Brian Douglas Holers

I’m usually pretty good with words, but I’m not sure I can do justice to this book. I was expecting a lot just from reading the excerpt and Brian’s own words about the book, but this was beyond what I anticipated. The story of fathers and sons, brothers and cousins, had me laughing out loud one minute and bawling like a baby the next. Like life, it was up and down.

Vernon Davidson is watching his only remaining brother die while he still hasn’t recovered from the death of his own son a dozen years earlier. He calls his nephew Jody home, but Jody has his own demons, one of which happens to be his little brother. The story goes back and forth from Vernon’s childhood, Jody’s childhood, the present, and various points in between. We learn about a family in which each generation tries to do more and be better than the previous generation, but isn’t quite sure how to go about it.

We also briefly meet Jody’s girlfriend and her family, who have dealt with their own tragedy in a much more healthy way. Maybe. On the surface, they seem to have everything, but the girlfriend, Karen, and her brother Art are each still searching for something.

I know men have emotions, really I do. But I’m still amazed at how much emotion was in this book, written by a man, about a family of men. My only complaint is that we’re given a peek at a couple things, with no follow-through. We get a small glimpse of the pain of both Karen and Art, but I would have liked to see something more there. Doxology really isn’t their story, but maybe we could get another book to flesh out their family? Pretty, please?

The second thing is that we’re given enough information to guess at what happened to Vernon’s son, Billy, we’re never told the actual story. It kind of made the tale feel incomplete to me. However, that is not enough to keep me from recommending this book.

I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.… (plus d'informations)

A doxology is a hymn or form of words containing an ascription of praise to God.

Although Brian Holers is a Christian writer and there are Christian themes in this book, this is not specifically a Christian novel.

Instead it is a novel of men. Fathers, sons, grandfathers, uncles and the ties that bind them all. Vernon and his brothers suffered a childhood of abuse and now he is still struggling to deal with the loss of his son which occurred years ago by numbing his pain with alcohol. Jody's father is dying and he must come home to deal with a past he's run away from. How these two men learn to cope and find a way to move on is the theme of this very touching, albeit sometimes dark, novel of love, loss, faith and the ties that bind us all.… (plus d'informations)

Life has not been kind to Vernon Davidson. He lost his son at an early age and his wife not too long ago. His brother is ill and his nephews have kept away due to their self-imposed exiles for reasons no one truly knows about besides themselves. His disdain and anger at God and the injustices he’s feels have been committed against him grow by the day. So much so, that he’s begun to lash out at those around him in hopes of being able to make sense of the situations he finds himself in.

When Leonard takes a turn for the worst, Vernon is tasked with gathering his estranged children in the hopes that Leonard will get to see them one last time. Unable to refuse a dying man his wish, he sets out to accomplish the impossible. Making contact with one of Leonard’s sons, he asks Jody to come home and makes it clear that his father’s remaining time on Earth is limited. He also decrees that his father wishes to see his brother and sets the task of finding him within Jody’s hands.

Harboring secrets that have led him and his brother to stay away from those they love, Jody knows that this is their chance at setting all wrongs to right. Yet the thought of finding Scooter and bringing him home is daunting. Nonetheless, he prays that he’ll be able to make his brother see reason and thus ease his old man’s worry in regards to things that have happened in the past.

Embarking on a journey to gain understanding about his life and that of his family, Jody comes across secrets and further insight about those he loves. He comes to understand why his Uncle, his father, and his brother are the way they are and the reasons behind their very actions – both past and present.

As each of the men draw ever closer to redemption, their stories intertwine and they begin to understand and accept the paths they’ve all chosen in life. They’re well aware that not everything turns out the way they’ve wanted it to. Their journey’s to enlightment are rocky at best. They know that faith is always around the corner, but only if they truly believe.

While this book does have religious undertones, it’s not really a Christian story. Brian gives insight into a family full of strife and the differences between each and every one of the characters involved. We see their loves, their heartaches, and their triumphs as they strive to find their places within the world the author has built for them.

The story is full of meaning and is very poignant in the messages the author does his best to convey throughout each turn of the page. A lovely story with embedded values any of us can incorporate into our every day lives. Definitely worth reading!… (plus d'informations)