Riding The Fantastics Review

Author: Oscar Patton
ISBN: 9781478713579
Published: January 2013
Pages: 213
9/10

DESCRIPTION:
Narrated in real time by characters in the drama, Riding the Fantastics is about the death and the life of Boy Man Hardin, last King of the Crackers in south Georgia’s old herding culture. This is the second of Oscar Patton’s Satilla County novels and is both a murder mystery and a story of love, courage, and the triumph of the human spirit.

WHAT I THOUGHT:
Having read Oscar Patton's When The Bough Breaks, I was excited when I received Riding the Fantastics in the mail! I wasn't expecting it at all, but I wouldn't wait to dive in.

When a beloved friend and father Boy Man Hardin ends up dead, the town goes nuts to try and find who did it. Unlike When The Bough Breaks, this book is told in an unique way. Each chapter is told through another person's point of view, such as the town doctor, sheriff, or even sons of the victim.

It also sets the mood of the 1800's in Georgia, when the cattle ranches were booming, but slowly disappearing to modern conveniences, like logging and concrete jungles. Boy Man Hardin was proud of his land, and the way of life is allowed him to live. But it seemed that someone wasn't happy with Hardin at all, but who? His sons couldn't have been more far apart from each other: Newt was happy with his small acreage, but had a gambling problem. The other two had big farms, and were content with what they had. 

As the plot continues to move, each person reminiscences about their favorite memories of Boy Man Hardin, and being part of the Crackers of Satilla County. By the way, the term "Crackers"comes from the sound their whips made when cattle herding. 

I loved this book. It was like stepping back in time when segregation, the old South, and when concrete streets were dirt roads. Patton paints a vivid picture of the old South, and what it was truly like. The only reason I gave it an 9 out of 10 was because the funeral at the end totally confused me. I think I ended up skipping that part. 

BUY
You can purchase Riding the Fantasticsby Oscar Patton on Amazon. There is also a eBook version available.

I was NOT compensated for this review. I received a FREE copy of Riding the Fantastics by Oscar Patton to review. All thoughts/opinions are my own. Your experience may differ.

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When The Bough Breaks Review

Author: Oscar Patton
ISBN: 9781432789374
Published: April 2012
Pages: 264
8.5/10


DESCRIPTION:
 Love, hate, ambition, greed, lasciviousness—human nature is laid bare in this story about the fall of the grandest house in Hebron, Georgia. Following the sudden death on the same night of her infant son and her rich and powerful husband, Ada McCallum, too young and too beautiful, must assume control of a vast empire and make her way in a world of men at war, at home and abroad. Strong willed Ada, a twentieth-century Scarlett O’Hara, succeeds in business and in love, but her behavior can be reckless and her choices unwise. Local newspaper editor and McCallum family friend Carl Goodman narrates Ada’s life and reveals dark secrets. He also chronicles race relations, ghost sightings, and happenings in and around Satilla County.

WHAT I THOUGHT
If you love Gone With The Wind, you'll like this book! I'm not sure if this book really has much of a plot, but it was intriguing. The first pages are filled with the deaths of her husband Hiram and her baby, Hiram Jr. That sets the mood for this book- sad. An editor for the paper (whose name we finally find out at the end of the book) is that narrator. He tells us Ada's story- lies, deceit, triumph, and loss. Boll weevils (which I had to look up because I had no clue what they were), drought, WWI, racial segregation (keep in mind that all of this happens in 1916, which is on the front door of the war), and murder brings together a community.

The editor sees things that he never thought he would see. As he fights against the Klan, his life is threatened. He sees his friends and community residents lose their homes to foreclosure, drought, and the Klan. He witnesses the loss of lives, even those close to him.

I actually loved this book. The only reason I gave it a 8.5 was because it wasn't like most books I read that are set in the here and now: A goal. Sure, Ada's last demand was that her story be told, but then again, I read a lot of cozy mysteries (It's a real genre! Look it up!) and I'm used to the characters aiming towards a suspect and eventually the arresting of the perp. Anyways, it was a great book and a real eye opener to what happened in the south, and what they had to do to get by. Makes life nowadays seem so much easier.

BUY
You can purchase When the Bough Breaks from Barnes&Noble for $14.95. An e-Book version is available.

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