Thurman P. Banks Jr.'s Blog
October 7, 2013
Read, Write, Repeat, and so it plays on
"When the day has come that I am gone, and the memory of my life is but a whisper in the heart of those who remember, let it be written that I dreamt in both the light of day and the dark of night, with love in my eyes and peace in my heart, for all of all."
Read, write, repeat. Read, write, repeat. Read, write, oh shit, I forgot to feed the cat. Read, write, feed the cat, repeat. And so it plays on.
Read: I never planned on writing. Sure, I've always read quite a bit. In fact, the greatest stories I have ever found were the ones sitting lonely on a table, in the books I knew nothing of, but simply, picked up and lived. I have read many of the "so called" classics, though, who is anyone else to decide what is a classic in my eyes? I do not limit myself with genres, as no one genre moves me more than another. While I understand the necessity of it, I find the labels limiting, and that is something I do not care for. A good story has no boundaries, why try and put walls around it? Is that not the death of creativity? I try to keep my mind as open as the book I am reading. Every book, every genre, tells me as much about myself as the story I am living with each page I turn. Perhaps, I am crazy. If so, than I believe you must be a little crazy to stay sane in this world.
Write: I am 38 years young, a family man, no greater in this endeavor of putting words on a page than any other. In fact, with every new book I read, I become more and more convinced that I am terrible at it. Somehow, someway, I have found that others enjoy my suffering, so with tortured satisfaction, I will continue. When I started out writing my first work--Beyond John Dann--I did not live to write. I was writing, because I had lived. My book, my story (which my own life created the foundation for), told itself. My hands on the keys, just the medium to what time and tale had decided to be my destiny. Today, I can not go a moment without a story in my head. My characters, like prisoners in my mind, follow me into every store, engage silently in every conversation, consuming my breathe until their voice is allowed the freedom they deserve. My eyes, the wardens of time and space, capture every scene as they wander beyond reality. Madness! That is what writing is in truth--madness.
Repeat: I am never quite content until I have challenged myself to do something that makes me absolutely miserable until I have achieved it. Every single day, I live the insanity. Every single day, I relive the madness. Every single day, I read, write, and repeat the process. I do not force it, I just do it. It is all with the hope that my books may challenge others to be better people, or perhaps, smile a little easier. Despite all that I write about the struggle, the torture, the lack of confidence, I always smile and lead with kindness. I do it for no other reason than it is the right way to be.
With Kindness, Thurman P. Banks Jr.
Read, write, repeat. Read, write, repeat. Read, write, oh shit, I forgot to feed the cat. Read, write, feed the cat, repeat. And so it plays on.
Read: I never planned on writing. Sure, I've always read quite a bit. In fact, the greatest stories I have ever found were the ones sitting lonely on a table, in the books I knew nothing of, but simply, picked up and lived. I have read many of the "so called" classics, though, who is anyone else to decide what is a classic in my eyes? I do not limit myself with genres, as no one genre moves me more than another. While I understand the necessity of it, I find the labels limiting, and that is something I do not care for. A good story has no boundaries, why try and put walls around it? Is that not the death of creativity? I try to keep my mind as open as the book I am reading. Every book, every genre, tells me as much about myself as the story I am living with each page I turn. Perhaps, I am crazy. If so, than I believe you must be a little crazy to stay sane in this world.
Write: I am 38 years young, a family man, no greater in this endeavor of putting words on a page than any other. In fact, with every new book I read, I become more and more convinced that I am terrible at it. Somehow, someway, I have found that others enjoy my suffering, so with tortured satisfaction, I will continue. When I started out writing my first work--Beyond John Dann--I did not live to write. I was writing, because I had lived. My book, my story (which my own life created the foundation for), told itself. My hands on the keys, just the medium to what time and tale had decided to be my destiny. Today, I can not go a moment without a story in my head. My characters, like prisoners in my mind, follow me into every store, engage silently in every conversation, consuming my breathe until their voice is allowed the freedom they deserve. My eyes, the wardens of time and space, capture every scene as they wander beyond reality. Madness! That is what writing is in truth--madness.
Repeat: I am never quite content until I have challenged myself to do something that makes me absolutely miserable until I have achieved it. Every single day, I live the insanity. Every single day, I relive the madness. Every single day, I read, write, and repeat the process. I do not force it, I just do it. It is all with the hope that my books may challenge others to be better people, or perhaps, smile a little easier. Despite all that I write about the struggle, the torture, the lack of confidence, I always smile and lead with kindness. I do it for no other reason than it is the right way to be.
With Kindness, Thurman P. Banks Jr.
August 23, 2013
Beyond John Dann by Thurman P Banks Jr: A book review
It is hard for me to believe that this review is already five months old. Again, I would just like to thank Charlie Dale for the time he took all those months ago to write this. It was another great act of kindness. Never underestimate them! :)
I spent part of my Spring Break reading Thurman P. Banks Jr.'s new self published book "Beyond John Dann". Let me begin in saying I "met" Thurman on Twitter, I honestly can't remember if I found him or if he found me but, either way we both share a common trait, we're both writers.
Anyhow, Thurman was promoting his new book on Twitter--- "Beyond John Dann" when I approached him and asked if I could buy direct from him and have him sign it-- he did. Know, before anybody gets to thinking there is more here than what I am stating--- there is not. Thurman did not ask me to write a review, and as of this writing Thurman has no idea I am even doing this. I "barely" know Thurman, except for the few e-mails we have exchanged, but if given the chance I would cherish the day I could call Thurman---my best friend.
This is also a first for this blog, where I review a book, but this book-- well it's an exception to the rule and I wanted to share with you, my readers why.
John Dann is the youngest, and also last child of Susan and John Dann Sr. He is also the only boy in a group of five sisters, and the seven of them live in Hayward County, Connecticut. John Sr., or Big John as he was nicknamed, is an alcoholic as well as being an abusive husband and father in the beginning of the story, who is prone to both physical and mental abuse of everyone except John Jr.
Life has a way of moving forward and after some pages into this book, Big John leaves the family high and dry by walking out on all of them—although he was not really there all that much to begin with. In an ironic twist Susan, now on her own with six children to raise, throws all the girls out of the house to fend for themselves and only “keeps” John Jr. at home.
In this midst of this Susan also because the abuser and works here way through a string of men—who John Jr. believes are just “friends”. This string of men woven throughout Susan’s life ends with a man named Austin.
Austin, well he is the character I tend to believe, everyone will hate—unemployed, no ambition, a bit of a bum and we come to learn through the text--- abusive in his own sickening way. While many women would immediately walk away, Susan does everything in her power to--- in the words of Tammy Wynette ---“stand by her man” including mortgage her home, lose her family and go into a tailspin of self-abuse with alcohol and denial.
Alcoholism and drug use, as well trying to quit, the ramifications on a family because of self-abuse and finally the toils self-abuse on the abuser all devastatingly and honestly are discussed here. It is this theme that, in my opinion, that reverberates throughout the entire text. But it is not only about the loss, the hurt, the shame-- this book is also about the hope, the triumph as well as the loss and finally about the growth it takes to become more than “our problems”.
John Sr. on the other hand goes through a metamorphosis in this book and with his outcome, which I do not want to give away, you are left vulnerable and sensitive just like his family is. The girls (sisters), all but one, share their problems with men, marriage, booze, pills and one even later in the text comes out as a lesbian Buddhist.
The majority of this story is John Jr. and his struggle with accepting and acknowledging his own pain, his own loss, and his own addictions and failed relationships. The agony here is very authentic and rips your heart out, where in parts you are left crying as you turn the page. But like John Sr., John Jr. also goes through his own transformation, and we the readers of this text get a painful yet joyful front seat to that glorious transformation.
Thurman P. Banks Jr., weaves sentences like no other--- there are so many quotable passages here that linger in you consciousness—I want to give you an example:
“Mine is a tortured love affair that I have tried to walk away from, but cannot. My destiny has been to walk these roads. Every laugh, every tear, every emotion is another string tying me to this place. But it’s the memory of her dying eyes that hold me with the greatest strength now. Like a spiders prey caught in the web, they hold me, and devour me.”
There is here in this literary narrative an impression that this story “could be” first-hand experience— now I am not saying it or isn’t, that is up to Thurman to share if he wishes to do so--but what this text does is create honesty, vulnerability, openness and an outright frankness that makes you the reader believe that John Dann Jr. exists, his experiences—not unlike other children of alcoholics—has really happened and that Thurman knows John Dunn Jr. like no other human being. Theirs is an exceptionally rare relationship where one can say anything without offending, know everything without walking away and know each other to the core, and still beyond everything be able to deeply love. If we can have that with one other person than we are deeply blessed, and Thurman has been blessed with John Dann Jr.
This book, if you give it a chance, will be life changing. It will give you characters and scenes you will not be able to forget, a book in many ways you will not be able to put down and in all honesty if some big publisher doesn’t pick this up—well it’s an outright damn shame. This is the type of book, in my opinion, could be one of Oprah's Book Club choices and if she hasn't gotten a copy of this I think she should!
Thurman, thank you for incredible gift of “Beyond John Dann” and for sharing his life with us, you were right—you are the only one who can tell this commanding and important story and we your readers thank you very deeply.
Take the opportunity to buy Thurman P. Banks Jr.’s book "Beyond John Dann", follow him on Twitter at @thurman_p and finally take time and curl up with a good book--- preferably his. Posted by Charlie Dale at Monday, April 01, 2013
I spent part of my Spring Break reading Thurman P. Banks Jr.'s new self published book "Beyond John Dann". Let me begin in saying I "met" Thurman on Twitter, I honestly can't remember if I found him or if he found me but, either way we both share a common trait, we're both writers.
Anyhow, Thurman was promoting his new book on Twitter--- "Beyond John Dann" when I approached him and asked if I could buy direct from him and have him sign it-- he did. Know, before anybody gets to thinking there is more here than what I am stating--- there is not. Thurman did not ask me to write a review, and as of this writing Thurman has no idea I am even doing this. I "barely" know Thurman, except for the few e-mails we have exchanged, but if given the chance I would cherish the day I could call Thurman---my best friend.
This is also a first for this blog, where I review a book, but this book-- well it's an exception to the rule and I wanted to share with you, my readers why.
John Dann is the youngest, and also last child of Susan and John Dann Sr. He is also the only boy in a group of five sisters, and the seven of them live in Hayward County, Connecticut. John Sr., or Big John as he was nicknamed, is an alcoholic as well as being an abusive husband and father in the beginning of the story, who is prone to both physical and mental abuse of everyone except John Jr.
Life has a way of moving forward and after some pages into this book, Big John leaves the family high and dry by walking out on all of them—although he was not really there all that much to begin with. In an ironic twist Susan, now on her own with six children to raise, throws all the girls out of the house to fend for themselves and only “keeps” John Jr. at home.
In this midst of this Susan also because the abuser and works here way through a string of men—who John Jr. believes are just “friends”. This string of men woven throughout Susan’s life ends with a man named Austin.
Austin, well he is the character I tend to believe, everyone will hate—unemployed, no ambition, a bit of a bum and we come to learn through the text--- abusive in his own sickening way. While many women would immediately walk away, Susan does everything in her power to--- in the words of Tammy Wynette ---“stand by her man” including mortgage her home, lose her family and go into a tailspin of self-abuse with alcohol and denial.
Alcoholism and drug use, as well trying to quit, the ramifications on a family because of self-abuse and finally the toils self-abuse on the abuser all devastatingly and honestly are discussed here. It is this theme that, in my opinion, that reverberates throughout the entire text. But it is not only about the loss, the hurt, the shame-- this book is also about the hope, the triumph as well as the loss and finally about the growth it takes to become more than “our problems”.
John Sr. on the other hand goes through a metamorphosis in this book and with his outcome, which I do not want to give away, you are left vulnerable and sensitive just like his family is. The girls (sisters), all but one, share their problems with men, marriage, booze, pills and one even later in the text comes out as a lesbian Buddhist.
The majority of this story is John Jr. and his struggle with accepting and acknowledging his own pain, his own loss, and his own addictions and failed relationships. The agony here is very authentic and rips your heart out, where in parts you are left crying as you turn the page. But like John Sr., John Jr. also goes through his own transformation, and we the readers of this text get a painful yet joyful front seat to that glorious transformation.
Thurman P. Banks Jr., weaves sentences like no other--- there are so many quotable passages here that linger in you consciousness—I want to give you an example:
“Mine is a tortured love affair that I have tried to walk away from, but cannot. My destiny has been to walk these roads. Every laugh, every tear, every emotion is another string tying me to this place. But it’s the memory of her dying eyes that hold me with the greatest strength now. Like a spiders prey caught in the web, they hold me, and devour me.”
There is here in this literary narrative an impression that this story “could be” first-hand experience— now I am not saying it or isn’t, that is up to Thurman to share if he wishes to do so--but what this text does is create honesty, vulnerability, openness and an outright frankness that makes you the reader believe that John Dann Jr. exists, his experiences—not unlike other children of alcoholics—has really happened and that Thurman knows John Dunn Jr. like no other human being. Theirs is an exceptionally rare relationship where one can say anything without offending, know everything without walking away and know each other to the core, and still beyond everything be able to deeply love. If we can have that with one other person than we are deeply blessed, and Thurman has been blessed with John Dann Jr.
This book, if you give it a chance, will be life changing. It will give you characters and scenes you will not be able to forget, a book in many ways you will not be able to put down and in all honesty if some big publisher doesn’t pick this up—well it’s an outright damn shame. This is the type of book, in my opinion, could be one of Oprah's Book Club choices and if she hasn't gotten a copy of this I think she should!
Thurman, thank you for incredible gift of “Beyond John Dann” and for sharing his life with us, you were right—you are the only one who can tell this commanding and important story and we your readers thank you very deeply.
Take the opportunity to buy Thurman P. Banks Jr.’s book "Beyond John Dann", follow him on Twitter at @thurman_p and finally take time and curl up with a good book--- preferably his. Posted by Charlie Dale at Monday, April 01, 2013
August 19, 2013
This is why I write!
Letters like the one below are why I wanted to write my story, and why I can't stop writing now that I have begun. I haven't done any free book giveaways here on goodreads, but I have been raffling off copies on my Beyond John Dann FaceBook page. On top of that, I started what I called a "Mystery Copy" giveaway this summer. I left a total of ten copies that were inscribed, "If you have found this book, it was meant to be yours! May joy and happiness follow you always," at the base of a tree, at various sites. I often wondered what happened to those books. Well, I got this message from a local librarian the other day. This, my friends, is what writing is all about to me! Take care!
Hello Mr.Banks,
You don't know me, but it looks as if we have a few mutual friends. I am a librarian at the Groton Public Library and I wanted you to know that a young patron came in the other evening and was raving about your book. He found an autographed copy under a tree in Groton. He went on and on about how much he enjoyed your book and how much it influenced his life. I had known this young man from when he was a younger teenager and for him to even think about reading was a great surprise.
I hope to read it as well!
Anne
Hello Mr.Banks,
You don't know me, but it looks as if we have a few mutual friends. I am a librarian at the Groton Public Library and I wanted you to know that a young patron came in the other evening and was raving about your book. He found an autographed copy under a tree in Groton. He went on and on about how much he enjoyed your book and how much it influenced his life. I had known this young man from when he was a younger teenager and for him to even think about reading was a great surprise.
I hope to read it as well!
Anne
June 30, 2013
Mystic Residents First Novel
“I write because I have lived,” says Thurman P. Banks, Jr.
by Roger Zotti
For Thurman P. Banks, Jr., Beyond John Dann, his debut novel, “isn’t just a book. It is a way of life [and is] about finding hope during troubling times in life—the ones we all face, as well as the ones John Dann faces alone, and that we hope we never have to.” It’s also about “accepting those moments we fail and appreciating the times we succeed, and being thankful for the life we have been given during both.” As you read the novel, you’ll realize you’re being challenged—along with John Dann, the protagonist— to “realize there is wisdom to be gained in every aspect of our lives.”
The Groton resident hopes readers “are inspired by the book” and take from it “the understanding that while the choices we make and the things that happen to us throughout life matter, it’s what we make of those decisions and occurrences that matter the most.” One of the book’s major aims is to push “readers to not only laugh a little easier but to look a little closer and search a little deeper” into their own lives.
While working on his novel, Thurman says, “I learned that I loved writing and have many stories to tell.” He adds that he’s working on a second novel, which should be published in a year. But writing itself “isn’t my greatest passion. Life and the search for a deeper understanding of it are. I don’t live to write. I write because I have lived.” As for authors who have influenced him, he says that “when it comes to reading, I’ll read any genre, any author, and I truly believe that every book has something you can take from it.”
Thurman’s book abounds with exceptional writing—specifically, philosophical insights about life. Here are three examples: First, “I think some people just feel the world more…even the cold harsh injustice it can bring, and without the knowledge that happiness can be made from nothing…” Second, “Admitting your sins to yourself is accepting who you are, admitting them to others is asking for redemption…” Third, “We so often spend our time searching for answers that we allow the questions to linger on, even when faced with the greatest truth—that some things just aren’t ours to know.”
There are also penetrating snapshot-like images of the characters. Of his mother, who fears being alone in life, John tells us, “…she has turned into an irony of madness.” Of his verbally and physically abusive father, a character both despicable and at times admirable, and who perhaps undergoes the novel’s biggest transformation, John says, “…when Dad was drunk and pleasant, he sounded drunk [but] when he was drunk and angry, he sounded sober…”
Set in Hayward, Connecticut, and beginning in the 1970s, John Dann tells his coming-of-age story from the vantage point of an adult who has survived a tumultuous upbringing. A story of survival, the novel is coupled with compassion, forgiveness, and humor. Thought-provoking, inspirational, often heart-wrenching, and written with pristine clarity, “Beyond John Dann” will stay with you long after you’ve read it.
by Roger Zotti
For Thurman P. Banks, Jr., Beyond John Dann, his debut novel, “isn’t just a book. It is a way of life [and is] about finding hope during troubling times in life—the ones we all face, as well as the ones John Dann faces alone, and that we hope we never have to.” It’s also about “accepting those moments we fail and appreciating the times we succeed, and being thankful for the life we have been given during both.” As you read the novel, you’ll realize you’re being challenged—along with John Dann, the protagonist— to “realize there is wisdom to be gained in every aspect of our lives.”
The Groton resident hopes readers “are inspired by the book” and take from it “the understanding that while the choices we make and the things that happen to us throughout life matter, it’s what we make of those decisions and occurrences that matter the most.” One of the book’s major aims is to push “readers to not only laugh a little easier but to look a little closer and search a little deeper” into their own lives.
While working on his novel, Thurman says, “I learned that I loved writing and have many stories to tell.” He adds that he’s working on a second novel, which should be published in a year. But writing itself “isn’t my greatest passion. Life and the search for a deeper understanding of it are. I don’t live to write. I write because I have lived.” As for authors who have influenced him, he says that “when it comes to reading, I’ll read any genre, any author, and I truly believe that every book has something you can take from it.”
Thurman’s book abounds with exceptional writing—specifically, philosophical insights about life. Here are three examples: First, “I think some people just feel the world more…even the cold harsh injustice it can bring, and without the knowledge that happiness can be made from nothing…” Second, “Admitting your sins to yourself is accepting who you are, admitting them to others is asking for redemption…” Third, “We so often spend our time searching for answers that we allow the questions to linger on, even when faced with the greatest truth—that some things just aren’t ours to know.”
There are also penetrating snapshot-like images of the characters. Of his mother, who fears being alone in life, John tells us, “…she has turned into an irony of madness.” Of his verbally and physically abusive father, a character both despicable and at times admirable, and who perhaps undergoes the novel’s biggest transformation, John says, “…when Dad was drunk and pleasant, he sounded drunk [but] when he was drunk and angry, he sounded sober…”
Set in Hayward, Connecticut, and beginning in the 1970s, John Dann tells his coming-of-age story from the vantage point of an adult who has survived a tumultuous upbringing. A story of survival, the novel is coupled with compassion, forgiveness, and humor. Thought-provoking, inspirational, often heart-wrenching, and written with pristine clarity, “Beyond John Dann” will stay with you long after you’ve read it.
Beyond John Dann for book clubs
1. On all appearances Beyond John Dann is the story of one man’s journey to peace and acceptance, but do you feel that there is a story (and or message or objective), beyond the life of John Dann himself? If so, what do you believe that message or objective is?
2. John, as well as the members of his family, suffer several quasi-tragic events leading up to (no spoilers) death, what tragedy did you relate most with, and with what character did you feel the most attached to during it?
3. The story is told entirely from John’s own personal perspective. What is perspective to you, and do you believe it is possible for two people to live the same exact life, with the same memories?
4. Continuing with perspective—Beyond John Dann has been said to be a fictionalized version of the authors own life. In fact, Banks himself calls his own personal experiences the foundation of the story. Yet, if memories and experiences are influenced by sole perspective, can we truly call anything Non-fiction?
5. If John was here with you now, what religion or belief do you think he would label himself with, and why?
6. In a world of constant religious turmoil, where atheist numbers continue to grow, how do you treat those who live with kindness, do their share to help others and promote peace, yet, much like John Dann, do it without God as part of their lives?
7. Banks has called the little girl character his own version of a Jungian dream. What do you think the little girl with the all-seeing eyes symbolizes? Was she real to you, and if so, was she *(sorry,can’t spoil it) all along? If not, who or what was she?
8. What emotions or feelings did the book leave you with?
9. Has the book influenced or affected the way you’ve looked at the world since reading it?
2. John, as well as the members of his family, suffer several quasi-tragic events leading up to (no spoilers) death, what tragedy did you relate most with, and with what character did you feel the most attached to during it?
3. The story is told entirely from John’s own personal perspective. What is perspective to you, and do you believe it is possible for two people to live the same exact life, with the same memories?
4. Continuing with perspective—Beyond John Dann has been said to be a fictionalized version of the authors own life. In fact, Banks himself calls his own personal experiences the foundation of the story. Yet, if memories and experiences are influenced by sole perspective, can we truly call anything Non-fiction?
5. If John was here with you now, what religion or belief do you think he would label himself with, and why?
6. In a world of constant religious turmoil, where atheist numbers continue to grow, how do you treat those who live with kindness, do their share to help others and promote peace, yet, much like John Dann, do it without God as part of their lives?
7. Banks has called the little girl character his own version of a Jungian dream. What do you think the little girl with the all-seeing eyes symbolizes? Was she real to you, and if so, was she *(sorry,can’t spoil it) all along? If not, who or what was she?
8. What emotions or feelings did the book leave you with?
9. Has the book influenced or affected the way you’ve looked at the world since reading it?
