A SMALL BOOK ABOUT THE BIG OLD WORLD: TIM BRYANT'S WORLD OF RIVERS

Author and musician Tim Bryant weaves his tale ,World of Rivers, like a chamber piece, where most authors would make it their symphony.. Just a little over two-hundred pages, it covers over forty years, three locations, at least four main characters, each told with their own section, and at least three families that become one as it looks at race, fate, art, and other themes. By taking an epic and tightening it, he looks at how life may hold a method under its chaos.

He first introduces us to Buford "Blue" Thorn, a corporal stuck in the Philippines of World War two with an asshole for a C.O. and the precarious job of stringing up telephone line that him climbing up poles where he makes an easy target for the Japanese. The only thing that keeps him going are thoughts of Nellie, a black girl he fell i love with back in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Still, he finally has enough and goes AWOL with a buddy, sending him on an adventure that buts him in more danger than if h stayed in the Army.

The next section deals with Sara Jane, the daughter Blue never knew he had. Her story begins in the early sixties as she gets on a bus to New Orleans with a guitar and dreams. An accident with the bus shapes her fate and causes her to struggle with her identity as she deals with men and music. Bryant does an amazing job capturing her voice.

The nest last two parts deal with members Blue and Sara Janes odd family tree in 1984. I don't feel it's safe to go into them, fering it will spoil Tim's twist's and reveals. He designs them less for surprise as for creating both emotion and introspection.

He has probably never leaned upon his music and song writing skills in one of his books. It even has the feel of a concept album with every section a song. He has complete understanding of each point of view, allowing him to concisely, yet deeply, tell their story where we clearly understand each of their experiences. His light touch and love he expresses for these people reminded me of Charles Portis.

In fact, Tim Bryant seems to written World of rivers with love. he expresses the yearning for family, art, and ability to see the possible. In his small book, he looks at this big messy world through one messy family and finds beauty to celebrate.

-review by Scott Montgomery