Comments on: Matthew Levine and Robert Haydon Jones

By: Charles DeFanti

Charles DeFanti — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 21:33:04 +0000

The story was for me a real chiller. My best friend died in rough current in Manzanillo, Mexico, a place known for drownings. Bob communicates the terror, as he does all strong emotions.

By: John H Tucker

John H Tucker — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 01:11:40 +0000

This is one of my favorite RHJ pieces. A marriage of drama and whimsy, emotionally told, with powerful undercurrents of symbolism.

By: Dave Monroe

Dave Monroe — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 12:42:30 +0000

Vividly told story laced with emotion. Great ending when Jimmy is knocking on death’s door in a rip tide — but the crowds on the beach don’t notice he’s about to die, and they carry on like normal. Stark reminder that if we don’t cherish our life, who will?

Awesome painting, too!

By: paul zalon

paul zalon — Sat, 17 Dec 2016 17:13:11 +0000

Before I comment on Bob’s story I would like to congratulate Mathew on his gorgeous watercolor; I’m not sure I have see him so unafraid of color; beautiful piece!

Once again Bob Jones has the most delicate and emotional touch without being in the least bit sappy. I love the use of two time periods; I can feel what he felt with his sons on the beach and the fear of losing one of them.
His gratitude comes through loud and clear- for his willingness to accept help from the lifeguards, for surviving cancer and for the joy he had at ogling his beautiful wife.

This guy can write about anything and make it truly personal and heart felt- without making himself the center of attention- but a witness to the delicacies of life.

Amazingly delicate sensibilities for anyone. I hear Hemingway and Capote, but mostly Jones.

By: Ed Lambertson

Ed Lambertson — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 14:40:33 +0000

Mr. Jones has very neatly exposed Jimmy to one of our more elusive emotions, namely that of gratitude and on a even deeper level, gratitude for our own lives.Well done Bob!

By: sean beaudoin

sean beaudoin — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 17:50:45 +0000

Jimmy O’Hara…back just in time for Christmas. Semper Fi.

By: daniel shulman

daniel shulman — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 14:18:43 +0000

Bob is always fun, surprising, and, in a fresh context, dead on in evoking feelings we have all experienced.

By: Jack Orth

Jack Orth — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 12:20:41 +0000

Well–I’m a Marine too–and every time I read one of Roberts great stories it grabs me like a DI used to at Parris Island Boot Camp in 1950! It gets your attention real quick–and it keeps you busy until the job is done–the job being the pleasure of reading whatever Robert writes! Thank you, Sir–I’m now 85 years old, but hope you’ll keep grabbing me with your great “stuff” until I’m 100! Semper Fi–Jack