Overview

An old man and a young boy with nothing left to lose meet in a twist of fate that changes their lives forever.

Full Product Details

9781683367833

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Reviews

Small Moving Parts is an emotive, atmospheric, and memorable tour de force. Not to be missed. In 1958, on a summer's night in Bufort, Texas, two strangers' destinies collide. Harley Cain, an ill WWI veteran and rancher, and Dodger Cooper, a neglected and physically abused teenager who walks with a limp, are distressed by their lives' circumstances and intend to kill themselves. Their chance encounter hinders their plans and sends them on a journey through the unyielding West Texas landscape, into a world of horse thieves and Texas law men. A profound and tender bond develops between Harley and Dodger, giving them something to live for as well as someone to love and be loved by. Appropriately titled, Small Moving Parts moves in many directions. Part redemption tale, part coming-of-age novel, and part action-and-adventure story, it explores broad themes, including isolation, death and dying, life and living, abandonment, righteousness, and hope. The novel's rendering of time and place is as formidable as its portrayal of despair and benevolence. Such dynamism, if attempted by a writer of lesser talent, could easily devolve into a clumsy muddle, but Jackson is a masterful storyteller. His narrative focus, deft prose, and keen character development depict with precision the obscure quirk of circumstances that propels the story. Taut dialogue echoes a Southern drawl: I ain't getting whupped no more, Dodger says. Harley and Dodger are captivating, and the novel's supporting characters are equally well drawn. Harley and Dodger's interdependence builds slowly and beautifully as they saunter on horseback, attempt to outwit rifle-toting killers, and engage in conversations replete with Harley's prudent aphorisms and Dodger's wide-eyed inquisitiveness. From the novel's gripping opening, in which Harley holds a pistol to his head, to its bittersweet afterword, when the full arc of the characters' lives is revealed, Jackson's novel is an emotive, atmospheric, and memorable tour de force. It is not to be missed. - AMY O'LOUGHLIN Foreword Starred Review Author D.B. Jackson hits high marks and deserves five golden stars for this outstanding novel starting off 2018. - Fran Lewis, Just Reviews You'll be torn between not wanting it to end, and page turning at an increasing gallop. Congratulations, D.B. Jackson, another winner! - Mark Lovell Jackson is a realist about philosophy of life so his stories live with opposites and the set paths we all live. He writes of peace and confrontation, of murder and giving of life, love and hate, racial problems and acceptance of all people, of living and dying, of past and future but mostly about simple going on and making better of broken parts. Jackson makes all the characters in the story alive and fully human, not some people invented for a storyline. In this book exists a certain quality of expectation of the older generation helping the next and of men fighting within themselves to do right and good knowing we are all always sinners and pilgrims on life's journey, especially, I think in this book, men. - Larry Yoder, The Bookies Bookstore Newsletter

Harley and Dodger are captivating, and the novel's supporting characters are equally well drawn. Harley and Dodger's interdependence builds slowly and beautifully as they saunter on horseback, attempt to outwit rifle-toting killers, and engage in conversations replete with Harley's prudent aphorisms and Dodger's wide-eyed inquisitiveness. From the novel's gripping opening, in which Harley holds a pistol to his head, to its bittersweet afterword, when the full arc of the characters' lives is revealed, Jackson's novel is an emotive, atmospheric, and memorable tour de force. It is not to be missed. - AMY O'LOUGHLIN Foreword Starred Review You'll be torn between not wanting it to end, and page turning at an increasing gallop. Congratulations, D.B. Jackson, another winner! - Mark Lovell Jackson is a realist about philosophy of life so his stories live with opposites and the set paths we all live. He writes of peace and confrontation, of murder and giving of life, love and hate, racial problems and acceptance of all people, of living and dying, of past and future but mostly about simple going on and making better of broken parts. Jackson makes all the characters in the story alive and fully human, not some people invented for a storyline. In this book exists a certain quality of expectation of the older generation helping the next and of men fighting within themselves to do right and good knowing we are all always sinners and pilgrims on life's journey, especially, I think in this book, men. - Larry Yoder, The Bookies Bookstore Newsletter Small Moving Parts is an emotive, atmospheric, and memorable tour de force. Not to be missed... Appropriately titled, Small Moving Parts moves in many directions. Part redemption tale, part coming-of-age novel, and part action-and-adventure story, it explores broad themes, including isolation, death and dying, life and living, abandonment, righteousness, and hope. The novel's rendering of time and place is as formidable as its portrayal of despair and benevolence... His narrative focus, deft prose, and keen character development depict with precision the obscure quirk of circumstances that propels the story... Author D.B. Jackson hits high marks and deserves five golden stars for this outstanding novel starting off 2018. - Fran Lewis, Just Reviews

"Harley and Dodger are captivating, and the novel's supporting characters are equally well drawn. Harley and Dodger's interdependence builds slowly and beautifully as they saunter on horseback, attempt to outwit rifle-toting killers, and engage in conversations replete with Harley's prudent aphorisms and Dodger's wide-eyed inquisitiveness. From the novel's gripping opening, in which Harley holds a pistol to his head, to its bittersweet afterword, when the full arc of the characters' lives is revealed, Jackson's novel is an emotive, atmospheric, and memorable tour de force. It is not to be missed."" - AMY O'LOUGHLIN Foreword Starred Review ""You'll be torn between not wanting it to end, and page turning at an increasing gallop. Congratulations, D.B. Jackson, another winner!"" - Mark Lovell ""Jackson is a realist about philosophy of life so his stories live with opposites and the set paths we all live. He writes of peace and confrontation, of murder and giving of life, love and hate, racial problems and acceptance of all people, of living and dying, of past and future but mostly about simple going on and making better of broken parts. Jackson makes all the characters in the story alive and fully human, not some people invented for a storyline. In this book exists a certain quality of expectation of the older generation helping the next and of men fighting within themselves to do right and good knowing we are all always sinners and pilgrims on life's journey, especially, I think in this book, men."" - Larry Yoder, The Bookies Bookstore Newsletter ""Small Moving Parts is an emotive, atmospheric, and memorable tour de force. Not to be missed... Appropriately titled, Small Moving Parts moves in many directions. Part redemption tale, part coming-of-age novel, and part action-and-adventure story, it explores broad themes, including isolation, death and dying, life and living, abandonment, righteousness, and hope. The novel's rendering of time and place is as formidable as its portrayal of despair and benevolence... His narrative focus, deft prose, and keen character development depict with precision the ""obscure quirk of circumstances"" that propels the story... Author D.B. Jackson hits high marks and deserves five golden stars for this outstanding novel starting off 2018. - Fran Lewis, Just Reviews"

Author Information

"D.B. Jackson is the award winning author of three novels: They Rode Good Horses, Unbroke Horses, and Small Moving Parts, as well as several short stories published by High Hill Press, La Frontera Publishing, and others. His screenplays include the television series adaptation of They Rode Good Horses, the feature film adaptation of Unbroke Horses, and a feature film entitled Half Past Nine, inspired by the short story ""Last of the Cowboys."" His television regular series original screenplays include an international political drama set in Las Vegas, Washington, DC, and Kazakhstan, as well as an action/sci fi thriller set in Los Angeles. Jackson's first two novels were recognized by the literary community with the following awards: The Western Heritage Wrangler Award, Will Rogers Medallion Gold Medal (twice), Laramie Award (twice), Laramie Grand Prize, Eric Hoffer Award, Peacemaker Award, and the ReadWest Excellence in Western Literature honor."

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