read, painting a darker, gothic picture of the Midwest. Growing up in Kansas, I was able to relate to some of his depictions.

This book was a little complex and difficult to follow, but every page really did communicate the intense depth of the author's passion for his subject. It involves dialogues and scenery that create a landscape, stories that paint a picture of what home really is and how the different definitions can destroy and heal us.

As other reviewers have said, this book is for someone that has grown up in the midwest and understands the culture. While the writing and story was good, I found it hard to relate to a lot of the book.

There were many times throughout the book, it felt like the author was building up to some thing that was lost on me having no reference to compare it to.

Overall the book is worth reading if life in the midwest is of interest to you, or you grew up there and are looking for some nostalgia.

The Haunt of Home by Zachary Michael Jack probably isn't for everyone. As a native Minnesotan, I loved it and absolutely saw myself and my family members and people I grew up with in every line. Not so much for my Southern husband. As I normally do, I read him a number of passages I found especially hilarious, and he just looked at me like I'd lost my mind. It is defiantly a "you had to be there" sort of read.

That said, it was fabulous and funny and quirky and captured the fatalism, dark humor and self-deprecation of my people; even though I haven't lived among them for two decade, it is their voices I hear when I'm silent. And the author nailed them.

In the mix, he also honored them, putting that typical and stereotypical Midwesterner into a historical and cultural and economic context that was honest and raw, but also informative and engaging. There's a lot of meat among the jello in this book, and the author does a great job of doing both without being condescending or judgmental or snarky. He could easily have done all three given the topic. Thanks!

If you have Midwestern roots like I do, you'll love The Haunt of Home by Zachary Michael Jack. It will bring up genetic memories passed down since prehistoric times. And it will make you rethink much of what you think you know.