Review of Jap's Story
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Elavarasi Charles
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Review of Jap's Story
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Jap's Story" by M E Henderson.]
Jasper Newton Henderson, a brilliant and notorious businessman in Ripley, Tennessee, created a legacy—a legacy that still reverberates in his family and has become a story well told in the book Jap’s Story, authored by M.E. Henderson. It is a short biography that emphasizes what life was like for a successful entrepreneur in the early 1900s.
Jap has a turbulent childhood. His mother abandons him, and he loses his father at a very young age. With no other options left, he grows up under the care of his stepmother, who is not so kind to him. Jap takes a liking to his father’s foreman. After Jap comes of age, he leaves his stepfamily and moves to one of the foreman’s lands as a farm boy. The foreman, too, likes Jap and teaches him all his ways of earning money—legal and illegal ways alike. Jap, a naturally intelligent boy, learns quickly and becomes a great help to the foreman. He then marries Rosa, has children, and inherits most of the foreman’s properties when the foreman dies. This story is about how Jap expands his empire and how his gains and losses shape his life.
Jap’s youthful charisma boosted growth in every business he took over. He was narcissistic and ruthless, which made him a strong personality in the story. However, the contribution of Rosa was what held their family together. A woman of faith and unbound kindness, she took care of the family in Jap’s absence and never once strayed away from her profound love for him. In several moments, particularly during some family losses, Rosa’s pain left me with scars. But whenever she picked herself up and stood brave for her children, it made me admire her strength. She somehow infected me with her positivity. Most importantly, she understood that both Jap and Rosa were doing what they could to save and provide for their children. It’s just that Jap’s way of loving the family, through his success in business, far removed him from them over time.
The author is a part of the family, and he tried hard to not take sides. By portraying Jap’s crimes, unlawful practices, and infidelity, alongside all his vulnerable moments, the author brought out the complexity in him so well. Was Jap a bad person? More like he was a prisoner of his flaws. I was quite baffled by how unsure I felt about him throughout the book. The story is told in multiple chapters, with each one a narration of a family member—Jap, Rosa, and their children Nell, James, and Jasper. I haven’t read a biography that reads very much like an old-fashioned letter exchange told from a first-person perspective. No dialogues. Just raw storytelling that is immersive and captivating. Even with different perspectives, the story just flows comfortably. I got so deep into its world that I almost forgot I was not a part of Jap’s story. It was easy for me to enjoy this legacy as if it were small-town fiction.
My only complaint is that, as the title suggests, it started and ended with Jap. If Rosa’s perspective had been given a well-rounded ending, which felt abrupt, considering how important a role she played in this legacy, I am sure this book would have even more promise. It didn’t bother me much, and so, I give this passionate work a delighted 5 out of 5 rating. The editing is commendable and free of profanity. Looking for a gripping biography that deals with family drama and the struggles of a business magnate in a small town where no rules apply? Grab a copy.
******
Jap's Story
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Jasper Newton Henderson, a brilliant and notorious businessman in Ripley, Tennessee, created a legacy—a legacy that still reverberates in his family and has become a story well told in the book Jap’s Story, authored by M.E. Henderson. It is a short biography that emphasizes what life was like for a successful entrepreneur in the early 1900s.
Jap has a turbulent childhood. His mother abandons him, and he loses his father at a very young age. With no other options left, he grows up under the care of his stepmother, who is not so kind to him. Jap takes a liking to his father’s foreman. After Jap comes of age, he leaves his stepfamily and moves to one of the foreman’s lands as a farm boy. The foreman, too, likes Jap and teaches him all his ways of earning money—legal and illegal ways alike. Jap, a naturally intelligent boy, learns quickly and becomes a great help to the foreman. He then marries Rosa, has children, and inherits most of the foreman’s properties when the foreman dies. This story is about how Jap expands his empire and how his gains and losses shape his life.
Jap’s youthful charisma boosted growth in every business he took over. He was narcissistic and ruthless, which made him a strong personality in the story. However, the contribution of Rosa was what held their family together. A woman of faith and unbound kindness, she took care of the family in Jap’s absence and never once strayed away from her profound love for him. In several moments, particularly during some family losses, Rosa’s pain left me with scars. But whenever she picked herself up and stood brave for her children, it made me admire her strength. She somehow infected me with her positivity. Most importantly, she understood that both Jap and Rosa were doing what they could to save and provide for their children. It’s just that Jap’s way of loving the family, through his success in business, far removed him from them over time.
The author is a part of the family, and he tried hard to not take sides. By portraying Jap’s crimes, unlawful practices, and infidelity, alongside all his vulnerable moments, the author brought out the complexity in him so well. Was Jap a bad person? More like he was a prisoner of his flaws. I was quite baffled by how unsure I felt about him throughout the book. The story is told in multiple chapters, with each one a narration of a family member—Jap, Rosa, and their children Nell, James, and Jasper. I haven’t read a biography that reads very much like an old-fashioned letter exchange told from a first-person perspective. No dialogues. Just raw storytelling that is immersive and captivating. Even with different perspectives, the story just flows comfortably. I got so deep into its world that I almost forgot I was not a part of Jap’s story. It was easy for me to enjoy this legacy as if it were small-town fiction.
My only complaint is that, as the title suggests, it started and ended with Jap. If Rosa’s perspective had been given a well-rounded ending, which felt abrupt, considering how important a role she played in this legacy, I am sure this book would have even more promise. It didn’t bother me much, and so, I give this passionate work a delighted 5 out of 5 rating. The editing is commendable and free of profanity. Looking for a gripping biography that deals with family drama and the struggles of a business magnate in a small town where no rules apply? Grab a copy.
******
Jap's Story
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Five Flags by Stuart Buxton
