Review by “Michigan in Books”

Gary Powell runs an informative blog about Michigan books. He reviewed The Real two Hearted and just published his review (pasted below). You can read about more Michigan books here: https://michiganinbooks.blogspot.com/

The Real Two Hearted River: Life, Love, and Lore Along Michigan’s Most Iconic River by Bob Otwell.

Hemingway made the river famous when he wrote a short story about trout fishing on the Fox River and choose to set the story in and entitled it after a river to the north of the Fox.  The short story made the Two Hearted River famous but there’s no doubt it would have become famous in its own right. Otwell writes the river has the distinction of being “one of the most undammed, untrammeled, undeveloped, unpopulated rivers in the U.S Great Lakes watershed. In 1973 the Michigan Department of Natural Resources recommended it be designated a “Wilderness River.” In 1980 the National Park Service considered it for designation for a proposed “Wild River National Park.”

The author, a hydrologist and environmental scientist, and his wife were interested in buying a cabin in the Two Hearted area and in 1991 were lucky to buy a camp (Yooper for cabin) on the river with two wooded acres surrounded by a state forest. Lake Superior was only a mile hike to the North. In the following thirty-plus years the author fully embraced and studied every aspect of the 180 square miles of the Two Hearted River’s watershed and this book is the fruit of his studies. He explains the unique waterflow of the river that services as a compact class on hydrology. The book covers the geological history beginning with the ice age and human history with the arrival of the indigenous people. The flora and fauna are also covered. Readers will find chapters on access to the area and and the few hunting and fishing clubs within the area. 

The author does not neglect covering in detail the family’s enjoyment and adventures over the years. They visited the camp in all four seasons, skiing to cabin in the winter. They biked, hiked, canoed, beachcombed on Superior but probably most enjoyed just spending time at the camp. There is no cell phone service or TV reception so the family, which included three daughters, treasured the solitude, and entertaining themselves. The cabin on the Two Hearted simplified and enriched their lives. The is a unique book and my overriding reaction to it is envy. 

The Real Two Hearted: Life, Love, and Lore Along Michigan’s Iconic River by Bob Otwell. Mission Point Press, 2024, 180p., $16.95.