Sonny MatonCritiques

This is a story that has regional interest for persons connected to Charleston, Illinois and Eastern Illinois University. Set in the post-Korean War era, this novel is mainly a biographical tale centered on the early history of a unique student veteran's organization, "The Black Knights of the Embarrass." Having attended EIU in the late 60s and a few years later returning to live there in the community another twenty years, I'm familiar with the legendary stories about the BKE and the locations for the novel's events. I first heard tales of the Black Knights from Walt Warmoth (owner of Little Walt's campus hangout). I also had a college roommate who joined the BKE in 1967 and gathered some impressions of his experiences too. Sonny Maton was an early member of the Black Knights in the Fifties; therefore his novel should be accurate, however it seems lacking in a full disclosure in places. Identities are sometimes thinly disguised yet several people are identified in the photo section. Most evident is the 'chaste' demeanor portrayed for members of the group made up primarily of Korean War veterans. BKE was noted for their anti-establishment stance, their defiance of attempted controls by university administration, and infamous drinking and 'Cornfield Relays' parties held at the Airtight Bridge area. I recognize that participants are now senior citizens and grandparents today, but also they were real people - - not that different from veterans of other wars and non-traditional college students of other times. The book is a little too squeaky-clean for me in places. The author is the person who got in the face of President Quincy Doudna, and the BKE group is one that Dean Anfinson actively sought to identify members and discipline. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2206&dat=19580517&id=FXozAAAAIBAJ&... Still this is a recommended read for EIU alumni. (lj)½

A fictional novel base on the true story of the secret society that evolved at Eastern Illinois University at Charleston, Illinois in the middle 1950’s. And what that society was all about and why it actually came about

There is humor, tears of joy and pain, and a plot line that will have every reader turning page after page to see what happens next to these ill-fated lovers. Readers will not be able to avoid identifying with the characters, for in each of our lives there is that first love that will always be remembered and cherished. And if you ever see him or her again..............
The book itself tells of the somewhat haunting experience of falling in love for the first time and never being able to remove it from one’s heart.

The meeting of two completely different cultures. A young vivacious female Filipino doctor meets a much older man from America and to both of their great surprise they fall deeply in love with each other. Both of them actually for the first time in their lives. But prior committments and unknown circumstance constantly keep them apart. Finally when the time is right and the opportunities do come for them to be together, problems always seems to arise as though some unknown force was keeping them apart. The ending of the book is quite a surprise.

A young man who is constantly struggling with life trying to find out who he really is or what he wants to do in life, falls in love with a beautiful, rich, headstrong ancestor of the famous King Ranch in Texas. Because of their differences in status and lifestyle many obstacles must be overcome by both of them, and at times it seems they never will overcome any of them. This book shows the problems they both struggle with until they can finally have a meeting of minds and find happiness with each other.