Generations

Generations #1

by John Reinhard Dizon

Based on the life of West Texas pioneer J.D. "Big John" Sanders, Generations is a celebration of Irish heritage, a story of indomitable spirit and unfailing vision, and of relentless pursuit of the American dream.

After a whirlwind romance with the formidable Nora Brooks, Big John forges a cattle town in the rugged West Texas frontier during World War I. Thirty years later, Marion Kidd Sanders journeys to New York in pursuit of fame and fortune — and brings the family name to new heights.

A historical family saga that spans a millennia, Generations takes you deep into the lives of one family, from their beginnings in medieval Ireland, through to Boston, Texas and modern-day New York.



★★★★★ - "I recommend Generations to anyone interested in Irish history and epic family tales. A beautiful story of heartbreak and perseverance."

★★★★★ - "Grand, ambitious storytelling all the way. A crisp, well-researched and well-edited read."

★★★★★ - "A must-read slice of Irish-American history."

Genres: Historical Fiction

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2014

About the author

John Reinhard Dizon was born and raised in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn, NY. He participated in local and high school sports at Bishop Loughlin MHS, excelling in wrestling, hockey and football. The lead vocalist of the Spoiler and the Ducky Boys, he was a key figure on the Brooklyn rock scene during the Punk Revolution of the 70's. Relocating to San Antonio TX in the 80's, he moonlighted as a pro wrestler while working as a legal assistant. He successfully pursued a BA at UTSA and degrees in Korean martial arts during the 90's. He currently lives in KC MO where he is studying for his MA in English at UMKC. Mr. Dizon has been studying and writing about Irish history for over twenty-five years.

Reviews

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Generations tells the tale of the different generations of an Irish family from the tenth century to their move to America, then to the last of the Texan frontier and then back to the East coast and New York City with its Irish and Italian mobs. The men always seem to be on the fringes of somehow being involved in feats of strength, war, and fights. If you want to watch a family change over the centuries, this is your book. While the writing is excellent, one thing bothered me. He made San Antonio a frontier town in the 1913 to 1918. It wasn’t, nor was it anywhere near the Western part of Texas as it is in the South central part of the state and the oldest city in Texas. Odessa or Pecos would have been located nearer the western farm land of that era.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is an epic adventure that carries the reader back to Ireland and then through the generations as this family saga is brought to life. It is a pleasure and an honor to be able to into a family's past. Your heart aches with their sorrows and rises with their happiness. You forget that this story is a family you don't know. As you read this wonderful story you begin to feel you are a part of the family and as you come to know the characters you feel like you are fighting and struggling along with them. Thanks John for taking readers on this great and personal journey through the generations.

[Chris Birdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Generations by John Reinhard Dizon is one of those books that is destined to become a classic. Following the Sanders family from the medieval Irish wars to Texas and then New York, was an unforgettable experience. The reader becomes part of the family sharing the joys and sorrows of the Sanders over a thousand years. This is a book that anyone who has even a spot of Irish blood will treasure and hold in his or her heart. John Reinhard Dizon brought Ireland and its history alive in this remarkable story. This book is a must read.

[Andrea Parks · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first part of the book was really good, but once it hit the 20th century it read like a bad romance without any romance. The characters are dull and I had to force myself to finish the book.

[Marcha Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has done some genealogical research I was totally enamored by this wonderful family saga that follows several generations of an Irish family named Sanders starting back in 1014 A.D. The characters and historical descriptions are impeccable and draw you into each era and the struggles of those particular times while also showing how human nature doesn’t change, that our needs for love and security have been the same for centuries. From 11th century Ireland to 18th century Boston and 20th century Texas and NYC, the settings are expertly rendered and plunge you into the culture of the day. Dizon’s dialog is always smooth and convincing, his ability to convey accents and personality always making you feel as if you are sitting in on the conversation. Exceptionally well-written, I continue to be amazed at the author’s ability to excel in every genre he pursues by adapting his style like a literary chameleon to the work at hand. No matter what genre is your favorite, rest assured that Dizon has tackled it at one time or another and it will be a good read.Generations

[Rhoda D'Ettore · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the opening deathbed scene of a grandfather sharing his last few moments with his grandson, this book captures the reader! Just in the first few chapters alone, we find heretics, Vikings, war, family pride, and superstition! A wonderful speech given by the king rallies his people together to fight, while opposing peoples fight to prevent being dominated by others.

This author gives us a balance of dialogue, description, thought and action-- making this quite the entertaining read! He has a great way of producing real to life characters with such statements as, "“I could not care if he was in the Land of the Leprechauns, it would make me no less concerned over his well-being." Another line said something to the affect of "I'll cut out your eyes and feed them to my hog". Simply a great and entertaining read!

There are no grammatical errors, the flow and style is quite entertaining which created another page turner by this author. Whether you enjoy action, historical, family sagas, this is the book for you!

[BC Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This epic story is a must read for "the Irish", not only in America, but anywhere the descendants of the middle ages Ireland can be found. It's a story of enlightenment; a living history. Form 1014AD onward, covering the wars with Vikings and all the struggles a people must endure to survive.

The Sanders' family story could almost be considered "our" story; those of us that are of Irish heritage.

This is a quote from "Generations" that I admire greatly. I believe in it's truth.

“The men in this family have fought for Ireland since the days of old. We may not have won every war, but we left every battlefield with our heads held high. Even when there hasn’t been a war declared, we’ve taken the side of the weak and defenseless"

I recommend this book highly, and even if you are not Irish, you will appreciate John Dizon's writing skill. -His ability to bring his characters to life.

[Jim Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Dizon is one of those unsung authors who cranks out amazingly well written stories as if it were as easy as cooking an egg. Having previously read 'Tiara', a near masterpiece that I couldn't put down, I was very much looking forward to cracking open 'Generations'. It's a well titled book, as it is a saga of a family through nearly a thousand years of history. Dizon's gritty, down-to-earth prose is smooth and never intrusive, a welcome addition to such a robust tale.

The book spans over 1000 years of one Irish family's history. It reminded me at times of the novel 'Roots', but Generations may be more accessible to modern day readers. As a fan of movies like 'Far and Away' and 'Gangs of New York', I love learning about Irish culture and generations past. This book is a crisp, well-researched and very well-edited read that should provide those looking for an engrossing read several hours of entertainment. Bravo once again, Mr. Dizon!

[Chris Birdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Generations by John Reinhard Dizon is one of those books that is destined to become a classic. Following the Sanders family from the medieval Irish wars to Texas and then New York, was an unforgettable experience. The reader becomes part of the family sharing the joys and sorrows of the Sanders over a thousand years. This is a book that anyone who has even a spot of Irish blood will treasure and hold in his or her heart. John Reinhard Dizon brought Ireland and its history alive in this remarkable story. This book is a must read.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could not put it down, although the last section boggs down a bit.