Daniel was most certainly not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. And based on the stark depiction of Jackass Flats, nobody was. While Daniel is central to most of the story, the book spans many decades and numerous unadorned characters. Daniel was born to an alcoholic father and an unprepared mother. Tragedy follows and he ends up the son of a charismatic local pastor. Even after gaining a family, including a brother, his mundane life remains haunted by heartbreak after heartbreak.
While the book tells the tumultuous life story of Daniel, it encompasses so much more. It tells of the rise and fall of a town and of a way of life. The book covers a litany of important issues such as racism and inclusion. People come and go from his life, but in the end Daniel’s maturation is evident. He felt that, “the world wasn’t always so bad and that you could find pockets of beauty anywhere if you choose to see it.”
James Peet writes an inspired and poignant story with brutal honesty and an abundance of heart. For an intimate look at the passage of time in a small town, read The Ghosts of Hawthorn Missouri.
