An Americana Singer for the Twenty-First Century - Rod Williams - Bog

When the bottom drops out of the financial markets in 2008, one man decides to quit his job, dust off his old guitar, and take to the road as a modern-day troubadour as the central character in "An Americana Singer for the Twenty-First Century." This man, known only as John, is appalled by what he calls "The Great Goddamn: " the economic meltdown and its subsequent social and political upheavals. John's reaction is to embark on a journey to sing about and search for the heart of a country he still wants to believe in. Along the way, he meets key characters that help inform his own observations and opinions about everyday life, social justice, and survival during hard times. There's a young punk-folk musician whose idealism seems at odds with his personal behavior; a Montana artist suffering from bipolar disorder; two Midwest women quietly battling small town prejudice and pettiness; and a Tennessee bartender who spins a yarn about a local killing. John's story is told in episodes, with common themes running through and unifying his different encounters.