The Dirty Parts of the Bible: A Novel

Sammy Conner
Booksurge (2007)        
ISBN 9781419667398 
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (8/07)


The year is 1936.  Nineteen-year-old Tobias Henry is on a mission.  Through a freaky set of circumstances, his father, a brimstone and fire kind of Baptist preacher has been blinded.  The family is broke and about to lose their home.  His father sends him in search of money that he hid, years ago, in a well on the family ranch in Texas.  He gives Tobias all of his money and sends him on his way to journey from Michigan to Texas.  Shortly into his journey, Tobias is separated from his money.  He now must get to Texas by taking trains, cargo trains that is.  He meets an old black hobo named Craw who shows him the ropes.  They share many misadventures as they make their way to the family ranch that now belongs to Tobias’ uncle.

Along the way, the map to the treasure was destroyed. Tobias must search for the money without it.  In the meantime, he and Craw stay on at the ranch and work.  Tobias meets Sarah, whom he falls for.  She believes that she is cursed by an Indian spirit.  All of her boyfriends have ended up dead.  This doesn’t look good for Tobias, but he hangs in there.

I absolutely loved, “Dirty Parts of the Bible.”  Tobias is a good person who means well.  He just has his own way of viewing things.  As he matures into a man on this journey, his core values hold him in check.  He still has an interesting way of looking at the world.  Reading this book will have you laughing out loud and rolling in your seat.  I hate that it had to end.  The main characters are so rich in spirit and gritty.  They either annoy you or have you laughing, or both. 

“Dirty Parts of the Bible” is not a book for a strict, closed-minded religious fanatic.  They will not appreciate it.  This is a book for someone who enjoys a good novel, maybe a grown-up Mark Twain-type adventure with lots of spirit and humor.  This will definitely put a smile on their face!

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