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The Homecoming of Samuel Lake

by Jenny Wingfield (Goodreads Author)

4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 · rating details · 2,181 ratings · 620 reviews

Every first Sunday in June, members of the Moses clan gather for an annual reunion at “the old home place,” a sprawling hundred-acre farm in Arkansas. And every year, Samuel Lake, a vibrant and committed young preacher, brings his beloved wife, Willadee Moses, and their three children back for the festivities. The children embrace the reunion as a welcome escape from the p...more

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published July 12th 2011 by Random House (first published July 10th 2011)

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Apr 29, 2013 Florence MacIntosh rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, debut novels & Southern Lit in general

Recommended to Florence by: Dem

Shelves: debut, realistic-fiction, religion, 2013, favs-current, lit-southern, dark, reviewed

There’s a lot of well deserved buzz about this debut novel. Circa 1950's Southern lit with terrific characters, clever dialog and a story that hooks from page one. If you’re into realistic fiction and looking for some great escapism you’ve found it. In a nutshell it’s the story of Samuel Lake, a flockless Methodist minister forced to return to his roots, the home of his wife’s family on a backwoods farm in Arkansas, a tight knit clan with a whole heap of problems of their own.
The author strikes...more There’s a lot of well deserved buzz about this debut novel. Circa 1950's Southern lit with terrific characters, clever dialog and a story that hooks from page one. If you’re into realistic fiction and looking for some great escapism you’ve found it. In a nutshell it’s the story of Samuel Lake, a flockless Methodist minister forced to return to his roots, the home of his wife’s family on a backwoods farm in Arkansas, a tight knit clan with a whole heap of problems of their own.
The author strikes a nice balance, a decidedly tragic story of abuse, murder & infidelity lightened by gentle humour, a mix of angst and absurdity. For instance, the farm boasts a 24 hour booze bar in the basement called “Moses Never Closes” which doesn’t stop Samuel from setting up a holy-roller Revival Tent on the property as well. What with wives dragging their husbands out of the bar over to the revival tent for a shot of religion and the faithful heading for the bar after a hard day of praying for a shot of whisky – a mutually beneficial spinoff trade is developed.
Worth reading alone for the shear pleasure of the main character, 11 year old Swan Lake. I swear she’s as spunky, sassy & full of innocent wisdom as Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird. The other characters are wonderful as well, each with their own strengths & weaknesses, their own ways of coping with whatever life throws at them, and believe me a whole lot get’s thrown at them in this novel.
Negative: The dastardly Ras Ballenger an abuser extraordinaire who pushes all your emotional buttons. Problem was he was so cookie-cutter EVIL it leaned towards manipulative. If Wingfield had written the villain with some depth, I’m thinking Norman Bates character in Psycho, this could have been brilliant instead of just great. All is forgiven though, offset by a satisfyingly realistic conclusion – I liked the ending – a lot.
Content warning (view spoiler)

For it’s genre of realistic fiction: 4 ½ stars rounded up to 5

“If You are love, he roared, then love ain't much to crow about.”(less)

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Jun 21, 2012 Melissa Crytzer Fry rated it 5 of 5 stars

This novel will have you thinking about faith and miracles in a whole different light. Debut novelist Jenny Wingfield conjures a cast of characters fresh and imaginative – all set against the lush backdrop of a rural Arkansas farming landscape in the ‘50s.

“I think maybe miracles are something everybody has to find out about for themselves.” This astute knowledge comes from one of the key characters, a likable, resilient pre-teen Swan, and gets to the heart of this story that focuses on the famil...more This novel will have you thinking about faith and miracles in a whole different light. Debut novelist Jenny Wingfield conjures a cast of characters fresh and imaginative – all set against the lush backdrop of a rural Arkansas farming landscape in the ‘50s.

“I think maybe miracles are something everybody has to find out about for themselves.” This astute knowledge comes from one of the key characters, a likable, resilient pre-teen Swan, and gets to the heart of this story that focuses on the family struggles of an out-of-work preacher.

Wingfield’s narrative style – using an observant, omniscient point of view – allows the reader to explore a number of dark topics: manipulation, abuse, dishonesty, infidelity, animal cruelty. They are, however, tempered with countless laugh-out-loud moments, including (among others) the name of the grandfather’s bar, “Moses Never Closes.” And of course, there is hope and love peppered throughout this story that follows the lives of four incredible, children, their parents, and aunts/uncles. And no story would be a good story without a villain; Wingfield delivers just that, a character named Ras, who is so despicable and abhorrent that he still gives me the shivers. (Warning: not an easy read for some).

Perhaps I was drawn also by Wingfield’s portrayal of religion; the revival scenes and even the thoughts of the preacher, Samuel, were reminiscent of the stories my mom tells of revivals in the ‘50s in her hometown of Pennsylvania. (For anyone shy of religion, this is not a book with a religious agenda. In fact, often the religion takes a back seat to other pivotal plot threads.)

Even though this story has heartbreaking, heartbreaking elements, I think Wingfield expertly wove reality and hope into the story. The ending was not a “perfect” and “wrapped in a bow,” “tidy” ending (I personally love endings that aren't perfectly wrapped). But in so many ways it was a peaceful ending – a reminder that each of us must come to peace with our circumstances, whether they are good or bad.

I’m looking forward to more of Wingfield’s work!
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Apr 07, 2013 Laura rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: hf, southern, lib-has-audio, library, a-lucky-one

This book started out as a 5-star read. Then the villains became overly villainous and one-dimensional, the writing was just ok, and when it wasn't predictable it stretched believability beyond belief. There are a couple of characters who are interesting, but not worth reading the book for. My advice? Don't waste your time. Oh, and if you have issues with domestic violence, child abuse and animal abuse, then you have three more reasons to skip this one.

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May 07, 2012 Sherri Huntley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

This a a moving story of the Lake family, outlining the obstacles and challenges they face and how the family pulls together to overcome those challenges. The charecters just draw you in to the story, each and every one of them is made real by the author. The story begins with the suicide death of the patriarch of the family in the midst of the annual family reunion. The daughter and her family end up moving back to the family home and, while there, the children and the parents find out just how...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Carly rated it 5 of 5 stars

January 2nd, 2k13

Thoughts in mid-stream ...

There are two things I'd like to see:

1) A movie adaptation of this book;

2) An actual sequel! I think it would be interesting to re-visit
Samuel Lake and his family. I'm wondering if Jenny Wingfield
will actually consider that.

If an author can make you hate somebody so much you want to go out and personally strangle the character, then that author has done her job.

If she can make you love somebody so much that you want to sit down and talk to the character...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Sheree rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone who reads!!

Recommended to Sheree by: Staci

Shelves: literary, own, read-in-2012, reviews

I'm not ready to leave, it can't be over ... this is hands down, without a doubt, my favourite read this year and I can't thank my friend Staci enough for recommending it. You know when you come across a treasure that is too good not to share, a book that you want everyone to read and love just as much as you do. This is that book. To borrow words from The Homecoming of Samuel Lake ... it's "enough to make your heart fill up and burst"

Jenny Wingfield's writing is pure bliss ... it's all warmth a...more

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Sep 05, 2011 Laura (The Shabby Rabbit) rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Southern lit, The Help, To Kill A Mockingbird

Recommended to Laura (The Shabby Rabbit) by: Galley

Shelves: seeking, southern-lit, true-favorites

With names like Willadee, Swan, Calla, Blade, Toy and more how could you not just HAVE to see what was up with these people! And once you decide to go in and meet them, these folks will make you feel so very welcome you won’t want to do anything but stay.

Occasionally characters have carried me away so much that I can not wait to get back to a book, To Kill A Mockingbird was like that for me, so was The Help and in the same strong tradition comes The Homecoming of Samuel Lake. And boy oh boy can...more With names like Willadee, Swan, Calla, Blade, Toy and more how could you not just HAVE to see what was up with these people! And once you decide to go in and meet them, these folks will make you feel so very welcome you won’t want to do anything but stay.

Occasionally characters have carried me away so much that I can not wait to get back to a book, To Kill A Mockingbird was like that for me, so was The Help and in the same strong tradition comes The Homecoming of Samuel Lake. And boy oh boy can Jenny Wingfield bring it. Her writing is an effortless example of subtlety in word but a plethora of emotion.

This family, this extended family of Willadee and Sam, ill-fated John and the strong Calla, and the kids…especially the kids, are put through trial and tribulation, change and adaptation. Shells are broken and forged. True nature is shown and hidden. And not a word is wasted in description or on event. As to the events, and avoiding spoilers, I am impressed and grateful for the delicate handling and restraint from the typical sensationalism usually surrounding such events of recent popular fiction.

One of this books true strengths is its timelessness. Taking place in the 1950’s I never got the feeling it couldn’t have taken place anytime. Taking place in an impoverished white area I never got the feeling it couldn’t have happened to any family of any race. Taking place in the south I never got the feeling it couldn’t have been anywhere. Simply put this book transcends those confines of era, class, and geography to tell a family story about characters so true to life with actions and emotions it would be feasible to meet any one of them just walking down the street.

If I were to downplay anything about this book, which I have a hard time doing, it would be its title. While Samuel is a strong character and his homecoming is of essence to all that occurs, it is the relationships between the kids, and especially the kids and their Uncle Toy that pulls the heartstrings.

I left The Homecoming of Samuel Lake feeling so sad that I wouldn’t get to spend more time at Moses and Never Closes with the Lakes and all their friends, but I felt 100% that the book was complete when I read the last sentence and because of that completeness, I left totally (if nostalgically) happy.
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Feb 20, 2012 Jgrace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fiction

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake – Jenny Wingfield
4 stars
Chapter 1. Columbia County, Arkansas. 1956. Samuel Lake, sometime Methodist preacher, has come home with his family for a reunion. Family reunions are a great place to meet the characters. Family reunions are a good place to tell the back story. This family reunion is the inevitable setting for the first family tragedy from which all the pieces begin to fall.

Samuel, his wife, Willadee, and his three children take up temporary residence wi...more

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Apr 30, 2012 Denise rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

Shelves: read-in-2012, literature, favorites

I wouldn't be surprised if later on this book becomes a classic. It has all the makings to become a classic. In fact the comparisons between Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird and Swan from this book seemed spot on to me.

Reading this book made me feel as though I was a part of the Moses family. These characters seemed so real that they jumped out of the pages and into my life. These characters are complex and flawed but most have redeeming qualities that shine through in the face of adversity.

Some...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Maribeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is really a 4.5 or a 4.75 - excellent book. The author's dialog skills were really good. There were laugh out loud moments and some definite tear jerker moments. I got mad and outraged, sad and happy, all in one book.

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Jun 28, 2012 Janice rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was so awesome! I felt every emotion possible while reading the book. The characters were so real-to-life and I loved each one, but especially little Swan. I would recommend this book to everyone! It was an easy to read book and one that I could not put down. It is definitely the best book I have read all year long and I read one book after another! I am never without a book to read. I will definitely get more books from Jenny Wingfield. AWESOME job Jenny! I forgot to say that I WON th...more

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Apr 29, 2013 Hermioneginny rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Swan ha undici anni. Da sempre passa la prima settimana di giugno a casa dei nonni materni per il raduno di famiglia, mentre il padre, pastore sopra le righe, attende una nuova destinazione. Ma quando il nonno muore e il padre perde la comunità, la famiglia decide di restare alla fattoria per un po'. Una sera Swan esce di nascosto e incontra un bambino emaciato e impaurito: si tratta di Blade, figlio di un brutale addestratore di cavalli. E Swan, che non ha paura di niente, scoprirà cosa signifi...more

Swan ha undici anni. Da sempre passa la prima settimana di giugno a casa dei nonni materni per il raduno di famiglia, mentre il padre, pastore sopra le righe, attende una nuova destinazione. Ma quando il nonno muore e il padre perde la comunità, la famiglia decide di restare alla fattoria per un po'. Una sera Swan esce di nascosto e incontra un bambino emaciato e impaurito: si tratta di Blade, figlio di un brutale addestratore di cavalli. E Swan, che non ha paura di niente, scoprirà cosa significhi essere terrorizzati.

All'inizio credevo fosse una saga familiare, invece alla fine mi ha ricordato il coraggio del "Buio oltre la siepe". E non posso fare a meno di chiedermi se Swan e Blade sono rimasti amici, nonostante tutto. I personaggi ti entrano dentro poco a poco, ma non ti lasciano più.

* Così per un po’ rimase nel fienile, sperando e temendo a un tempo che qualcuno dalla casa andasse a cercarlo. Indubbiamente dovevano essere delle persone simpatiche, perché solo delle persone simpatiche si sarebbero avvicinate nel cuore della notte per coprirlo con un lenzuolo profumato di sole.
* Willadee pensò che forse avrebbe dovuto rispondere che Samuel era pastore perché Dio l’aveva chiamato. Ma non era esattamente il suo pensiero. Per come la vedeva lei, Samuel si era chiamato da solo. Si era innamorato di Dio, e quando una persona è innamorata non può fare a meno di parlarne, tutto qui.
* Samuel proponeva di andare a mangiare il gelato in città. Lo vendevano anche nella bottega, ma il gelato diventa un evento solo se si fanno un po’ di chilometri per gustarlo.
* «Li ho raccolti per quell’uomo», disse sommessamente, accennando in direzione della casa. «Lo zio.» Calla rovesciò la testa all’indietro e inspirò forte dal naso, come quando un’emozione ti chiude la gola e non riesci più a parlare nemmeno se ne andasse della tua stessa vita. “Quando è stata l’ultima volta che qualcuno ha fatto qualcosa di speciale per Toy?” Era questo il pensiero che le aveva tolto il fiato. “Quando è stata l’ultima volta che qualcuno ha fatto qualcosa di bello e disperato per lui?” Non sapeva che anche Swan stava facendo qualcosa di speciale per Toy, e che la vita del suo ragazzo stava per cambiare come lui non avrebbe mai immaginato. Sapeva solo che quel bambino stava facendo una gentilezza al suo bambino – all’uomo che un tempo era stato il suo bambino – e provava per lui una gratitudine sconfinata.
* Quando lui e Willadee si erano sposati, e il pastore le aveva domandato se intendeva amare, onorare e obbedire a suo marito, lei, da vera Moses, con un largo sorriso aveva risposto: «Sì, sì, e dipende».
* «Per quanto riguarda i topi, io ti credo», le disse. «Non so se te l’avevo già detto.» «Non era necessario», replicò Swan. «Lo so. E anch’io credo che tu abbia volato.» E aggiunse che forse non avrebbero più dovuto parlare con gli altri di quelle cose. Forse erano già stati abbastanza sinceri, poteva bastare. «Ma allora come farà la gente a sapere che i miracoli avvengono ancora?» le domandò Samuel. E Swan: «Forse i miracoli sono una cosa che ciascuno deve scoprire da sé. Raccontarli non serve a renderli più credibili. Serve solo a farti passare per matto».(less)

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Apr 07, 2013 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Readers of Southern Gothic fiction and fans of the novels To Kill a Mockingbird and Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café will be delighted by Jenny Wingfield’s novel The Homecoming of Samuel Lake. The summer of 1956 opens with preacher Samuel Lake dropping of his wife and three children at his in-laws for the annual Moses family reunion in Columbia County Arkansas. This year however the family will experience many life changing and unexpected events. Samuel’s wife Willadee is looking fo...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Missy Reid rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was feeling generous this evening and settled on three stars rather than two. I won't say I hated it, but if I voiced all the my negative thoughts about this novel, it would appear that hate isn't too strong a word. For starters, I think this story is doomed from the get-go because the main character is so easily compared to Scout Finch. That's a losing battle right there that doesn't require an explanation. Very quickly, here are other things that bother me about this novel: the contrived sou...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Corinne rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

Eleven year old Swan Lake is a preacher's daughter, down in Louisiana. Every summer, she goes with her momma and two brothers to her momma's home place, up in Arkansas, for a Moses family reunion. This particular reunion is remarkable for two reasons, both of which completely change Swan's life.

In a world of biscuits and horses, preachin' and drinkin', there is love and beauty as well as a darkness and evil that won't stay put. Swan's pluck and fierce faith give her courage as she lear...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Pam rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved every single thing about The Homecoming of Samuel Lake. From the sweet Southern charm of some of the characters to the decidedly evilness of others.

Samuel Lake is a Methodist preacher who gets moved around a lot. So, his daughter, Swan is used to being a preacher's kid and being the new kid in town. When Samuel is not assigned a new position, the family is forced to move back home to Arkansas with Samuel's mother.

I totally fell into this book and was faced with the dilemma of wanting t...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars

What sets the story apart from other books is the writing style and character development. But then, just as I was enjoying it just because it was making me laugh, Ras kept showing up and leaving a bad taste in my mouth. He's definitely a key player in the book since he is the cause of the biggest conflict but his actions, both past and present, turned my stomach. He is, as the characters summarize him, the spawn of the devil. And, although he gets his just desserts in the end, the endi...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Brenda Casto rated it 4 of 5 stars

"The Homecoming of Samuel Lake" is a story about families, set during the 1950's told in a down home country voice that immediatly drew me in and allowed me to connect with the characters.

Every year the day after school lets out for the summer, Samuel Lake and his wife Willadee load up the kids and head off for south Arkansas, in anticipation of the Moses family reunion, where Samuel drops off his wife and children while he heads on to the annual Methodist Minister's conference. Calla and John M...more "The Homecoming of Samuel Lake" is a story about families, set during the 1950's told in a down home country voice that immediatly drew me in and allowed me to connect with the characters.

Every year the day after school lets out for the summer, Samuel Lake and his wife Willadee load up the kids and head off for south Arkansas, in anticipation of the Moses family reunion, where Samuel drops off his wife and children while he heads on to the annual Methodist Minister's conference. Calla and John Moses Willadee's parent's always look forward to reconnecting with their daughter and while Calla enjoys Samuel's company John really doesn't like him. When the family embarks on their annual journey they never realize that the summer of 1956 is going to be filled with change. Tragedy strikes during the reunion, and that's just the beginning of the things that happen to the family.

There were so many things that I enjoyed about this story. I loved the setting, which had the feel of small town America, the country feel of the story allowed me to immediatly connect in such a way that I not only felt like I was in the midst of a big family but it also had me thinking about my family as well. Samuel Lake was like so many of the preachers from my childhood memories, open and willing to accept the downtrodden, and poor, people who didn't always fit in but he welcomed them into his flock because he knew God loved them. I think one of my favorite character in the story had to be eleven year old Swan Lake. I could easily envision her tromping around the farm, dressed in her brother's clothes, a real "live wire."

"The Homecoming of Samuel Lake" is about so much more than just Samuel Lake. Its about family and how their lives are bound together. Of course each story has a villian and this one is no different, Ras Ballenger has been mistreating his son Blade,who eventually lives with the Lakes.For me there was no down time with this book, and I actually hated to see it end. This is easily one of those books that I can see myself rereading in the near future. If your a fan of family drama, set in the south that will certainly pull you back into the fifties and have you laughing and crying but also leave you feeling richer for having read the story then you really need to pick up a copy of "The Homecoming of Samuel Lake."(less)

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Aug 01, 2012 cupcake rated it 5 of 5 stars

When you are accustomed to living where the Lord sends you, the last place you might expect to wind up is home, sweet home. For Samuel Lake, a preacher whose style tends to put off his flock more than bring them to the light, home is what he hopes is a temporary locale. As the adage goes, however, we plan and God laughs.

Every year, on the first Saturday in June, the Moses family holds a reunion. Of John and Calla's three children, one son died in a tragic accident, one (Toy) lives on the family'...more When you are accustomed to living where the Lord sends you, the last place you might expect to wind up is home, sweet home. For Samuel Lake, a preacher whose style tends to put off his flock more than bring them to the light, home is what he hopes is a temporary locale. As the adage goes, however, we plan and God laughs.

Every year, on the first Saturday in June, the Moses family holds a reunion. Of John and Calla's three children, one son died in a tragic accident, one (Toy) lives on the family's 100-acre farm with his beautiful but terrible wife Bernice, and their daughter, Willadee, lives with her husband Samuel Lake and three children in whichever community Samuel is called to work. Willadee and the children come for the reunion, with Samuel due to follow.

The fun kicks off with a death in the family and continues apace. Told from different perspectives, this book really is like a warm summer day in the south: slowly getting hotter and stifling, with brief moments of respite provided by a nice glass of iced tea. One thing leads to another, leads to another, and pretty soon, you start to think that you're a member of the Moses family yourself.

When Samuel Lake does get to his family, they are distraught over the death and their need for him - for his comfort, if not his physical presence. No one feels the latter more than Willadee, and it quickly becomes clear that these two enjoy each other in the Biblical sense, much to the dismay of Bernice. You see, Bernice had her chance with Sam, all those years ago, but she played games with him, dumped him, and as he nursed his broken heart, he met Willadee. The fact that Bernice married Toy (out of spite and revenge) does not seem to have had its desired effect on Sam, because he is devoted to Willadee and his kids.

But things do not go as smoothly as Samuel Lake would like. There is the matter of him not finding a new pulpit, for one thing, and he suspects his wife and children hide things from him. He also wonders if they have lost respect for him; when Blade, the young son of an evil neighbor (a man described as Satan's stepson) escapes to the Moses home for some respite from his abusive father, Sam sends him back, horrifying his precocious eleven-year-old daughter Swan (yes, Swan Lake).

Sam repeatedly tries to save his family and meets with repeated frustration. At one point, he howls to the heavens, begging God for help. Sometimes, he fails to see that God answered his prayers, because God does not necessarily answer them as Samuel would like or expect. Other times, God responds quite clearly and emphatically.

There are several tragedies in this book, all of them heartbreaking. What will strike you as remarkable, however, is this family's determination to survive what assaults them. They all trust God, some more than others, and their faith in the Lord and themselves is something to behold. Each of them struggles against something, whether it's loss, failure or powerlessness.

Jenny Wingfield's voice pulls you into this book, and you will not be able to put it down. You will care for this family (most of them, anyway), and you will want to be sure that they are going to be okay. And when the book is over, you will miss the Moses family.

Read this. It's a very good book.

@VivaAmaRisata
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview.(less)

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Jul 23, 2012 Andrea Mullarkey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, galley

This has been sitting on my Kindle since I downloaded a NetGalley copy months ago. When one of the bloggers I read regularly said it was her favorite of 2011 I bumped it to the top of my “to read” list. I am glad I did and my only regret is that I didn’t read it in December, a month I generally reserve for bleak books. Because this bildungsroman is bleak indeed. Set in rural Arkansas in the 1950s it is the story of one large extended family, the Moses/Lake clan. As the book opens the family has...more

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Jul 16, 2012 Lydia Presley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, coming-of-age, favorites, fiction, social_issues, southern

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake is a story not just about a homecoming for a man named Samuel Lake - it's about what exactly that homecoming means. Confused? Let me explain.

When I opened Jenny Wingfield's story I expected it to be about a man. I knew to expect secondary characters - but what I was given was a plate filled with people that each had their own personality, wit, and charm. I grew to love them, to hurt when their flaws were exposed, to cheer when they overcame hurdles placed before the...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Renee rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am so glad I received The Homecoming of Samuel Lake as an advanced reader’s copy on goodreads! I was so drawn into the world author Jenny Wingfield created, that I was reluctant to put the book down. While I read the book, I felt that I was living with the Moses family, seeing things from their perspective in 1950’s Arkansas. The ability to completely immerse the reader in a story is, in my opinion, one of the signs of a great book.

The book told the story of the Moses family, and what happens...more

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May 30, 2012 Naberius rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was one of the best books I have read lately --- I got so caught up in this story, and in the different characters, that I twice emerged from my reading and looked around, blinking, because I was surprised I wasn't in Arkansas with the Moses family.

This is one of those stories that is, at various times, funny, and scary, uplifting and heartbreaking.

The story doesn't quite begin with the family reunion, but gives us some background on some of the family members --- enough so that when trag...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Deb Carpenter rated it 4 of 5 stars

Author Jenny Wingfield creates a perfect cast for this down-to-earth account of two families’ earthly conflict in the backdrop of a greater cosmic struggle. Samuel Lake is a Methodist preacher and upright family man currently without a church. Ras Ballenger, who is referred to as “Satan’s stepson” or a cottonmouth snake, is an abusive horse-trainer, husband and father. Core family members and extended family of God’s servant and the immediate family members of Satan’s serpent are tightly woven i...more

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Jan 13, 2012 Diane rated it 5 of 5 stars

I put The Homecoming of Samuel Lake on my Most Compelling Books of 2011 list. The story begins with the patriarch of the Moses family killing himself at the annual family reunion. Set in Arkansas in the 1950s, Samuel Lake is a preacher who has once again lost his job and retreats back home to his wife Willadee's family to regroup.

Samuel and Willadee have a wonderful marriage, they are very supportive of each other. They have three young children, Swan being the only girl. Samuel used to date Ber...more I put The Homecoming of Samuel Lake on my Most Compelling Books of 2011 list. The story begins with the patriarch of the Moses family killing himself at the annual family reunion. Set in Arkansas in the 1950s, Samuel Lake is a preacher who has once again lost his job and retreats back home to his wife Willadee's family to regroup.

Samuel and Willadee have a wonderful marriage, they are very supportive of each other. They have three young children, Swan being the only girl. Samuel used to date Bernice, who later married Toy, Willadee's brother. Bernice is still in love with Samuel, and decides to use her beauty and feminine wiles to get Samuel back.

Samuel sets up a tent revival, hoping to get enough people to come and perhaps getting a permanent preaching job out of it. Willadee works during the day at her father's bar, Never Closes, which is attached to their home, and also houses the grocery store that Willadee's mother runs.

Swan and her brothers find Blade, a mysterious young boy, hiding in their barn and discover that he has been badly abused by his father, Ras Ballenger. Ballenger is evil personified, and every time he makes an appearance in the novel, I got chills. He beat his wife, sons, and the horses that he was supposed to be training. He is one bad, bad man.

When Swan's family takes the young boy in, Ballenger swears vengeance against the Moses/Lake family, and waiting for his plan to take place ratchets up the tension in this heartbreaking, beautifully crafted novel. I finished the book on the treadmill and almost had to get off because I was sobbing so hard.

I loved the characters in this book, with Toy being my favorite. He is man of few words, so when he speaks it is powerful. He also has a sense of sadness about him. Seriously injured in WWII, there is a question of whether or not he killed a man involved with his wife while he overseas. He forms strong bonds with the children, and his tenderness with them melts your heart. His evolution is moving, and Toy is a truly unforgettable literary creation.

So many of the characters are well-drawn- Willadee, Swan, Samuel, Blade, Bernice, even Ras. The way the Lake family lived their faith was inspirational. They loved God and each other, and tried hard to embody their faith everyday. I liked the way that Wingfield wrote how important it was to the family and the story.

The difficulty of being married plays a large role in the book. Willadee and Samuel's marriage is tested, but is strong. Contrast that with Toy and Bernice's unhappy, lonely marriage and the sadness that Willadee's mother feels about how the last years of her marriage unfolded. I think the author is saying that marriage is something that needs to be cared for and tended if it is to survive.

My favorite lines from the book are from Willadee and Toy's mother, about Blade's effect on Toy:
"She had no idea that Swan was also doing something special for Toy, or that Toy's life was changing in ways he could have never anticipated. All she knew was that this little boy was doing a kindness for her own little boy- the man who had been her little boy- and her gratitude knew no bounds."
As a mother of two sons, those lines killed me.

I could go on and on about this book, but all I really need to tell you is that if you love beautifully crafted books, with a compelling story and characters that feel so real, you will love The Homecoming of Samuel Lake. I almost wish I were reading again for the first time.
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Jan 13, 2012 Gail rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book for it's characters. I could certainly see how this could be turned into a "made for television" movie as well. The tragic events, as well as the heart-warming ones could happen anywhere, but are so typical of life in the south. I loved Willadee for her strength, loyalty and belief in her husband (even when others didn't), Toy, for his gentle, but also fierce, way of coping. Calla...such strength. Ras Ballenger...some folks are just plain mean as a snake. I really only had one...more

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Aug 29, 2011 Joanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

This book has a wonderful narrative voice as it tells the story of an extended Southern family. It does a great job of portraying family dynamics and unspoken thoughts (e.g., "Grandma Calla gave Swan one of those I-can-see-right-through-you looks"). And it's very funny. Example: Grandma Calla prides herself on her flowers, and when one of her children finds bunches of them have been picked, he "cocked his head and blinked his eyes, and wondered whether the person responsible was still alive, and...more This book has a wonderful narrative voice as it tells the story of an extended Southern family. It does a great job of portraying family dynamics and unspoken thoughts (e.g., "Grandma Calla gave Swan one of those I-can-see-right-through-you looks"). And it's very funny. Example: Grandma Calla prides herself on her flowers, and when one of her children finds bunches of them have been picked, he "cocked his head and blinked his eyes, and wondered whether the person responsible was still alive, and whether his mama had hidden the body or called the sheriff and given herself up" (p. 209). That gives you a flavor.

Since the Samuel Lake of the title is a preacher, God also has a big place in the story. Samuel's faith is strong, and yet he can't keep a church, which is why he's home living with his wife's family. (Swan, his daughter, explains: "Church members are funny. You can't hardly please 'em, and there's always a faction - that's a bunch of people that get together and drink coffee at somebody's house after church, when the message was too strong, and they got their toes stepped on -- anyway there's always a faction that's trying to get rid of the preacher for one reason or another" p. 205). God answers his prayers in a fairly dramatic way early on by saving his family from a storm, and also answers later on when Swan is in peril, but not in time to save Swan from some horrible things.

And the Horrible Things are one of my two quibbles with the book. There is a character, described as "Satan's stepson," who is so so Evil-with-a-capital-E that I couldn't even read the pages where he appeared, just the ones explaining the aftermath of his extreme violence. And there's also an unnecessary subplot involving a sister-in-law who is after Samuel's person / marriage / fidelity. So I certainly wouldn't recommend this book to anyone under the age of say, 16, despite the idyllic way it often portrays childhood play and family. I suppose the grimness of Evil shows up all the more as a contrast, but still.
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Aug 28, 2011 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Samuel Lake is a preacher, married to Willadee Moses. They have 3 children, daughter Swan and sons Nobel and Bienville. They go to visit Willadee's mother & father Calla & John for the annual Moses reunion. Samuel doesn't go because he has to go to the Methodist annual conference to be assigned to a new church. John kills himself seemly over being distraught over son's Walter's death and his estrangement with his wife Calla. Samuel is not given a church so the family stays at the farm wi...more Samuel Lake is a preacher, married to Willadee Moses. They have 3 children, daughter Swan and sons Nobel and Bienville. They go to visit Willadee's mother & father Calla & John for the annual Moses reunion. Samuel doesn't go because he has to go to the Methodist annual conference to be assigned to a new church. John kills himself seemly over being distraught over son's Walter's death and his estrangement with his wife Calla. Samuel is not given a church so the family stays at the farm with Calla. Calla's son Toy (who lost a leg in the service and had killed a man who was with his wife Bernice when he came back from the service -- but since the man was a scoundrel the murder was covered up) takes over John's business which was a bar attached to the back of the farmhouse. Much of the story belongs to the children who play and try to win Toy's affections. Swan befriends Blade, an abused boy, who has run away from his father. The boy's father, Ras, is an evil man who abuses animals as well as his wife and boy. Bernice tries to win Samuel back (they were once an item -- until she threw him over & he met Willadee) by pretending to be "saved" as Samuel opens a revival across the road from the farm. Blade eventually comes to live with the Lakes at Calla's, going to school, playing and Ras gets his revenge by kidnapping and raping Swan. Samuel recovers Swan and kills Ras, but Toy claims that he did it to save Samuel. Bernice by now has figured she can't win Samuel and is off with another man. Toy gets 20 years in prison. In the end the family is moving on -- Willadee now has a restaurant at the back of the farm, instead of a bar, Samuel is making the farm work and the family seems to be holding together.
This books makes you think about families, miracles, and how life changes. I like the occasional words written like ....when Things Started Happening. It reminded me of Homesick, My Own Story by Jean Fritz who said her father would call something a Narrow Squeak. This was Wingfield's first novel and I would definitely read the next one!(less)

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Aug 13, 2011 Louise rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. For a debut novel, Jenny Wingfield has penned a winner!

The story opens in Columbia County, Arkansas, in 1956. The entire extended Moses clan have gathered for their annual reunion. John and Calla Moses have been hosting this reunion for years. The majority of family members live close-by with the exception of John and Calla’s daughter, Willadee, who lives down in Louisianna. She is married to Samuel Lake, a preacher of the Methodist religion...more I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. For a debut novel, Jenny Wingfield has penned a winner!

The story opens in Columbia County, Arkansas, in 1956. The entire extended Moses clan have gathered for their annual reunion. John and Calla Moses have been hosting this reunion for years. The majority of family members live close-by with the exception of John and Calla’s daughter, Willadee, who lives down in Louisianna. She is married to Samuel Lake, a preacher of the Methodist religion which does not sit well with old John. He sees the Methodists as: “…the vilest bunch of bandits alive”.

Samuel and Willadee have three children: twelve-year-old Noble, nine-year-old Bienville, and eleven-year-old Swan Lake.” Three precocious children who were adept at keeping themselves entertained playing war games and spying on people.

Calla ran a store from the front of the house where folks could purchase the staples of everyday life. Her store was open from dawn to dusk. John, not one to be outdone, opened a bar at the back of the house and was open dusk to dawn with a sign that said: “Moses Never Closes”.

The family reunion is going along fine until tragedy strikes throwing the family into chaos. Although the rural setting appears picturesque, there are many failings in the characters.

Swan Lake is an absolute fearless eleven-year-old and was compared to Scout in the movie ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. Although fearless she is chocked full of kindness, generosity and love. Her eight-year-old neighbour, Blade Ballenger is a character that you are totally going to fall in love with and if you’re like me, you’ll be rooting for someone to save him from his horrifying father and indifferent mother.

This is an emotionally charged book that, at one point, had me sobbing like a baby! I could easily see this novel becoming a classic someday. Ms. Wingfield is an up and coming author to watch for.

************REVIEW COPY COURTESY OF NETGALLEY, WITH THANKS!*****************(less)

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Aug 06, 2011 Tony rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-mainstream

Wingfield, Jenny. THE HOMECOMING OF SAMUEL LAKE. (2011). ***.
This first novel from this author who has several successful screenplays under her belt is likely destined to be a best seller. The reviews have all been glowing – to the point where the reader feels constrained to love the book, too. I thought it was capably written, but on the level of a YA novel told like Bible stories for children. It is the story of the Lake family from southern Arkansas. It starts out with the celebration of the...more

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About Jenny Wingfield

Jenny Wingfield grew up “pretty much all over Louisiana”. The daughter of a Methodist minister, she learned early on that being a preacher’s kid could mean moving a lot.

After high school, she attended Southern State College (now SAU), in Magnolia, Arkansas, earning her B.A. in English. Later on, she taught English and Language Arts in the Hope, Arkansas and Ashdown Arkansas public schools.

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