The Civil War at Home

by J.C. McKissen

In the suburbs of middle America, two men engage in a growing feud before, during, and after the 2016 presidential election. Their passionate disagreement, though superficially focused on politics, is fed by assumptions about class, economics, immigration, race, and the legacy of a horrific sexual crime. Ultimately the feud leads to tragedy for both families, and an unlikely bond between two women. The story of one liberal family and one conservative family is also the story of the polarization dividing the nation, and how stereotypes and anger can blind each side of a political divide to their common humanity.

Dustin McKissen is an author, journalist, and consultant. He is a regular contributor to CNBC and CNN, and his writing on LinkedIn has been read by more than 11 million people. He is a graduate of Prescott College and Northern Arizona University, and he lives in St. Charles, Missouri, with his wife Megan and their three children. This is his first novel.

Genres: Fiction

219 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2018

About the author

J.C. McKissen is an award-winning journalist, author, novelist, and short story writer. "The Poor and The Haunted" is his first horror novel.

Reviews

[Vito Lucido · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and remarkable read! A portrait of cultural incivility and society coming apart. A story about how our biases and prejudices become visible via social media and ignite an uncivil war where the ramifications play out from our front windows.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Politics is always a hot-button issue, which is why I generally choose to bow out of these discussions. But McKissen bravely uses his pulse on the political climate to explore the stories of the humans behind the viewpoints, the compassionate connections between supposed enemies, as well as the backgrounds and circumstances that can lead to raging storms with reverberating, irreversible consequences.

It can be so easy to judge the people who go too far, say violent words, or do awful things when we look at them as stereotypes, when we assume we know all we need to know about them. But what happens when we look at everyone as people, as humans, as somebody’s sons and daughters? Like one of my favorite authors, Jodi Picoult, McKissen explores the fine lines that weave the tapestry of human stories, the makings of monsters and men.

Our lives are stories where the heroes and villains change based on who is narrating at the time. McKissen navigates this with deep honesty, a big, open heart, and the panache of a skilled writer.

My favorite books take up residence in my thoughts for quite some time and lead me to deeply examine my perspective, my motivations, and if I’m acting from a place of deepest integrity. This is one of those books. My heart will not set it down anytime soon.

[Benjamin Graefser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book to read

This was recommended to my by a friend of mine and i dont regret reading this. Given the political climate in today's society, this gives a very realistic viewpoint of both sides and how harmful politics can be. The charactes are instantly relatable. I can totally relate to all of the characters and made me feel for both sides of the spectrum involved in the entire situation and aftermath. It reminds me of the movie, "Bodyshots" where every character shares their thoughts on what is/has happened. This should be required reading for those who do not understand the nature of how politics has become in today's society and how much it can ruin families in the blink of an eye.

[Angela Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Civil War at Home is all of us and is none of us. McKissen's portrayal of reactions to current culture and politics, moments in marriage, and on-the-surface relating to neighbors all felt very familiar to me as a mid-Westerner and at times had me laughing out loud. The unique window into what drives each of the main characters made a lasting impression, with great storytelling and surprising depth of character for such a quick read.
One of my favorite lines: "People aren't just one thing."
I highly recommend this timely and engaging book.