Assessment:
Idea: Extended Horizon Reflections chronicles author Jeff Jackson's life story from 1958 to the present, covering numerous subjects from love at first sight, to becoming a pastor, to working with refugees. Some of these sections are more interesting than others, but overall Jackson's book tells a compelling story of a full life.
Prose: Author Jackson's prose is wonderfully descriptive and cleanly edited. Poems serve as a smart way to break up the narrative and offer variety in the modes of storytelling.
Originality: Extended Horizon Reflections is original in its focus on identity labels and its candor about a number of weighty and challenging topics.
Character/Execution: Jackson excellently establishes his relatable character on the page, and he writes movingly about life-changing events. Despite individual circumstances, however, the work is somewhat lacking in an overall sense of tension.
Date Submitted: January 24, 2022
