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Eye of the Diamond-T
Nick Pente’s life has just crashed.
It’s early dawn in the winter of 1957. He’s hanging from the edge of legendary Route 66 in Northern Arizona, suspended over the snow-covered rails below. He shudders behind the steering wheel of his Diamond-T semi-truck, its enormous engine still humming. It dangles by no more than a splinter from an icy railroad bridge. As the Santa Fe Super Chief approaches below, he hears the horn blast. The bridge shakes. Nick watches and waits.
He is aware.
Somewhere behind him are those two men in the black Mercury. They had tailed him for his last thousand miles down the main street of America. For what? Why? Nick only knows is that he must not let his self-awareness fade. He must not let his psychological “dead spot” take him down. Not now.
“I am aware. I am Nick Pente. I am aware” he softly repeats to no one.
The train nears, the truck tips downward, and the timeline explodes. Then, the adventure begins. Nick will learn more about the world that betrayed him and his own identity than he ever before imagined.
“Bill LaBrie has crafted a lyrical hero’s journey, with rich characters and vivid descriptions worthy of Stephen King at his best. Eye of the Diamond T is a magical and thrilling adventure that spans the years and ventures into the depths of human consciousness.”—Sean Ellis, author of Fortune Favors
It’s early dawn in the winter of 1957. He’s hanging from the edge of legendary Route 66 in Northern Arizona, suspended over the snow-covered rails below. He shudders behind the steering wheel of his Diamond-T semi-truck, its enormous engine still humming. It dangles by no more than a splinter from an icy railroad bridge. As the Santa Fe Super Chief approaches below, he hears the horn blast. The bridge shakes. Nick watches and waits.
He is aware.
Somewhere behind him are those two men in the black Mercury. They had tailed him for his last thousand miles down the main street of America. For what? Why? Nick only knows is that he must not let his self-awareness fade. He must not let his psychological “dead spot” take him down. Not now.
“I am aware. I am Nick Pente. I am aware” he softly repeats to no one.
The train nears, the truck tips downward, and the timeline explodes. Then, the adventure begins. Nick will learn more about the world that betrayed him and his own identity than he ever before imagined.
“Bill LaBrie has crafted a lyrical hero’s journey, with rich characters and vivid descriptions worthy of Stephen King at his best. Eye of the Diamond T is a magical and thrilling adventure that spans the years and ventures into the depths of human consciousness.”—Sean Ellis, author of Fortune Favors
243 pages, Paperback
First published December 13, 2014
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240 people want to read
About the author
Bill LaBrie
1 book8 followersBorn into a family of travelling lounge musicians, Bill's earliest memories were of the vast American West speeding past the windows of various Detroit sedans from the 1960s. He was homeschooled from 4th grade through high school and took his diploma through correspondence back before they called it "distance learning". Bill was writing short stories at the age of nine, producing his father's records and writing songs at fourteen, and working two jobs as well as managing a business at twenty after his father -- onetime bandleader Lloyd LaBrie -- suddenly died. He's a graduate of Thomas More College (Philosophy '94), a certified UNIX admin, a 20-year veteran of Fortune-50 IT departments, a published writer, journalist, poet, and PR flack, a twice-married/twice-divorced sometimes-Catholic single dad, a philanthropist, a songwriter, a terror on two wheels, and most recently, a novelist.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 3, 2015
From the very beginning, I was immediately drawn into Bill LaBrie’s excellent debut novel, Eye of the Diamond-T. It wasn’t just the frenetic narrative style, nor the immersive, highly believable descriptions of life as a long-haul trucker in the 1950s Southwest, complete with the colorful dialogue of the lifestyle, from the truckers’ cant to the long-in-the-tooth-flirt drawl of the truck-stop waitresses. It wasn’t the author’s clear love affair with words, which calls to mind John Updike’s assessment of Vladimir Nabokov as being a writer who “…writes prose the only way it should be written, that is, ecstatically.”
Ultimately, what pulled me into the Eye of the Diamond-T and kept me going was the very personal read I took of the novel. Although the main protagonist, Nick Pente, may possibly not be the most reliable narrator, I related deeply to his struggle to forgive himself for the (self-perceived) sins of his past, one of the most emotionally devastating of which involves an incident that took place while he was a soldier serving in Europe in World War II. Who doesn’t have moments of agony over his or her past—over what could have or should have been, that one thought or action that if taken could have changed the trajectory of the future? It is a deeply human struggle, and that’s why this book works so well: It presents a wild story combining Greek, Hopi and Biblical mythology, mashes things up further with a narrative that leaps back and forth in time and, it seems, into different metaphorical realities, and yet the character of Nick is still so recognizably, agonizingly relatable. In many ways, the entire novel comes down to Nick’s struggle to forgive, and how he comes to that point is an incredible ride.
I will do my best to avoid spoilers here, but the book starts with Nick trapped in his beloved Diamond-T truck, which is suspended over an icy railroad bridge, a massive train hurtling toward it. It then evolves into a love story between Nick and Euri, a Native American woman living in mountains near Seligman, Arizona, with her father, Bacho, who rescues Nick, with subsequent flashbacks into Nick’s childhood, adolescence (which coincided with his time in WWII) and psychological struggles in early adulthood. It borrows somewhat from the Greek Orpheus myth, along with the Hopi Pahana concept. In between is a subplot about a possible government conspiracy that I won’t go into in case of spoilers. It’s quite the mélange, and may be a bit overwhelming in such a relatively short page count, but LaBrie brings it all together successfully with an exhilarating, ultimately haunting ending.
I had a few quibbles with the book, but given the disturbed state of the narrator’s mind, these may not be defects, but deliberate on the part of the author. That is why I gave it the full five stars. The instant soul-mate connection between Nick and Euri felt a bit contrived, and not completely shared on the part of Euri at first. As the book progresses, LaBrie builds a more genuine, believable connection between the characters—it may have worked better to not bring the soul-mate connection into the mix at all, but just let the reader see how that becomes the case. Still, there are moments of complete transcendence in the love story of Nick and Euri that are sheer writing magic. They make sense completely, and seem utterly natural.
The portrayal of Euri and Bacho, Native Americans, especially Bacho’s way of speaking, struck me as bordering on Hollywood stereotype. As I noted, however, this could be deliberate on the part of the author—a depiction of Nick’s confused state of mind. LaBrie does flesh out the character of Bacho as the story moves forward, giving him a compelling back-story that ultimately makes him one of the novel’s most complex figures. Another minor issue: the sex scenes felt somewhat out of place and overly graphic, more soft porn than befits a novel of this stature.
Overall, however, I loved this book. Despite its chaos, I didn’t want to leave the world of Eye of the Diamond-T. The struggle of Nick has an epic quality to it, and as a fellow writer, I must hand it to LaBrie for pulling that off. I think that even the most seemingly well-adjusted reader will find something of him or herself in it, and that is the goal of so much writing. I highly recommend this book, and hope to see more work from its author.
Ultimately, what pulled me into the Eye of the Diamond-T and kept me going was the very personal read I took of the novel. Although the main protagonist, Nick Pente, may possibly not be the most reliable narrator, I related deeply to his struggle to forgive himself for the (self-perceived) sins of his past, one of the most emotionally devastating of which involves an incident that took place while he was a soldier serving in Europe in World War II. Who doesn’t have moments of agony over his or her past—over what could have or should have been, that one thought or action that if taken could have changed the trajectory of the future? It is a deeply human struggle, and that’s why this book works so well: It presents a wild story combining Greek, Hopi and Biblical mythology, mashes things up further with a narrative that leaps back and forth in time and, it seems, into different metaphorical realities, and yet the character of Nick is still so recognizably, agonizingly relatable. In many ways, the entire novel comes down to Nick’s struggle to forgive, and how he comes to that point is an incredible ride.
I will do my best to avoid spoilers here, but the book starts with Nick trapped in his beloved Diamond-T truck, which is suspended over an icy railroad bridge, a massive train hurtling toward it. It then evolves into a love story between Nick and Euri, a Native American woman living in mountains near Seligman, Arizona, with her father, Bacho, who rescues Nick, with subsequent flashbacks into Nick’s childhood, adolescence (which coincided with his time in WWII) and psychological struggles in early adulthood. It borrows somewhat from the Greek Orpheus myth, along with the Hopi Pahana concept. In between is a subplot about a possible government conspiracy that I won’t go into in case of spoilers. It’s quite the mélange, and may be a bit overwhelming in such a relatively short page count, but LaBrie brings it all together successfully with an exhilarating, ultimately haunting ending.
I had a few quibbles with the book, but given the disturbed state of the narrator’s mind, these may not be defects, but deliberate on the part of the author. That is why I gave it the full five stars. The instant soul-mate connection between Nick and Euri felt a bit contrived, and not completely shared on the part of Euri at first. As the book progresses, LaBrie builds a more genuine, believable connection between the characters—it may have worked better to not bring the soul-mate connection into the mix at all, but just let the reader see how that becomes the case. Still, there are moments of complete transcendence in the love story of Nick and Euri that are sheer writing magic. They make sense completely, and seem utterly natural.
The portrayal of Euri and Bacho, Native Americans, especially Bacho’s way of speaking, struck me as bordering on Hollywood stereotype. As I noted, however, this could be deliberate on the part of the author—a depiction of Nick’s confused state of mind. LaBrie does flesh out the character of Bacho as the story moves forward, giving him a compelling back-story that ultimately makes him one of the novel’s most complex figures. Another minor issue: the sex scenes felt somewhat out of place and overly graphic, more soft porn than befits a novel of this stature.
Overall, however, I loved this book. Despite its chaos, I didn’t want to leave the world of Eye of the Diamond-T. The struggle of Nick has an epic quality to it, and as a fellow writer, I must hand it to LaBrie for pulling that off. I think that even the most seemingly well-adjusted reader will find something of him or herself in it, and that is the goal of so much writing. I highly recommend this book, and hope to see more work from its author.
January 17, 2015
An unexpected thrill is an understatement. Bill's ability to describe situations and scenery so well that you feel you are there is a true talent. Nick's personal journey through deep reflections of his life and things that happened as a result of his action or inaction are the basis of the story along with the intrigue surrounding his job as an over the road truck driver. The descriptions of the places and people of the era during his military service and later along Route 66 were spot on and enjoyable. After being injured in an accident and rescued by an elderly Indian man whose daughter assisted in nursing Nick back to health he learns much about himself. The Hobi traditions and beliefs along with Nick's Greek heritage were a big part of the story. "Because we are all made of stars. Everything is made of stars. Stardust." The intertwining of the people from his past and present kept you on your toes. Don't look away because you will miss something important. Through his journey, I believe, he learns to love himself. I won't spoil the book, but the ending was poetic. An amazing first novel.
December 14, 2014
From the very start this story and the style of writing that Bill LaBrie presented to me had me hooked. The tale that he has written is one that takes Nick Pente on a journey of self-discovery. It starts out with Nick wrecking his truck on an icey road, while he is dangling over a bridge, he is injured and trying to figure out how to get out of his dangerous predicament, when he finds himself being pulled along the ground, what Nick experiences next is going to change his life forever. We are taken on this adventure that is Nick’s life, as he experiences his present life, healing from his injuries. He is reflecting on his past and his mistakes and experiences on the road, life on Route 66, living the life of a trucker. But there is more… oh so much more… I was definitely hooked to keep reading because this was a mystery beyond what I am willing to say, I hate spoilers! But I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Bill has quite the talent for writing I have to say. Wow!!! That was Great!!! I loved the ending!! I am giving this book a 5 of 5 stars. Way to go Bill! Loved it.
December 10, 2014
I believe this is Bill's first book and I am very happy to have read it.
The greatest strength of the book, in my mind, is the clarity and power of the scenery. The story is unpredictable and I suggest you read it slowly and let the imagery soak into you while you go along for the ride.
I am a picky guy by nature and have to ding Bill one star for purely mechanical things. It is clear that part of his intent is to take you on a ride full of flashbacks, fantasies, and the associative memory of a potentially-unreliable protagonist. It is a little difficult to follow, in spots, and I think Bill would be well advised in his next book to sharpen up his prose to make the reader's trip through the story a little more clear so that the reader can then follow the characters' (intentionally) less clear journeys with more confidence.
But Bill is a very strong storyteller and the book stands on its merits.
The greatest strength of the book, in my mind, is the clarity and power of the scenery. The story is unpredictable and I suggest you read it slowly and let the imagery soak into you while you go along for the ride.
I am a picky guy by nature and have to ding Bill one star for purely mechanical things. It is clear that part of his intent is to take you on a ride full of flashbacks, fantasies, and the associative memory of a potentially-unreliable protagonist. It is a little difficult to follow, in spots, and I think Bill would be well advised in his next book to sharpen up his prose to make the reader's trip through the story a little more clear so that the reader can then follow the characters' (intentionally) less clear journeys with more confidence.
But Bill is a very strong storyteller and the book stands on its merits.
January 9, 2015
Wow
This story is a whirlwind. The beginning is a bit bumpy, switching back in forth from before and after the accident. That's a bit confusing and left me waiting for a time travel plot twist.
This is a drama story with a romance thrown in. Some very interesting twist that are unexpected at the end.
Mr. LaBrie is either highly educated or has a handy thesaurus next to his computer. My kindle dictionary received a work out.
Spoiler alert
I'm not sure the cargo mystery was finished. Yes it says what's in it, but I was waiting on a confrontation between the Dr. And the truck Mr Pente.
This story is a whirlwind. The beginning is a bit bumpy, switching back in forth from before and after the accident. That's a bit confusing and left me waiting for a time travel plot twist.
This is a drama story with a romance thrown in. Some very interesting twist that are unexpected at the end.
Mr. LaBrie is either highly educated or has a handy thesaurus next to his computer. My kindle dictionary received a work out.
Spoiler alert
I'm not sure the cargo mystery was finished. Yes it says what's in it, but I was waiting on a confrontation between the Dr. And the truck Mr Pente.
April 23, 2016
This book is fantastic and comes together at the end in a marvelous fashion. I must admit, it took a few chapters before being captivated by the book, but once I was captivated, I just couldn't stop reading until I finished.
February 11, 2015
Personally, I liked it quite a lot.
January 15, 2018
Never heavy, never dull.
I give this book 4 stars. It was great reading about Arizona landmarks during a period I love. The author did a great job keeping me interested throughout the different timelines.
I give this book 4 stars. It was great reading about Arizona landmarks during a period I love. The author did a great job keeping me interested throughout the different timelines.
April 12, 2015
great read! I recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews