In The Real Two Hearted, Bob Otwell has penned a love story – of life, family and place. More than three decades ago, the native Michigander and his wife, Laura, bought a Depression-era cabin overlooking the Two Hearted River, a short distance from Lake Superior in the eastern Upper Peninsula.
The camp, affectionately dubbed “Boggy’s, and the two-acre forest parcel that came with it would become something of a beating heart itself, a source of joy, adventure and inspiration for the couple and their three daughters. Otwell writes of blueberry picking, hiking, skiing, fishing, canoeing, hot dog roasts, card games, saunas – typical activities at a backwoods retreat.
But this is more than a memoir. A civil engineer with a lifelong passion for the environment, Otwell delves into the ecology and history of this lightly populated corner of Michigan’s far north, from glacial retreat that formed the Great Lakes to 19th century logging that scarred the landscape and modern efforts to restore it. His keen senses bring it all to life – the cabin’s comfortably musty odor, the river’s amber hue, the coyote’s yip piercing a night’s silence. He introduces the reader to indigenous tribes, lumberjacks, fly fishermen and colorful “yoopers” who share his love of this idyllic spot — while expressing fear and hope for its future.
You might not know the Otwell family, but after reading this engaging book, you’ll wish you did – preferably by hanging out with them on a summer day at Boggy’s.
– John Flesher, retired northern Michigan correspondent and environmental reporter, The Associated Press.
“This is a celebration of place, a warm family memoir and an acute biography of the river whose name Hemingway made famous. The author’s keen observations and thorough research make this a unique book about a special corner of Michigan.”
– Dave Dempsey, Environmental advocate and author of the Waters of Michigan and Great Lakes for Sale
“Bob Otwell has written a fascinating and insightful tribute to Michigan’s most famous river. As a hydrologist and engineer, he presents an authoritative and carefully researched study of the Two Hearted and its watershed. But he has the heart of a poet, too, and his love for the river shines through on every page.”
– Jerry Dennis, author of The Living Great Lakes
“Anyone whose first big purchase is a 17-foot canoe is my kindred spirit. I’m willing to follow Bob Otwell whereever he goes, especially to Michigan’s Two Hearted River. This is a loving history of the UP, full of forestry, hydrology, lumber history and conservation. Whether you’re a Hemingway fan or an armchair naturalist, you’ll feel part of the family at Boggy’s Camp on the Two Hearted River.”
– Heather Shumaker, author of Saving Arcadia
The Real Two Hearted 