The Dirty Parts of the Bible has it all. Its beguiling front cover,
back
cover and inside title pages provide the anticipation for what is
inside. The font, page layout and chapter titles are well chosen. And,
after all the outside appearances are appreciated, it also holds a
wonderful story, strong characters and a writing style to match.
The Dirty Parts of the Bible is the story of Tobias Henry, a boy
turning
into a man in the rural land of Michigan. He is the son of a fire and
brimstone preacher, a man who has no heart for any other than his
vengeful God. He is originally from Texas but ""Down south. most places
has a surplus of Baptist pastors already. Texas main exports are
cotton, oil and preachers." Tobias' mother tries her best but she
is no match for her husband. Tobias has been in love with the same girl
since he was small but she not only has never returned his interest,
she is marrying someone else. He has no job, no girl, no plans or real
hope for the future. But one freak accident changes all that. His
father is blinded after an automobile crash, unable to see, he is fired
from his job. He gives Tobias a map that he says is the location of
money he hid at his family farm in Texas. He instructs Tobias to travel
to Texas. get the money, bring it home and save the family from
starvation and homelessness.
The book travels with Tobias as he makes his way to Texas. His
adventures leave him penniless but with the help of Craw, who he meets
along the way, he arrives in Texas to work on his uncle's farm. It is
too much fun to read to spoil this review with too many details. The
trip is not only from Michigan to Texas but also from boy to man, from
reader to doer and from loneliness to love.
Sammy Conner has provided all the essentials of a good book- a plot
that brings lots of laughs and a few tears, a writing style that is
comfortable and matches the story, and characters that are pure joy.
Tobias and Craw are finely tuned, created as both stereotypes of the
times and come off the page as true people, concrete people of heart
and soul. The title of the story is a brilliant starting point for a
book, it portrays the humor and depth that are the foundation of the
novel. It is a book of philosophy disguised as a coming of age
story in a mask of history. Literature at its most basic and
pure.
