The Book of James

The poems in Eric Wayne Dickey's The Book of James tell the story of a brother who burned brightly and died young. Through faded memories and dim reflections, Dickey continues to relive his relationship with his brother long after his untimely death. In the book, he writes to people and places named James as if they were his brother himself, James Brown, Jesse James, Jim Morrison, and many more. By combining characteristics of the subject James with details about his brother's life, Dickey weaves together a narrative that speaks to the oftentimes fraught nature of sibling relationships, the highs and lows, joys and sorrows, all together at once. The book will appeal to many readers who've had difficult family members. Using a diverse American cultural identity as a canvas, The Book of James explores the depths of grief and brings the reader to a place of understanding and acceptance.