This book started out pretty great. A Choctaw boy is taken from his family and sent to school. When he comes home, 10 yrs later, his father dies and tells him to care for the land. This book follows that family down til today when the son, Jake, farming 1600 acres, is sick, depressed, obese, suicidal, and raging. The book had a lot of potential, I thought the character development could have been better but Alex Woodard, the author is a doctor, not an author of fiction. This is a call to arms for big companies to stop making products that kill the land, kill the healthy biome in the soil, and ultimately kill us. This wasn’t a conspiracy theory book. This is actual science about what companies are doing to wheat and corn and other crops that we all eat. Woodard doesn’t make the assumption that we can all grow our own food but he wants us to think about what we are putting into our bodies. I can get behind that. Read this with a book club

I wasn't sure where we were going when this started but I really needed to find out. Ordinary Soil tells the story of a farming family through the eyes of a modern day farmer, his father, his grandfather, and his great-grandfather. The joys and hardships of farming through the years as well as the love they forge. All while the 'Man in the Wheat' calls to them. Ordinary Soil cleverly mixes in environmental concerns and their history with the tails of the Choctaw. The concerns come across as educational, without slowing the plot or sounding 'preachy'. This audiobook includes clips of songs played when the characters are listening to them. Family history, lost love, and finding a love of your land are all expertly wrapped up in the tale.

A harrowing, haunting novella taking place between the assimilation of the Native people involving the Trail of Tears, to the beginning of the Dust Bowl. Though short, the meaning of listen to your elders and treat the land screams.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for providing me with a copy. Here’s my honest opinion.

Scott Brick and George Newbern do a great job narrating Ordinary Soil. At its heart, this is a story about glyphosate and its devastating effect on soil over the decades. Alex Woodard chose to tell this story within a haunted story involving ancestors, and called this “faction” meaning fiction and fact together. I found the fact part most interesting and the fiction haunted part less so.

This is an eye-opener about what the use of chemicals had done to the soil our food is grown in, as well as its use on grains. Already on a journey to clean up my food sourcing so this reinforces that choice for me.

I grew up on a farm in Kendall County , IL., which has some of the richest, blackest soil in the nation. Everyday family farms disappear, only to be paved over with solar panels, wind farms or factory farmed by ConAgra. The current administration has done nothing to help the small farmer, except to insure that the suicide rate amongst Farmers remains the highest in the US.

This novel begins with an attempted suicide. “Ordinary Soil struck a nerve with me as we have had a painful and shocking suicide of a much loved young family member, as well as my Dad’s Parkinson’s Disease and my Mother’s Louie Bodies Dementia. Woodson s novel links these conditions ( with science backed data) on family farms to pesticides and fertilizers used by farmers on a daily basis. Personally, we have long suspected a link between the chemicals used on our farms and ground water contamination causing these ailments.

This is a moving novel of generational family trauma and of the danger posed to all mankind by the flagrant use of harmful, deadly chemicals to grow our food and poison our soil. The good news is that our soil can regenerate if we care enough. That’s a question for each individual to ponder. Grow your own food, even if it’s on a window sill or back patio. Tomato plants and potatoes are easy, delicious, and the rewards are many.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Highly recommended.

The excellent audiobook edition of this novel was read by Scott Brick and George Newbern.

Just…. no. An unfortunate DNF at 20%

I knew from the moment the audio reached my ears I was in trouble. The narrators voice felt way too forced and over expressive. It distracted from the story, but I still put on my brave face and gave this book a shot.

Unfortunately I quickly grew to dislike the main character, who I perceived to be selfish and unlikable. That combined with the narration really made this an unpleasant read.

I saw other reviewers mention the songs as a nice touch, but for me it was the opposite. I like to listen to audiobooks on a faster speed, but whenever a song came on I felt I had to go in and adjust the speed otherwise the songs would just sound silly. In short, it was an inconvenience for me.

I’m not sure if I would have been as quick to put this down if the narration didn’t immediately strike me down, but unfortunately that was the route I took.

I see many other reviewers have great things to say about this book, so maybe still give it a try if it sounds interesting to you.

Thank you to NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ordinary Soil follows the story of multi-generation, Native American farmers in Oklahoma. It is a powerful commentary on how the evolution of large scale farming has affected the land, the food grown on it and the people who consume that food. I enjoyed the story overall. The characters were interesting and well-developed. I liked the use of music that was incorporated into the audio version. Thank you to NetGalley and Greenleaf Audio for the advanced listener copy.

I think this book has a very important and powerful message, but for me it got lost in the story a bit. I was tempted to DNF this book several times but I increased the audio speed and let it play while I was doing chores. I fully admit that I may have zoned out a bit in parts. I wanted to love this book more than I did and I know many people will really enjoy this story but it landed at just ok for me.

The audiobook narrators, Scott Brick and George Newbern have pleasant narrating voices and they were done well.

Thank you NetGalley and Greenleaf Audiobooks | Greenleaf Book Group Press for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the story of an Oklahoma farmer who unearths a dark ancestral history after a suicide attempt, revealing the impact of mechanized farming on his family and community. The story is told through multiple timelines and perspectives in an effort to create a call to action for environmental healing.

Firstly, the audiobook was very well done. The narrators both did a great job of bringing the story to life. With that being said, the story itself was not one that held my attention. It was truly an effort to finish. It’s quite possible that this story just wasn’t for me. It had a strong beginning and then it lost me and was really difficult to follow. I’m giving it 2.5 stars and rounding up to 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.

I hope you read/listen to it and love it as it has an important message, but again, it wasn’t for me. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, Greenleaf Audiobooks, and Greenleaf BookGroup Press for this ARC of the audiobook, Ordinary Soil by Alex Woodard. I am grateful for the opportunity.

3.5 stars rounded.

Ordinary Soil by Alex Woodard, narrated by Scott Brick and George Newbern.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
The audiobook boasts well developed characters, meticulous research by the author and some thought provoking themes.
Tackling sensitive environmental issues and the impacts of chemical use in farming.
The narrative beautifully weaves in Native American perspectives, adding depth to the story.
The narration is well done, complemented by tasteful music that enhances the listening experience. Overall, this audiobook is a compelling and impactful listen.
Thank you to NetGalley and Greenleaf Audiobooks for the opportunity to listen and review this book.

Given the current climate, I feel it is important to raise awareness on mental health within the farming community as it is declining massively due to financial factors as well as the physical strain.

This book shows the importance of farming and how hard it is for farmers in todays society across the world. In addition to this, it shows the huge issues we are facing by not farming ethically and the importance of regenerative farming.

Although it did take me a while to get into this book, It is very impactful and provides incite to those who are not aware of the current issues in agriculture.

A fantastic storyline.

Thank you to Netgalley and Greenleaf Book Group Press for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

𝑶𝑹𝑫𝑰𝑵𝑨𝑹𝒀 𝑺𝑶𝑰𝑳 𝒃𝒚 𝑨𝒍𝒆𝒙 𝑾𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒅
𝑵𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝑺𝒄𝒐𝒕𝒕 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌; 𝑮𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝑵𝒆𝒘𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒏
This was a tale that gives story form for all the grievances against large-scale, chemical-dependent farming, but with a bit of Indigenous folklore sprinkled in.
I found this story to be too heavy-handed for me. I agree with the issues presented, but as one who comes from a family farm, the struggles to make a living outside of the parameters are tougher than this story touches on. It often takes people with massive resources to install change, or people who aren't relying on it to literally put food on the table; or laws to change so the smaller farmers can compete more equitably. I digress.
The audio was a good way to engage this story, and I would recommend it to those who are just learning about how "we" farm. It was just too introductory for me personally.

Ordinary Soil AUDIO by Alex Woodard is a story about how destroying the earth is also destroying the people. It covers four generations of a family in Oklahoma beginning with the day a boy is dragged from his family to be educated at an Indian school. Kill the Indian, save the man, is the slogan. He hates it there and ultimately gets kicked out for helping another student who is being bullied. He returns home and sees how his father farms: the old-fashioned way. He has learned so much. He can do better. Thus starts the downhill slope of using machinery to farm and pesticides to assist. For many years it is a rich and productive farm but eventually comes the day when the soil is dead and the harmful after-effects are felt in the bodies of those who farm the land and eat from it. It ends up with the death of a child and the attempted suicide of her father; a destroyed marriage. Along comes Mark, a research doctor who grew up here and has returned. He sees patterns.

One a basic level this is a terrific story of a family through the generations; falling in love, having chidren, growing old, and dying. It is a story of native mysticism, wherein the original farmer keeps appearing, trying to warn his descendants of what they are doing to the land. On a more primal level, it is the story of destruction, of corporate greed, of ignorance. It is a moving piece, well researched and well-written, with excellent characters.

The readers are Scott Brick and George Newbern. Scott Brick is an excellent reader but a poor choice for this book. We are in Oklahoma, for crying out loud. He is not. His voice is too dramatic, too aggressive, too formal, for the situation. A better choice could have been made.

I was invited to listen to Ordinary Soil by Greenleaf Audio Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #GreenleafAudioBooks #AlexWoodard #ScottBrick #GeorgeNewbern #OrdinarySoil

This unusual audio book was both informative and entertaining for the most part. Although listening to the story rather than reading it caused me to miss some transitions which was confusing at first, I eventually found the rhythm and was immersed in the tale. Once the author settled into the current timeline and the main characters became defined, the story flowed and was engaging. We get to know a farming family who struggles with health issues, mental illness, addictions and financial difficulties. Another primary character is Mark, the local doctor who also has a past and struggles of his own. A major theme of the book is environmental pollutants and the impact on wellbeing.
Not only was this story unusual, but the format of the audio book was really different. As mentioned above, the author does not announce transitions with dates or chapter titles so listening can be confusing at times. However, I really liked the themes and the story overall. The Native American spiritual component was an excellent way to tie in the environmental concerns. The addictions problems were addressed candidly and accurately and the family’s strife was portrayed with spot on emotion. The narrators did a great job of making this book come to life. I have to mention that the insertions of music throughout the book was a little weird but the songs and singer were really good and this was so much better than a narrator attempting to sing which I have found downright annoying in other audiobooks I have listened to, so thanks for that.
Thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Audiobooks for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

I would give this book 2 separate ratings
Message/informative: 🌟🌟🌟
Fictional story:🌟

As a fellow Oklahoman, i wanted to love this book. I will say that it was very informative I feel that the author should've written this as a Nonfiction book about the farming for generations, the things we put in our soil and how it effect what happens in our body vs writing this as a fictional story. I love a good lesson or 2 while reading but this felt like information overload so much that I didn't care much and the story was more so focused on understanding the message but then even after awhile grew tired of the repetitive subject.

Narration: The voice of the narrator was a pleasant read. The music was a nice touch. However, I do think it was a bit drawn out and played for a little too long, in my opinion.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the audio arc copy!

Ordinary Soil by Alex Woodward, read by Scott Brick and George Newbern is an interesting audio book. A young farmer keeps seeing an ancestor in the fields, but doesn't investigate the cause. The cause is over-farmed land which is no longer healthy. It's well written and the narrators are both excellent. I enjoyed the characters in this novel as well as the lesson that we need to be better stewards of our land.
Thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Audiobooks for my review copy.

This started off really good, but the second half was far too technical. I think it will limit the audience.

The story follows one family over several generations, farming the same land. It looks at how farming practices impact everything. This is what gets too detailed to hold many people's attention, I believe.

I enjoy learning when reading. I loved the family saga aspect of the book. However, even as someone who enjoys learning, there was too much information for even my taste in the latter part of the book.

Scott Brick and George Newbern narrate the audiobook.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ordinary Soil is the kind of book that lingers because it makes you sit with uncomfortable truths. Alex Woodard shows how personal and environmental traumas intertwine, stretching back through generations. The novel moves between past and present, weaving ancestral voices with modern struggles in a way that feels both haunting and necessary. The soil in this book more than dirt; it’s memories.

Alex Woodard's 'Ordinary Soil' is a novel about ancestry and family, but is also an ecological call to arms to be aware of how agricultural practices can ravage the earth and cause disease and destruction. Those two themes are intertwined and there is a bit of an ancestral 'ghost' story thrown in for good measure. There is also a great deal about communication - or the lack of it - and self-destruction. As ever, families' inability to talk about important - vital - issues and the dire consequences of not speaking about difficult or embarrassing issues lies at the heart of this novel too. Not many of the characters are likeable and yet the story is compelling. Through the generations life has been hard and it's taken generations of hard men to succeed. But at what cost? To both souls and the earth that they inhabit?

The inter-generational story at the heart of the novel does, sadly, get a bit overwhelmed by the ecological warnings and by the end it feels as though the family story is really just a vehicle for a plea to the wider world to beware progress at such a cost to the environment. It's not a bad plea, of course, but the story of Jake and his family does get lost ultimately. Shame - it's an interesting one in and of itself.

Ordinary Soil is a work of generational trauma, growth, and where everything comes from. There is a background of farming and the use of pesticides, with the backstory of Jake and his wife who live on a family farm. Jake's grandfather was a Native American and Jake believes that his spirit is haunting him and his brother. On top of that and losing a young daughter, the book kicks off with Jakes' attempted suicide and the immediate aftermath of that.
Overall, a really interesting read.