| Holes in the Hills written by Joseph Bogo softcover, 325 pgs ISBN 1-4116-4711-4 |
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| Real estate agent Joe Bailey's life takes a strange turn when he comes across the spirit of a coal miner looking to find peace in Joseph Bogo's interesting novel Holes in the Hills. Deftly jumping between the past and the present, Bogo presents an engaging story of loss, hope, friendship, greed, and redemption. The novel opens with the events leading up to the terrible incident that left 22-year-old Nick and several other miners dead. In 1922, a non-union mine threatened to destroy any hope the local miners had of earning a living wage, and the union decided to close the mine one way or the other. Bogo does a stunning job of reminding us why unions were so important in the 1920's. The miners lives like indentured servants. Most lived in rental housing owned by the mines, and were paid in credits that could only be used at the mine-owned stores. These credits were never enough to actually make ends meet, and the miners found themselves more and more in debt to their employers. When a group of miners is kicked out of their homes after voting to join the union, the miners decide they won't take it anymore. What ensues is a tragic battle that leaves many dead. Fast forward to the modern world, where Joe Bailey finds his world changed forever when he comes across Nick's spirit. Together, the pair form an amazing bond and set up to bring closure to those left behind. Bogo has a folksy writing style that suits the mood of the book perfectly. His casual word choice and flowing sentence structure gives the reader the impression of listening to a skilled country storyteller. On occassion, however, the style leads to a few awkward paragraphs where it isn't quite clear what is being said. But such lapses are few and far between. Overall, Holes in the Hills is an enjoyable read with a positive message presented in an honest way. |