Matt's review
Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake-Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia
by Dennis Covington
Hey Matt, I'm anxious to hear what you think of this! So, is it the guy's memoir? Actually non-fiction? I couldn't tell from the description.
Yeah, it's pretty much a memoir. I'm about half way through now. Basically, Covinton went in as a reporter to cover the trial of preacher accused of killing his wife with rattlesnakes. But he became genuinely curious about what drives people to hold snakes and drink poison; so he snuck around and may have found God (I'm not far enough in yet to know for sure). So far it's quite good, even though I hate snakes!
Matt's review
Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake-Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia by Dennis Covington
Matt's review
rating:
bookshelves:
2008
Convington’s book is an affective memoir about his experiences with snake handling churches in the Appalachians. A journalist by trade, he is sent to cover the trial of a preacher accused of killing his wife with rattlesnakes. In the process, he becomes enthralled by the handlers and their faith, leading him, eventually, to become one himself.
I found a couple of things about this text interesting. One way I viewed this book was as a break down of objective journalism, in which the journalist becomes as a much of the story as his subject. Convington readily acknowledges this, saying at one point that he is appalled with himself for his deep personal involvement. It raises the narrative of his book, though, to a different level. I liked that he was unable to stay objective where his faith was involved; it strikes me as more honest work that staying outside of the world he entered would have been and, honestly, it makes for a better read.
The author’s discovery of s...more
I found a couple of things about this text interesting. One way I viewed this book was as a break down of objective journalism, in which the journalist becomes as a much of the story as his subject. Convington readily acknowledges this, saying at one point that he is appalled with himself for his deep personal involvement. It raises the narrative of his book, though, to a different level. I liked that he was unable to stay objective where his faith was involved; it strikes me as more honest work that staying outside of the world he entered would have been and, honestly, it makes for a better read.
The author’s discovery of s...more
Hey Matt, I'm anxious to hear what you think of this! So, is it the guy's memoir? Actually non-fiction? I couldn't tell from the description.
Yeah, it's pretty much a memoir. I'm about half way through now. Basically, Covinton went in as a reporter to cover the trial of preacher accused of killing his wife with rattlesnakes. But he became genuinely curious about what drives people to hold snakes and drink poison; so he snuck around and may have found God (I'm not far enough in yet to know for sure). So far it's quite good, even though I hate snakes!