Perpetual Gloom

A Two Rut-Road Along the Boloney Trail

By: Shelah A. Johnson

Narrated by: Anthony J Santora

Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

SERIES STARTER: This is the first installment of the action and adventure-packed historical fiction book series, The Boloney Trail Trilogy. The novel tells the remarkable true events of the Hornbeck family, who struggle to survive The Great Depression, only then to become key players in the birth of the feared Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel.

Series Starter: Perpetual Gloom, a two rut-road along The Boloney Trail1930s – 1950s. When the depression hits the Hornbeck family hard, its patriarch, JC, a religious zealot, robs a bank in Missouri’s bootheel. Later, in Arkansas, he is put on trial as a communist. Keen to escape his father’s religious hypocrisy, JC’s teenage son, Monroe, steals his father’s horse in Texas and runs away. On his way to California, he experiences life-changing events that ultimately define him as a man. Monroe meets a young woman, Dora, some time on, and they wed after she falls pregnant.

Reviews: “…unforgettable details that pulls readers into scenes and helps them empathize with the human condition in a manner reminiscent of Steinbeck.” — William Mike Kielkopf, Author, Journalist, and Language Educator.

“The Boloney Trail Trilogy by Shelah Johnson, tells the remarkable true story — a kind of Grapes of Wrath meets Breaking Bad story…The writing is exceptional. Hard-core and unembellished, Johnson doesn’t mince words, and the story would not have worked if she had. ” —Sheri Hoyte, Managing Editor Reader Views

"A vivid portrait of Depression-era history. Johnson excels at weaving together rich historical detail, along with immersive colloquial dialogue that never seems to slip, even as it shifts between different regions of America. The familial relationships feel vibrant and authentic, while the undertone of philosophical questions about the Great Depression drives the plot and characters forward. The visceral story and three-dimensional characters make this novel a thoroughly compelling and thought-provoking portrait." Self-Publishing Review

©2021 Shelah A. Johnson (P)2022 Shelah A. Johnson

5 Star Story with Mediocre Narration

I loved this story when I wasn't being distracted by the lackluster narration. The Hornbeck family bears no resemblance to the classic TV families I grew up watching. But they don't resemble modern families depicted in media either. They are their own unique subset of misery, bitterness, anger, and regret.

Beginning with the family during the years of the Great Depression, the Hornbecks show us what life was like for too many people during that time. Readers are also reminded of the stark reality of ignorance and racism so common at that time. It was a hard era in which hard work and good morals did not always pay off. One of the themes running through this amazing story is the role religion played in the decisions people made and the actions they took. It's decidedly not pretty. But it certainly has the ring of truth in much of what occurs.

The characters here are wonderfully rich, detailed, and authentic. Readers will love some and loathe others. There are bittersweet moments as we witness the additional difficulties faced by innocent children during this time. Yet the resilience of the children keeps this from being too load-bearing. John Steinbeck and Ernest Hemingway were in my mind as I enjoyed this modern classic. There are moments when one can't help being reminded of The Grapes of Wrath, not just because of the time frame but because of the richness of these characters.

I'm glad to see the next book in the series is already available, because this one left us with a bit of a cliffhanger. I don't want to wait to jump into book 2 and find out what kind of trouble the Hornbecks will stir up next. If you're the type of audiobook listener who is easily distracted or upset by narration that isn't top-notch, I would recommend reading the book rather than listening to the audio. That's what I'll be doing for book 2. However you choose to do it, just make sure you don't miss this quiet gem!

So close to home

Too close to home ! Sometimes a story is uncomfortable to read. It made me wonder if this could be my family’s history too.

Daniel Florea