Powerful Pages: Lightning in a Bottle by Monte Dutton (2017)

Powerful Pages: Lighting in a Bottle by Monte Dutton (2017)

Monte Dutton is a promising author who I consider a friend, a fellow outsider who is more interested in spinning an entertaining yarn and delivering readers a good time than assembling the necessary ingredients for whatever is en vogue within the industry this week.  He has a strong background writing pieces about Nascar, so it is no surprise that his adventures on the printed page finally brought him to a meditation on auto racing.  With Lightning in a Bottle, Dutton has conjured up precisely the type of driver his semi-fascist racing entity FASCAR needs--even if this frisky upstart also happens to be precisely the type of driver the powers that be are hoping to avoid.  Barrie Jarman is bold and ambitious, an "aw shucks" country boy whose easy-going demeanor masks a keen intellect.  A quick study with a quicker tongue, Barrie has a God-given ability to tear it up at the track--any track.  He's also fiercely protective of his identity and his need to express himself, and going along to get along isn't one of his many skills.  His adventures on the racing circuit are the backbone of a brisk yarn that also concerns itself with family dynamics, the cost of success, the war against corporate tyranny, and a host of political issues.  If that sounds heavy, fear not, for Dutton's warm approach coupled with his light touch keep things moving and interesting at all times, and he never substitutes a sermon for a punchline.  His ear for dialogue and his racing IQ are on full display throughout, and one might argue that these are the books greatest strengths.  In terms of plotting and excitement, I can't identify any real flaws, but sometimes the broad strokes and rollicking pace work against the material.  There were numerous points where I wanted a closer examination of the various conflicts at play, and I also yearned to savor Barrie's triumphs a bit more.  However, I'm not willing to take Monte to task; I liked Barrie too much for that, and I laughed way too damn much to complain.  While Barrie's presence and drive are the beating heart of Lightning in a Bottle, I must admit that the narrator, his seen-it-all Uncle Charlie, quickly emerged as my favorite character.  Monte has captured lightning in a bottle with Barrie, no doubt about that, and I'm eager to read more about this hell-raising one-of-a-kind, but Uncle Charlie's grass roots philosophy dressed up as dry humor took the checkered flag in the race to my funny bone.  Fresh and captivating, Lightning in a Bottle is a quick read that will tickle and inspire you in equal measures.

Final Grade: A-

The Intangibles by Monte Dutton

Yesterday I finished The Intangibles by Monte Dutton, a fine book that had me hooked from the start.  I read the last third of this compelling drama in a single sitting, eager to reach the conclusion--which was tense, exciting, comical, and heartbreaking.  That's quite an accomplishment.  It wasn't all that long ago that I reviewed Monte's novel The Audacity of Dope, and I'm officially going to label myself a fan of his work. 

In truth, the prose was much cleaner in The Audacity of Dope and if I wanted to give someone the best example that I could of Monte's writing, I would recommend that one.  However, I enjoyed The Intangibles more.  It was very raw and very personal, and though it got a little muddy at times, the characters and the story spoke to me on a deeper level.  The Audacity of Dope was a slick and entertaining ride that dealt with complex themes in a lighthearted way.  The Intangibles takes a similar approach to themes that are more complex and a bit harder to wrestle with.  There are a great many laughs to be had while reading this one, but it also boasts some genuinely wretched people and some truly despicable schemes.

The book is set in 1968 and depicts the impact of integration on the people of a small town in South Carolina.  Much of the story centers on the local high school, where a pair of determined and thoughtful football coaches work to bring their team together.  In the process, they may just bring the community itself together, though there are those who are working just as hard to prevent that from happening.  The tale reaches well beyond the football field, following the lives of several players and their friends and relatives as they come to terms with the changing times--or, in many cases, as they fail to do so.  It is possible that there a bit too many characters involved and sometimes elements of this saga that deserve more attention seem a bit rushed.  Yet life can be equally overcrowded and abrupt, and as such, it is likely that some of this novel's flaws contribute to its authenticity. 

There are meditations on more than race relations, as religion, sex, politics, and drug use and abuse play pivotal roles in the way the characters and their relationships develop.  As with any worthwhile drama, there are struggles, triumphs, shocking developments, and tragedies housed within the pages of The Intangibles.  It is clear throughout that Dutton is writing about things that matter to him, and one has to think that his personal experiences played a significant part in bringing this story to life.  While the end result may be a bit overwrought in some places and a bit jarring at times, it is a potent and meaningful story with a lot of soul, and it is surely worth reading.  The journey is enlightening and the climax is a stunning example of Monte's wit and talent. 

You can purchase a copy of The Intangibles here.

The Audacity of Dope

Monte Dutton, a man of many talents

Note to aspiring authors: if you're taking part in any signings or events, you could certainly do worse than sitting beside Monte Dutton all day.  I was on hand for Binding Time Cafe's Fall Book Festival to sell my novel, Trailer Park Trash & Vampires (Buy it here!), and I was fortunate enough to be located next to Monte.
He played guitar, he sang, he educated the general public on the finer points of NASCAR, he pitched his book, The Audacity of Dope, and he never failed to entertain.  I had a great time hanging out with Monte, and I encourage people to check out his book.  You've got a pot-smoking hero who doesn't want to be a hero foiling a terrorist plot and finding himself embroiled in a suspenseful chase that promises to offer up ample measures of thrills and chuckles.  It sounds like my kind of book, and Monte's definitely my kind of guy.

Purchase The Audacity of Dope from Amazon here!