‘Oskaloosa Moon’ by Gary Sutton
Gary Sutton's Oskaloosa Moon
I had the opportunity to read a new book by Gary Sutton titled ‘Oskaloosa Moon’.
The story is fictional, but comes from the experiences of what many kids with challenges had when growing up in the late 50’s and beyond.
The character ‘Moon’ has many experiences in his life, growing up in small town Iowa, with those around him trying to make the right decisions for him. Forrest Gump would be something many could relate this to, but I found it excitingly different.
“The powers that be,” Mr. Scarletti said, “think it’s better for Oskaloosa that you not be in the public eye.” – Oskaloosa Moon.
It seems to be a profound tide that ‘Moon’ battles his entire life. He moves through life meeting and interacting with many on his adventure that brings moments of triumph and utter despair all, it seems, within just moments.
“I have always admired you Moon. My life has been far easier than yours, being born to a respected family, well-educated and physically impressive. You, on the other hand, have an embarrassing birth, look disgusting and cannot possibly hope to get a university education.” – Doctor Throckmorton / Oskaloosa Moon
Moving on in life, ‘Moon’ meets and interacts with many people on his adventure that is life. Being loved and respected and looking for acceptance all the while having to overcome odds that would break most wills. It’s a story that gives hope to all of us that feel we are climbing up hill every day, and that we are not alone. It then drives that point home when tough times come, that ‘Moon’ is not so different than many of us.
Eventually his return to his roots, after conquering so much adversity, goes rough for ‘Moon’ in a story that will get your attention early and hang on to you well after reading this. Your emotions will need a “time out” once you have completed this book.
If you’re hoping this story is based in Oskaloosa itself, you will be disappointed. Although, you will get a strange sense of familiarity as many towns named in ‘Moons’ life and adventures will be familiar for Sutton did live in Oskaloosa, but this story takes place in, what is obviously, a smaller town than even Oskaloosa is. This would probably be done to help protect those that could be identified in this work. Even with it being a work of fiction, most writers base characters and places off of real world experiences.
About the author:
Sutton was born in Montezuma, Iowa. He then grew up in Sac City, Oskaloosa, Eagle Grove, Iowa Falls, Britt, Ames and Marshalltown.
Sutton lived in Oskaloosa during Kindergarten into Second Grade.
Some of his memories of Osky include “We had an ice man who delivered with a leather apron over his back, tongs and an icepick to make it fit in our icebox.”
Sutton remembers living in a duplex on North Market and school was just a couple of blocks North. “Mrs. Andersen had us cut out paper houses in Kindergarten. Mrs. Peterson taught us to read and the first word I read was “fly” for some reason. And, the girl who was younger and lived in the other unit had worms so I couldn’t share the soap bubble pipe with her and her dad was a coal miner. He got his toe chopped off by a shovel one day and that caused a neighborhood commotion.” Sutton remembers of his time in Oskaloosa.
“I also remember the paper printing in Oskaloosa; it seemed that back then it was on main street and had a big window where you could see it running and folding.” Sutton stated in remembering his time spent in Oskaloosa.
He also remembers going to a boxing match with his Dad, watching “Two Ton Tony” box that night. “Oskaloosa was the first town I was in with a father around.” Sutton’s father was in the Navy and gone most times.
Sutton now lives in La Jolla, California with his wife Nancy. The couple met in 1961 at Iowa State. He currently sits on the boards of Websense, IQinVision, AgileNanoTech, LightSource Renewables, Social Fabric and Pascal’s Pocket. As a divisional director of Honeywell, Sutton authorized and directed the development of autofocus. During his professional career, Sutton has been the CEO or VP of several different companies, with most of them being acquired by other companies along the way.
Sutton also co-founded 2 other companies, Teledesic which Bill Gates bought. Later, Sutton co-founded @Backup which Symantec acquired.
Sutton has also been a columnist for Forbes.com, a contributor to the Wall Street Journal and Fortune and interviews by CBS Evening News, Lou Dobbs, Air America and NPR.
Thanks to Gary for sending me his work, I enjoyed it greatly and would recommend it to those looking for an interesting and unique story. If your interested in buying this book, there are Paperback and Kindle editions on Amazon.com.
