Nine Shiny Objects

 Nine Shiny Objects by Brian Castleberry (2020) 319 pages

Castleberry takes us back in time to 1947, when (in real life, too) a pilot flying near the Cascade Mountains reported seeing nine shiny, fast-moving, saucer-shaped objects in the sky that nobody could explain. Oliver Danville, a would-be actor who supported himself hustling at a pool table in Chicago, takes the news story as a sign to change his life. He hitchhikes west, gathering followers to his theory that alien beings are going to come and fix conditions on Earth. Each of the nine chapters in the book moves the plot ahead 5 years, each giving a glimpse into the lives of different people who all intersect in some way. The Seekers, followers of Oliver (later referred to as Tzadi Sophit), plan to build a utopian town, but there are those who work against them, those who view "real" Americans as white, Christian people.

Most of the characters highlighted are fully fleshed out with a compelling storyline. Often I jot notes as I read, but I didn't this time when it would've helped me make more connections between characters and events. After finishing the book, I immediately reread it. Liked it, but would definitely benefit from a group discussion!