Fair Questions for a Feature Story Is a disability something that is subjective or is it objective? Is a diagnosis opinion or fact? The Final Fence: Sophomores in the Saddle authored by Marc O'Brien takes a creative and honest look into a life filled with support due to well meaning individuals that think before they speak. When Eddie Patrick meets up with Danielle Lynne on a college campus, a love of horses triggers a classroom discussion. When their professor - a large chestnut pony named The Great Satan - starts the lecture, the relationship skills make the grade, with the ribbon only being a decorative award. Using a backdrop of the elegant and classy world of the hunter jumper horse shows during the second Ronald Reagan presidential administration, the setting for this novel is a perfect way for the future generations to learn about respect.
Realizing that the skills that he obtained from Barry University in 1988 while studying Communication Arts were important in daily life, Marc O’Brien decided to take his trade in a whole new direction. Living in Las Vegas, O’Brien has put together a strong portfolio of fictional works that challenge the reader to interpret and learn from his writings. Blue Note Publications were the first to bring his thoughts to the public when they assisted O’Brien through self-publishing Peter The Peteeatrick Panda’s Playground, Peter The Peteeatrick Panda and the Pandy Chip Pancakes and A Special Person to Ride.
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Las Vegas author Marc O’Brien penned this tale, but it is not a normal novel. It is more of a “slice of life.” According to author O’Brien it “takes a creative and honest look into a life filled with support due to well-meaning individuals that think before they speak.”
O’Brien further states, “As for the reader, I would like to let you know this book is a springboard for reflection and interpretation. It is a work of fiction and winning is not the important factor in the story, instead, it is the living. So sit back and relax and take my course that I designed.”
The story centres on Danielle Lynne who is spending her sophomore year in Florida at Southern Dominican Catholic University. Close by the campus is County Line Stables where her chestnut horse, “The Great Satan” will be stabled. The stables have a show arena where she and her animal can work on their skills so they can possibly make the Olympic jumping horse team.
The first student she meets on campus is her roommate, Bobbi Barns, a nursing student. Next, she meets Eddie Patrick, a student with a love for horses as she has. Patrick has weak legs and walks with two canes but does not let it slow him down. Rounding out the group is Peter King, editor of the campus newspaper, and cheerleader Abigail, who King calls “Muffy” much to her disapproval. There is some interaction between some younger students and a subplot about Angel Damien, who leaves the stables to go to work as a groom at the local race track. Most of the story revolves around the five students. Personally, I would have preferred more interaction between the main characters but that might not have served the author’s intent. Let the readers judge for themselves.
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