A novel filled with nostalgia and heart… Spectacular.
A young boy grapples with the questions of what he wants from life in Berner’s touching latest novella. The boy loves golf, but there is something about his love for the game he longs to understand better. When the homeless vagabond Jimmy, a regular at the Old Elm Municipal Golf course, stops coming, the boy gets curious. His quest unravels Jimmy’s secretive past, sending him on a journey of self-discovery. Told in third-person omniscient narrative voice, the novella is a poignant coming-of-age story as it explores themes of empathy, understanding, desire, hope, and dreams, class disparity, identity, and self-discovery. Berner’s genius lies in his skill to trace his characters’ subtle mood shifts. He precisely portrays everything that’s going on below the surface; there’s insight and deep emotion as well as the pleasure of getting to know two people separated by age, class, and social status. The boy’s journey as he tries to figure out who he is and who he wants to become is rooted in reality, and Berner’s knowledgeable commentary about the game of golf adds to the authenticity of the story. Emotional and keenly perceptive, this novel is not only about finding life path and one’s own place in the world but also about inner peace that comes from within. With a captivating arc and solid character development, the story underlines the magic of an ancient game and its deeper meaning for a young man trying to find his path in the world. Absolutely mesmerizing. Don’t miss it.
Sandman: A Golf Tale
David W. Berner
Pub date July 15, 2022
ISBN 978-1789049121
Price $7.49 (USD) Kindle edition, $9.95 Paperback
