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Although new to the world of published literature, Scott Sutton has been an avid writer for most of his life, turning to a pen and paper (yes, he still writes with those) to explore the things in life that are never quite clear, that never neatly fit, that never fully resolve.
His first novel, Calling Out, is an expression of that journey.
Scott lives in the beautiful Arkansas ozarks. When he isn't writing or working, he can be found with his family, in his garden, or running any of the amazing trails the ozarks have to offer.
Reviewed by Karen Pirnot for Readers' Favorite
Calling Out by Scott Sutton will sneak up on you and captivate your mind and your emotions. The story encompasses 40 generations of individuals who live on a remote island. The Grove of Ancestors on the island mountain contains the essence of twelve legacies left to the descendants of the original settlers. We currently meet best friends Uri and Mehan who gather berries daily in order to feed the villagers who dwell on two parts of the island. There is love and cooperation until it becomes evident that the resources of the island are dwindling. Soon there will not be enough natural resources for everyone to survive. This causes disagreement as some villagers opt for tradition and status quo as others opt for exploration and forward movement. There are multiple themes played out in the story such as honoring the past, movement to the unknown, preserving resources, extinction, competition vs. cooperation, punishment and tragedy.
Sutton brilliantly develops the twelve legacies and intricately weaves this into the story about two young men coming of age. In Calling Out, the two friends face issues of courage, empathy, community, expression of beauty and of one's relationship to the world in general. There are issues of justice and kindness, as well as concerns about the balance of forces and an elusive but powerful truth that transcends life itself. This reading is an experience in mind-bending issues of friendship and the physical and emotional experiences which define a person through the ages. It defies you to avoid defining yourself through grief while it encourages you to merge the Seen with the Unseen.
