A Wild Eden

by Scott Sharpe

When Jack Parker's father dies Jack knows one thing: Tom Parker was a good man. Beyond that, decades of distance and silence had kept the two men from truly knowing each other. Jack attends the funeral with the hope he can shovel some dirt onto Tom’s casket, collect a few commiserations, and put miles between himself and the questions he’d let simmer since he’d left home years before. But when a group of strangers appears at the funeral, Jack realizes he has more questions than answers about how his father actually lived his life.

Jack picks up the pieces, moving back home to help his ailing mother and continue work on his father’s many projects. He soon finds himself at the center of a family maelstrom, worsened by his troubled siblings’ lives and continued unearthings of Tom’s secrecy. Haunted by hazy nightmares from his youth and driven by guilt, Jack tries to uncover why his father kept such a considerable part of his life from them all. The secrets Jack uncovers might shake the foundation of the refuge he hopes to create.

Suddenly thrust into a dangerous world of drug deals and violence, Jack is forced to examine his own brutal limits and those of his father. When finally faced with the truth of his and Tom’s past, he realizes that sometimes secrets are best left buried on the river bottom.

A Wild Eden was the 2018 South Carolina Novel Prize winner, selected by Jill McCorkle.

226 pages, Paperback

Published August 27, 2019

About the author

Scott Sharpe was born and raised in the Sandhills of central South Carolina and graduated from the University of SC with a degree in business. He lives in Eastover, SC, and currently works for the South Carolina Disaster Recovery Office. When not helping SC rebuild its rural communities or writing, he practices the art of fly-fishing and paddles any body of water big enough to launch his canoe. He has written countless short stories and is currently working on his second novel and a collection of short fiction.

(source: Amazon)

Reviews

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A father's death brings Jack and his family home. The oldest of a family of five, his mother now alone, he eventually moves his wife, and two young daughter back to South Carolina, so he is living closer to his family. He will find out things about the father he often felt disapproved of him and be a presence in his you get siblings life.

This was a South Carolina prize winner and it is a look inside a close knit family, as they greige and tackle their own problems. Believe me there are many problems, almost too many imo in one family at one time. The prose was sometimes awkward, not very polished but despite those details I felt drawn into this family. I liked the characters and wanted to know how they fared. I also wanted to know the secrets they uncover. Plus, Jack is a good and caring big brother. I was the eldest do never had one, but this is the kind I would have wanted. Unconditional love and acceptance.

As he continues to write I believe his prose will become better and better, he definitely has the raw talent. I do hope he continue on in this endeavor.

ARC from Edelweiss.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upon starting this book I was immediately struck by the sense of voice the narrator had. It was like I could audibly hear his voice in my head, telling me of his adventures, thoughts, worries, and confessions. That, more than anything else, carried me through the book quickly and earnestly. (If you’re wondering, in my head his voice was a mix of Sam Elliot rumble and the southern drawl of my favorite uncle.) The book is written from the viewpoint of a very believable, rooted-in-the-earth fellow, and his cares are such that it’s easy for most of us to empathize in one way or another. However, the book never hits a predictable or dull pace. With a realistic Southern family and places that feel like characters themselves, Sharpe didn’t have to do much more to make the book engaging. He does, though, with a healthy dose of intrigue, anger, and a whole lotta tension. This is a very enjoyable read that makes a thoughtful reflection of your own family and upbringing compulsory.

[Belinda Guerette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story, especially of Jack and the secrets of his father. It’s amazing how much bigger a story our parents have than we are sometimes able to see as children!

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott Sharpe is a master storyteller. In this tale of a family undergoing revelations and life changes, you will feel a part of the Parker clan. As protagonist Jack grieves the passing of his father, patriarch Tom Parker, he finds that all he was so sure of is not what it appears. The book brings the characters to life vividly, delving into the complexity of their lives and exploring the grief of each member. There are times I laughed. There are times I cried. But always, I kept reading. This is a story of redemption and making peace with a past that you may not even considered existed. Bravo, Mr. Sharpe!
Jana Greene

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scott Sharpe weaves family responsibilities and secrets throughout this southern tale, yet the narrative attempts to address too many issues simultaneously. The story is also considerably darker and heavier than initially apparent, with themes of domestic violence and drug use, and I felt some plot threads remained unresolved. The family dynamics generate a lot of drama, and while the oldest sibling's sense of responsibility for his family comes through clearly, so does the weight of that burden. While the story was good, it was just too much.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I don't often find local author's books very good but this book grabbed me right away and held me to the end. Jack and Bill, brothers, are very much alike in temperament. Glad Jack faced his demons at the end but would have liked to know who killed Dunbar and why Mary left. One assumes it was her but hard to say for sure. Good book.

[Alicia Looper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely novel about family. I've had this sitting on my shelf for a year, and I finally found the time to read it. I wish I had done so sooner. Sharpe's first person narrator helps the reader immerse into the world of the Parker family. We see Jack Parker's struggle and his ultimate understanding of his father. It is a beautifully crafted book that ultimately comes full circle.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding book. Some of the best character development I've seen in a while. A man returns home after his father's death and uncovers secrets. Doesn't every family have them? The good secrets, the bad, but also the strength, and the love. Perhaps some secrets need to remain buried.

[Tim Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

man now i want some grits

[Mary Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book won an award or two so I picked it up while on a trip. Scott Sharpe has a good tale but the telling of it didn't work for me. He never let me reach a conclusion on my own. He shared feelings instead of experiences. I'm afraid I could not finish this one.