‘Three Kinds of Motion’: Hanick needs to let beautiful writing enjoy the ride

One of the most trying things about a road trip is having a driver who stops too often. Just when you are getting into the rhythm of the trip the driver wants to pull over and direct your attention to something else. This sporadic style is unfortunately similar to the pacing in Iowa writer Riley Hanick's debut non-fiction work, 'Three Kinds of Motion” (Sarabande Books) where the text serves as a sort of metaphorical road trip.

Don't get me wrong, the company is fantastic, with Hanick blending historical narratives of Jack Kerouac, Jackson Pollock and Dwight Eisenhower. Using Iowa as a common thread, Hanick explores the life of the painter behind Iowa's most lucrative piece of art, the author whose exploits in Iowa helped propel him to fame, and the president whose highway system would transform America.

Alongside these narratives Hanick includes biographical snippets about his own life. The result is a juxtaposition reminiscent of a crowded car filled with different voices and opinions. The narratives connect under a variety of themes, from rejection to gambling, resulting in thoughtful - sometimes funny, sometimes sad - parallels.

But instead of letting the stories build and fade like good conversation, Hanick writes staccato short chapters and paragraphs tucked alongside the occasional longer musing, making for a disjointed read. There are moments of greatness, but just when we get comfortable we are jolted away and begin a new direction.

It's easy to understand why Hanick was fascinated with each narrative, but it's too many directions for this form, or the form is too disjointed for the number of narratives. In order to do the narratives justice, Hanick needs to ease up on the brake and let his beautiful writing ride.