The Book of James is a celebration of life with a comedic touch and a Cajun twist. Ironically, it begins on a serious note as Jamison J. James, now an octogenarian, ponders ending the life of his best friend, Ted. There is nothing to prevent him from doing so since he has killed before.
James, as he is familiarly called, is a veteran of World War II who spent most of his time during his service years as a Nazi prisoner in Stalag 17B near Krems, Austria. This is where he first knowingly takes a life by choking a guard to death. He is not a man who regrets and reasons, "...some men deserve to die ahead of schedule."
He has earned a reputation as a good family man and astute businessman during his lifetime. He may have taken a few shortcuts along the way, but does it matter if you've lived to be a respectable old man? After all, a little embezzlement here and an occasional adultery there don't mean a thing if they have never come to light.
James is a man of his generation. He loves baseball as played by the New York Yankees and the orchestral music of the Big Band Era, especially that of Glenn Miller. He is an accomplished dancer and uses his talent to good advantage in his younger days with the women in his life.
The Book of James begins in the northern, far tamer part of Louisiana before expanding to its fun-loving south. The settings shift and the memorable characters reflect the spirit of the Cajun and Creole cultures where the rallying cry is "Laissez les bon temps rouler!" It's translated as "Let the good times roll!"
And roll they will. Expect visits to entertaining and uniquely Louisiana places--a bordello in the New Orleans French Quarter, an impromptu concert on a front porch in Cajun country, and a sporting event where the main attraction is the odd assortment of crazed fans.
The Book of James takes the reader to some unexpected places but the journey is meant to be fun and enlightening. It is the literary equivalent of a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. There are secrets to be revealed but they may be more of the human heart than physical things hidden behind a clever cover.
The Book of James is a unique work and is best read under the conditions that it was authored. Glenn Miller's tunes should be playing in the background. The chapter headings are all songs Glenn Miller recorded. Please use it as a guide but include "Little Brown Jug", "Tuxedo Junction," and "A String of Pearls."
The Book of James is the second in a trilogy of works and is appropriate for most readers. The first novel, Better To Be Vile, is recommended only for those who understand the meaning of Shakespeare's Sonnet 121.
The author, John Dye, practiced pharmacy for thirty-five years until he got it right and retired.
