On the surface, Jason Garey’s Geauxing Galt is a great “rags to riches” story about a likeable, hard-working everyman that makes it big.
You dig a little deeper and you have a story about good vs. evil. Wyatt Bourgeouis, a character in the vein of Horatio Alger, spends his life preparing to take on corrupt politicians like Harry Maddow. Wyatt becomes a self-made billionaire thanks to hard work and determination. But he risks losing it all to Harry, a man who has been given everything in life.
But there is so much more to the story. It is a treatise on government and the way it interacts with its people. It is political discourse wrapped up in a crafty narrative with some serious Libertarian themes.
Let’s start with the characters. Garey does a great developing them; they have depth and are certainly dynamic in every sense of the term. The protagonist/antagonist relationship is clear and helps move the plot throughout the story. There is plenty of conflict, whether it is Wyatt working towards his dreams or Harry trying to destroy them.
Garey does a nice job with regional dialect, creating real-life conversation that helps move the story along. The setting is easily recreated and shows the fondness the author has for the area.
The events of the story help drive home a message on government, economics, and the environment. It honestly was a book I couldn’t put down and I finished it quickly because it was thought-provoking and questioned many aspects of American society.
Personally I am not a big fan of politics of any kind, but Garey makes those discussions accessible. The key to reading this text is having an open mind. Whether you agree with his views and opinions, it is a great story that many will enjoy.
And the best part is the author is one of the good guys in professional soccer. You might say that a guy that kicks a ball around for a living might not have the tools to write a book. But this is Jason Garey, a great striker that brings passion and enthusiasm for both the pitch and the page. Someone with a bright future as an author or whatever he puts his mind to.
