What do you think?
The Solomon Twist
Twin sons of different fathers?
Sure, the chances are slim and none. But to Mazel McDonald, it sounds like a good idea at the time.
Kirkus Reviews hailed Dan Hammond Jr.'s debut novel DELBERT JUDD as, "lighthearted and funny...explor(ing) substantial issues, which gives it poignancy and weight." His latest effort, THE SOLOMON TWIST, is similar in tone yet carries a unique picaresque glory that leaves readers laughing out loud one minute and with a lump in their throat the next.
In the west Texas town of Solomon in 1965, Mazel doesn't have many options being unwed, pregnant, and unemployed--due to being unwed and pregnant. When she finds herself in early labor with two men laying claim to the title of father, an unexpected situation arises. Mazel discovers she is having twins.
Jump to 1991 when Mazel's husband, known as Daddy Two, is found dead in their living room. Who shot Daddy Two? That question acts as a loose backdrop throughout the novel as suspects come to the forefront. But deeper questions of identity, reunion, and recovery gain traction, transforming the story into one of self-realization and redemption.
Combining humor, exuberance, and an incisive poignancy, THE SOLOMON TWIST is packed with characters who are insightful, clueless, sensitive, and cynical. With two mysteries unsolved until the final pages, Hammond masterfully weaves a tale that leaves readers both satisfied and not wanting to leave the people of Solomon, Texas.
Who killed Daddy Two? The more important question becomes: who's your Daddy?
Sure, the chances are slim and none. But to Mazel McDonald, it sounds like a good idea at the time.
Kirkus Reviews hailed Dan Hammond Jr.'s debut novel DELBERT JUDD as, "lighthearted and funny...explor(ing) substantial issues, which gives it poignancy and weight." His latest effort, THE SOLOMON TWIST, is similar in tone yet carries a unique picaresque glory that leaves readers laughing out loud one minute and with a lump in their throat the next.
In the west Texas town of Solomon in 1965, Mazel doesn't have many options being unwed, pregnant, and unemployed--due to being unwed and pregnant. When she finds herself in early labor with two men laying claim to the title of father, an unexpected situation arises. Mazel discovers she is having twins.
Jump to 1991 when Mazel's husband, known as Daddy Two, is found dead in their living room. Who shot Daddy Two? That question acts as a loose backdrop throughout the novel as suspects come to the forefront. But deeper questions of identity, reunion, and recovery gain traction, transforming the story into one of self-realization and redemption.
Combining humor, exuberance, and an incisive poignancy, THE SOLOMON TWIST is packed with characters who are insightful, clueless, sensitive, and cynical. With two mysteries unsolved until the final pages, Hammond masterfully weaves a tale that leaves readers both satisfied and not wanting to leave the people of Solomon, Texas.
Who killed Daddy Two? The more important question becomes: who's your Daddy?
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 17, 2015
About the author
Dan Hammond Jr.
3 books12 followersCombining humor and quirky characters with an incisive poignancy, Dan Hammond Jr. takes on meaningful questions within the fictional setting of Solomon, Texas. Dan Hammond Jr. attended the Iowa Writers’ Workshop under the direction of Frank Conroy. His short stories and reviews have been published in Fiction Quarterly, Southwestern American Literature, The Tampa Tribune, DFW Newspapers, and the short story compilation ICE. He received a 1997 Umana Award for Fiction. Hammond's debut novel DELBERT JUDD is described by Kirkus Reviews as "lighthearted and funny thanks to the humor of oddball Delbert, but it also explores some substantial issues, which gives it poignancy and weight." Pulitzer-winning editor Stuart Warner writes, "Hammond has created a rich, textured character, and built a wonderful story around him." Dan lives in Denton, Texas, with his wife, Sandra, and his sons, Tyler and Travis.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 20, 2015
Note: I was provided with a copy of this book from the author for review.
Following a strange series of events, this story follows Mazel, her boys, and the town of Solomon from the 1960s to the early 1990s. There is no gradual progression through the decades, from introductions and scene setting in the 1960s the story jumps to the 1990s where the main narrative kicks off.
I quite liked that this story was different and unconventional. The whodunit aspect was there and there were other mysteries to solve all wrapped up in this strange town with strange people, but Hammond uses this unusualness to his advantage and it works rather well.
The town of Solomon is filled with a range of people who are strange in their own way. Each character is unique and likable, even with their peculiarities and misguided moral compasses. There are a few characters to keep track of but they each fill their role and fall into place easily enough. Some characters also get more attention and depth than others but it’s not a real problem, Hammond writes it so it’s easy to gain an understanding of who these characters are and sometimes the little that is given is more than enough.
These strange characters and the odd way they live their lives are what make this novel. The interactions and connections between everyone also makes this work because it becomes a mixture of everyone’s lives, intentions, and self-interests, with this apparent murder to solve on top of that while still keeping everyone’s arrangements in place. Deals are made, situations are bargained, and everyone is in it for themselves.
Given the pretence and set up I was expecting the death of Mazel’s husband to be a bigger focus, but surprisingly it becomes second to the wants and interests of others. I love how Hammond has constructed this and put this story together because it doesn’t go where you expect and yet it is oddly fascinating at the same time.
The conclusion is where Hammond’s true skills shine. There are moments when you think you are going to finish the book unsatisfied but suddenly everything comes together, things happen and pieces fall into place that provide a turning point not just for the story but for the characters as well, all the while maintaining the little eccentricities that have been present from the start.
This will certainly not disappoint as a whodunit, albeit in an unconventional manner, and the mysteries of fathers, and all the other quirkiness that goes on in Solomon makes this a read that is much more than it appears.
A longer version of this review was posted on my blog https://lostinagoodbk.wordpress.com/2...
Following a strange series of events, this story follows Mazel, her boys, and the town of Solomon from the 1960s to the early 1990s. There is no gradual progression through the decades, from introductions and scene setting in the 1960s the story jumps to the 1990s where the main narrative kicks off.
I quite liked that this story was different and unconventional. The whodunit aspect was there and there were other mysteries to solve all wrapped up in this strange town with strange people, but Hammond uses this unusualness to his advantage and it works rather well.
The town of Solomon is filled with a range of people who are strange in their own way. Each character is unique and likable, even with their peculiarities and misguided moral compasses. There are a few characters to keep track of but they each fill their role and fall into place easily enough. Some characters also get more attention and depth than others but it’s not a real problem, Hammond writes it so it’s easy to gain an understanding of who these characters are and sometimes the little that is given is more than enough.
These strange characters and the odd way they live their lives are what make this novel. The interactions and connections between everyone also makes this work because it becomes a mixture of everyone’s lives, intentions, and self-interests, with this apparent murder to solve on top of that while still keeping everyone’s arrangements in place. Deals are made, situations are bargained, and everyone is in it for themselves.
Given the pretence and set up I was expecting the death of Mazel’s husband to be a bigger focus, but surprisingly it becomes second to the wants and interests of others. I love how Hammond has constructed this and put this story together because it doesn’t go where you expect and yet it is oddly fascinating at the same time.
The conclusion is where Hammond’s true skills shine. There are moments when you think you are going to finish the book unsatisfied but suddenly everything comes together, things happen and pieces fall into place that provide a turning point not just for the story but for the characters as well, all the while maintaining the little eccentricities that have been present from the start.
This will certainly not disappoint as a whodunit, albeit in an unconventional manner, and the mysteries of fathers, and all the other quirkiness that goes on in Solomon makes this a read that is much more than it appears.
A longer version of this review was posted on my blog https://lostinagoodbk.wordpress.com/2...
June 3, 2015
The Solomon Twist is a story about a lot of different people, well mostly one family, from a small fictional Texas town. There's an interesting paternity dispute that is resolved with a strange arrangement. The daddy compromise promises to be a win-win for everyone, but in reality makes them all losers. The book as a quasi murder mystery middle, but wraps up with some satisfying family dynamics. If it sounds vague it's because I'm trying my hardest not to give spoilers.
While there's a lot happening in this twisty plot, the beauty is in the words themselves. Solomon Twist has a southern literary flair with some great humor mixed in. I can't peg a genre, and that's okay. I was drawn into the thick language and complex character relationships and I got those things in spades. A few times while reading I had to set the book in my lap and just exhale after a perfectly delivered line of dialogue, or a metaphor that carries through so perfectly it needed time to be admired.
If you're looking for a gem of a book that's different from what you're reading now (I can only assume), pick it up.
March 29, 2018
won this book through Goodreads giveaway.
Can twin boys have two different fathers? This is the question that drives this story. The boys refer to the two men as daddy 1 and daddy 2 throughout the book. Add a gambling addiction, a murder mystery, and a crooked lawman to the mix. This is probably not everyone's cup of tea, although I enjoyed it.
Can twin boys have two different fathers? This is the question that drives this story. The boys refer to the two men as daddy 1 and daddy 2 throughout the book. Add a gambling addiction, a murder mystery, and a crooked lawman to the mix. This is probably not everyone's cup of tea, although I enjoyed it.
October 3, 2016
Insightful, humorous peek into a town everyone knows
A thoughtful yet hilarious look at small town America in the waning days of rural life. Solomon is that place outside every big city just too far for an evening out but close enough you've stopped by on a day trip to witness their antiquated rituals held on an equally antiquated town square. Real characters painted with masterful strokes, if you happen to live in a town like this, you'll see your neighbors, your friends, your old high school nemesis. An excellent follow up to his debut, Delbert, if you are looking for small town charm and an insightful, funny peek beneath the veneer, I highly recommend this series.
A thoughtful yet hilarious look at small town America in the waning days of rural life. Solomon is that place outside every big city just too far for an evening out but close enough you've stopped by on a day trip to witness their antiquated rituals held on an equally antiquated town square. Real characters painted with masterful strokes, if you happen to live in a town like this, you'll see your neighbors, your friends, your old high school nemesis. An excellent follow up to his debut, Delbert, if you are looking for small town charm and an insightful, funny peek beneath the veneer, I highly recommend this series.
March 8, 2015
This book is not how I imagined it to be -- it was better! Yes, I admit I did a bit of pre-judging by the cover and description and am happy to say the book was different to how I thought it would be.
After receiving my copy through the Goodreads Giveaway, I finished reading a couple of other books first and settled down to "The Solomon Twist".
It is a "who dunnit" with a twist -- "The Solomon Twist. :-)
The characters are likeable, but imperfect, making it easy to relate to them, though not perhaps to their unique set of circumstances.
After receiving my copy through the Goodreads Giveaway, I finished reading a couple of other books first and settled down to "The Solomon Twist".
It is a "who dunnit" with a twist -- "The Solomon Twist. :-)
The characters are likeable, but imperfect, making it easy to relate to them, though not perhaps to their unique set of circumstances.
April 13, 2015
Naturally conceived twins born at the same time but with different fathers known as Daddy One and Daddy Two? The Solomon Twist is certainly a novel worth considering if you are looking for something that bit different.
Unrolling over a twenty five year period with a plot that saw plenty of twists and turns and a myriad of big characters, at less than three hundred pages I felt this was a relatively short read that perhaps could have either done without so many threads to the story OR could have been that bit longer.
Billed as 'with laugh out loud humor'. I think humour is such a personal thing anyway and its all too easy for it to be lost amongst different peoples and cultures. Whilst I'm not saying this was a novel without humour, I certainly found myself chuckling out loud on several occasions, I did however worry that the differences between the American sense of humour and the British was telling.
Expecting the whole 'Daddy One/Two' thing to be the thing that would make the story for me what I wasn't expecting was to be so taken by a 'romance'. Quirky, unconventional, somewhat telling of the age we live in? and yet oddly sweet, I became totally engrossed in Vic and Margo's story.
Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper.
Disclaimer: Received for review from the author, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.
Unrolling over a twenty five year period with a plot that saw plenty of twists and turns and a myriad of big characters, at less than three hundred pages I felt this was a relatively short read that perhaps could have either done without so many threads to the story OR could have been that bit longer.
Billed as 'with laugh out loud humor'. I think humour is such a personal thing anyway and its all too easy for it to be lost amongst different peoples and cultures. Whilst I'm not saying this was a novel without humour, I certainly found myself chuckling out loud on several occasions, I did however worry that the differences between the American sense of humour and the British was telling.
Expecting the whole 'Daddy One/Two' thing to be the thing that would make the story for me what I wasn't expecting was to be so taken by a 'romance'. Quirky, unconventional, somewhat telling of the age we live in? and yet oddly sweet, I became totally engrossed in Vic and Margo's story.
Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper.
Disclaimer: Received for review from the author, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.
December 20, 2015
Not my cup of tea. Didn't finish.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews