Depression Carpenter

by Java Davis

Depression Carpenter: A Road Trip through the Gulf States during The Great Depression
A young man, Jackson "Jake" Ferry, born into a privileged New York family, loses them in a car accident. Young and wealthy, he needs to justify his existence during The Great Depression. He is skilled in carpentry and drives around the Gulf of Mexico, working on building projects with his peculiar friend and partner from Florida, Chin, who has cheerfully abandoned his family in favor of an adventure. Together, they travel an amazing road trip, helping poor folks along the way, repairing their homes and their lives. From St. Augustine, Florida, through the Gulf states of Alabama, and Mississippi, Jake and Chin travel together as a team. A falling out parts the men in Louisiana. Jake stops in the capitol city of Baton Rouge to take care of some financial business. He realizes that he can run forever from his responsibilities as a wealthy man. Eventually, Jake lands in Galveston, where he stays to help rebuild the island after their first Great Flood, building an inter-racial school for the island's orphans. Retracing his steps, Jake reconnects with Chin in Vaughanville, Alabama, and head back to St. Augustine together. The road trip comes to an end with Jake back in New York City, an older and wiser man with an internal compass guiding his path.

Genres: Historical Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 2011

About the author

Java Davis spent fifteen years in the printing and marketing fields. After retiring early due to a disability, she turned to writing books as a way to work at home. A perpetual wanderer earlier in life, she draws heavily on a lifetime of diverse locales, unusual experiences and varied friendships.

Awards:
"Three of my books, On Becoming a Dinosaur, Triptych, and Metal, have all won 5-star medallions from the Readers' Favorite website. The New Apple Literary site awarded a Top Honors medallion to my book, Commune, in the Humor category. Cowgirl is a CIPA EVVY Bronze winner, Fiction-Westerns category. I know what they mean when they say: 'I'm proud, but I'm humble, too.'"

Like road trips? So does Java Davis. Check out her website, www.theroadtripwriter.com to see what other road trippers are reading, writing, or "tripping."

Reviews

[Wendy]

"Depression Carpenter" which I won through Goodreads Giveaways is the beautifully-written nostalgic journey of a young man after his family's tragically killed in a car accident. Feeling privileged after a stock market crash that caused so much suffering and despair,he sets aside the trappings of wealth to work as an itinerant carpenter as he searches for purpose to his life and channels his anger and disillusionment into doing good.

In an era marked by poverty, hunger, desperation and hopelessness after the Great Depression, Jackson (Jake) Ferry drives around the Gulf of Mexico with his footloose friend Chin working on construction projects that help the poor. What he discovers in the adventure transforms him into a wiser man with a new purpose in life.

In this plot Jake shares his experiences as he searches for God's plan for his life amid an historical period of unrest, racial prejudice and even through climatic disturbances that wreak havoc on the Texas landscape. Through the narrative, dialogue and letters the reader gains an appreciation for the people he encounters in his travels; like the warm and humble Pastor Abraham and his wife Loretta who offer him not only affection but a stabilizing influence in contrast to the tepid love of his affluent family. Although the backdrop of the tale can be dismal at times there are heartwarming moments filled with the courage and resilience of a young man and his friends who are determined to make a difference.

As the road trip progresses Jake transforms from a floundering, misguided young adult haunted by the guilt of being privileged to a man who feels responsible for using his wealth to undo some of the suffering of the poor including building an interracial orphanage which he names after the Bell family. All the characters add to the drama, energy and human interest of a novella that's inspiring and captivating.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Depression Carpenter", a short story that I couldn't put down and highly recommend.

[Darlene Craviotto · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great cinematic read! It reminded me a little of the Preston Sturges' film "Sullivan's Travels" – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034240/. I do think that Hollywood would want to "pump up" the plot to make the stakes higher in the story. Of course that would always depend upon the filmmaker. There are many more independent (i.e. smaller) films being produced nowadays as a labor of love, and DEPRESSION CARPENTER would definitely fall into that category. It was definitely a good read, and the author's research on that period of time (the Depression) was excellent. In these economic times, this is a book that certainly speaks to us all. I see that Java Davis has written two other books (TRIPTYCH and COWGIRL) and I'm eager to read these two titles next.

[Lance Morcan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read!


Of DEPRESSION CARPENTER, the author says, “It's a journey I wish I could have taken, and I'm pleased to share it with others.” Having read this journey of self discovery, this reviewer can totally relate to those sentiments.

Nostalgic, beautifully written and totally believable, this is (recent) historical fiction at its best. It’s high concept, too…a road trip like none other: a veritable ride through the Great Depression.

For those who enjoy adventure and a darned good tale, this is a must-read! A worthy five stars.

[T. A. Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake Ferry is a young New Yorker born to money and privilege. Shortly after the great stock market crash of 1929, his family is killed in an automobile accident, and Jake is left in charge of the family fortune in an age when millions are unemployed and standing in the breadlines. After grudgingly graduating from Princeton because it is what is expected of him, Jake sets aside his posh lifestyle to travel to the South where he can learn how the majority live and alleviate his strong sense of guilt at being on top of the capitalist paradigm by putting his secret love of carpentry to good use in rebuilding the impoverished, hurricane-afflicted lands of the sort of people he has always been warned not to associate with. A road-trip via a Ford station wagon ensues across the Gulf Coast beginning in St. Augustine, Florida, and travelling west all the way to Galveston, Texas, during which Jake’s heart grows just enough to bear a sincere love for all of the families he encounters, as well as his own dearly departed.

Java Davis’s Depression Carpenter is a beautifully rendered travel guide, not only of location, but of time itself. The author’s descriptive powers are significant and perfectly relevant for the contemporary reader in describing a region that has in recent years again suffered from damage both economic and hurricane-induced. If intended for a traditional, full-length novel, the characterization of Jake might have felt somewhat flat, but instead of being formulaic, Davis has opted for a protagonist who performs his acts with a great deal of conscience. Jake is not the typical rich-kid forced to face the harsh reality that his opulent lifestyle comes at the cost of others’ penury; rather, his ultimate growth as a person comes in accepting his lost family and his own place within society. In the end, Jake discovers more than just how to be comfortable in his own skin. He realizes that the best place from which to help his fellow man is wherever he happens to find himself located.

[Julie Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book by the author for an honest review.

As a reviewer as well as an author, I don't always no what to expect, however, this story was both historically informative and enjoyable.

Written in the first person, almost like a diary format, we follow the main character, Jackson, born of rich parents who have been killed in a car crash. Jackson speaks of guilt, born of being a survivor of that crash, where too his sister dies.

In a state of bitterness and depression, Jackson embarks on a journey taking him across America during the terrible time of the Depression in the 30s.

I don't give spoilers but will say that this tale is well written, and is filled with interesting characters and points of view, and I liked the way it was a clever mix of history and a personal journey.

[Ginger Myrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Depression Carpenter is a work of 20th century historical fiction written in a homey manner reminiscent of John Steinbeck or Pat Conroy. It is a quick, sweet, delightful read about Jake Ferry, a well-to-do young man who loses his entire family in an automobile accident. He sets off on an undercover journey, attempting to discover some purpose to his life. The author’s narrative style attests to the fact that not every page of a book has to be filled with dialogue for the reader to connect with the characters or enjoy the tale. It left me satisfied and with a sense of hope that there are still people in the world like the extraordinary protagonist Java Davis has brought to life with her fabulous storytelling ability.

[Yannick Serres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honesty, modesty and kindness are some qualities not everyone can afford. This short story of Jake and his friend prove that it doesn't take much to be happy and make some people happy. Money isn't not the only thing important in life and this book shows it. A road-trip like this one, I'm in. It's probable the best learning you can get in life, way better than school.
The book could have been a little longer, but it's well written. Nice story and it met his goal, it touched me.

Thanks to Java Davis for the giveaway
First reader winner

Yannick Serres (your favorite french quebecer reviewer!)

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t let the title put you off – this is a quirky short story of Jake – a man who sets off on a two year hike around the deep South just after the great Depression. His family has been killed and after inheriting a fortune, he decides to ‘find ‘ his purpose in life and discovers a talent for carpentry. I enjoyed the characters and the portrayal of the prejudices and bigotry of the time. I enjoyed the fact that his purpose has to be through finding God rather less so. Nevertheless this is a well written story and ‘Chin’ really is a character who stays with you.