James Hockings

The Redemption of Danny Harper: a 60's Novel James Hockings

"What if they gave a war and nobody came? 
Why, then the war would come to you!" Bertolt Brecht
 
Danny is a small town kid who believes in mom, the flag and apple pie. When all the people, things and institutions he trusts start to betray him, he starts to look for answers in the chaos of the 60's. 
 
Drugs, race riots, and The Vietnam War---always The War--begin chasing him down the rabbit hole. Danny is desperate to find the light.
 
Finding the light means looking inside--the last place he wants to look.
 
An early reviewer said, " This is an honest, candid recital of a naïve, mid-western college student propelled into the political turmoil prevalent in the early 1970's. Running from a controversial war that divided the country, Danny represents the generation that was torn between traditional patriotism and an ethical responsibility to his fellow man and to himself. The writing is authentic, his cynicism and derision reflective of the era, the topic ironically relevant, and the story innovative and compelling."
 
And another early reviewer said, "Once in awhile, a book comes along that has something new to say, and The Redemption of Danny Harper is just such a book. Not just a mere recounting of events, it showed me the heart and soul of a young man, growing up in the decade of Vietnam. This is the first time I've been privy to the real thoughts and feelings of a college-aged young man, faced with the possibility of being drafted into a war that makes no sense. An engaging, disturbing, and witty book, once you begin reading it's hard to tear yourself away."
 
PLEASE NOTE: this book contains ADULT LANGUAGE and ADULT CONTENT. It is NOT meant for young teens or children. It will offend people who believe that war makes the world a better place. 
 
Finally, this quote: "Elegant, brutal, I loved it. This book is like reading 'Huck Finn while listening to Steely Dan."  William Logan Dewar 2011.