Foreword Reviews Starred ReviewThe world is a complicated place with lots of small moving parts. When someone moves one part just a little, it causes all the other parts to move in ways we can’t see coming.Two men. One young, one old. Complete strangers who have made the same ultimate decision—that their lives are not worth living and it is time to take fate into their own hands. When their … into their own hands. When their stories intersect on a single fateful night in West Texas, the ensuing friendship takes them down a perilous road neither imagined possible. As they contend with the police, horse thieves, and murderers, the two men forge an unbreakable bond, and together they discover that they each might have something to live for after all. Full of cowboy common sense that spans generations, SMALL MOVING PARTS explores the simplicities and complexities of love in its many forms and how a rare and remarkable friendship can change everything.
Nothing much grew in Bufort, Texas, but a few things did.
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This book is a departure from my usual genre, but WOW, what a book. I loved the setting, the characters, the writing. Even in an intense scene there was realistic humor. Great modern western!
Deep and Dark, but Excellent
I gave this book five stars because the characters were strong, the flow of the book never faltered, and it portrayed what could happen in a real-life-situation. The book was dark at times, but it made me appreciate life. A great friendship and trust develop among the main characters. The narration was perfect, especially for this genre.
If you read only one book this year, make it Small Moving Parts
Small Moving Parts is a story wide and deep with human emotions. One of its memorable aphorism, among the many the author provides, is the life philosophy at the center of this wonderfully written tale. Sharing this quote out of context is a disservice to the book, but it conveys the sentiment of this novel. The old man says to the boy, “Ain’t nothing better than cowboying.”
You don’t need to be a fan of the “western genre” to enjoy this story, or to identify with the fully developed characters as you savor the prose from a master storyteller. Set in far West Texas in the late 1950s (not 1850’s), the story is rich with Texas culture, platitudes, and attitude. More than just a page-turner, Mr. Jackson skillfully guides us through elements of mystery, suspense, romance, and action that will entice the reader’s emotions. You will want to melt into the story’s richness and become a part of it. You won’t want it to end.
One night fate brings two strangers together and changes both their lives forever. Each had concluded his life was no longer worth the effort and each had a plan to solve the problem by taking matters into his own hands. Small Moving Parts is a story of a bond between an old man and a boy that develops into a valuable friendship as one grows old and the other grows up. It is that relationship that allows each man to deal with the pain that drove him to the edge of suicide.
Author DB Jackson has been honored with many prestigious awards and referenced as an excellent storyteller. This novel will bring Jackson more prizes and the recognition that he is a great teller of tales, that he is one of today’s genuinely outstanding artists. However, instead of oils on canvas, Dale Jackson’s art puts poetry on paper. He writes in a sensitive smooth-textured, transparent manner that engulfs the reader in the moment of the narration. This master craftsman has infused his powerfully poetic prose with the sharp edge of Texas lore, making Small Moving Parts DB Jackson’s best work yet.
Readers who appreciate finely crafted art will want to read this novel and reread it and reread it once again to enjoy the artistry of the writing. This novel is an all-consuming, inspiring story told by one of our very best writers. The story will resonate with reader emotions at every page-turning. Fans of mysteries, suspense, thrillers, action, and romance will find plenty to enjoy in this novel. I highly recommend Small Moving Parts to readers of every genre. This novel is a five-star journey that will stay in your mind and heart for a very long time.