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A Land More Kind Than Home: Members' Reviews, August 2013
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Did we already read this book in this group?
I bought the book recently but I'm not too far into it yet.
Mod
Yes, Jenny. We read it in July, 2013. However, the group's membership ebbs and flows. And, of course, we have more than enough members to change the result of a poll's vote should they choose to do so. No criticism intended. Lurkers welcomed. *grin* But non-voters takes their chances. *grin*
Ha, I didn't realize until after it won the vote. Sorry, kinda, because I'm looking forward to reading it!
Looks like this book, largely ignored here in 2013, has a chance to draw a crowd in October 2014 when it comes around again! (If we can find it when it counts.)
Mod
Ah, Larry. I think I shall dub you the group's "Ray of Sunshine." Just how soon would you like the discussion topics for the next month's reads posted? Today's date is September 21, 2014.
Perhaps a viewing of Kelley's Heroes is in order:
Sgt. Oddball to Moriarity: "Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?"
Should this not ameliorate the negative waves, I will do my utmost to accommodate your schedule. Sullivan whistling "Keep on the sunny side of life."
Electronic communication and the internet is such a confounded complex collection of stray bytes and pieces, give or take a year! Moderate On!
This is what annoys me about this book: it tells what dastardly things people will do under the guidance of religion. A belief in top-down leadership fits the conclusion of this book: kill the leader and the problem is solved. I do not concur that the sheep being led are blameless. Silent acceptance is not admirable. Religion and this book are both about the acceptance and consequences of top-down leadership, I think.
My review is a rant. Sometimes when you feel totally powerless, all there is left is the scream.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I thought that Wiley Cash was a good storyteller. Here is my review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
There is a new kid in the southern tabernacle of literature and his first novel has been declared a miraculous debut. He writes a vivid narrative of the Appalachian mountains about a community way back in the hills and the only town is 30 minutes away up a mountain and down a mountain and it is little more than an intersection. The base for the community is a concrete block building that used to be the market and general merchandise which had to close when the community dwindled down to a hundred people or so. A new pastor came to town a dozen years ago and put up newspapers or cardboard so that you had to go in the church to see inside. Adelaide Lyle left the church when a parishioner was bitten by a snake and died. No one called the sheriff. They did not call anyone. Some deacons carried her home and laid her in her small garden out back and the report that went on the record was she was bitten by a snake while working in the garden. That is when Adelaide left the church taking all the children with her. Jess Hall is a nine year old boy and he has an older brother, Stump who is a mute and autistic. one day when their dad has gone somewhere the boys hear their mother, Julie, talking in the bedroom to someone. Jess says lets go look and see who it is. The window is too high for the boys to take a peek but Stump with Jess’ help gets up high enough to look in and sees Julie entertaining Pastor Chambliss. Stump falls and makes a loud noise which makes the Pastor immediately put on some clothes and go out to see who it is. Meanwhile Jess takes off and hides and before Stump gets up to run, Pastor Chambliss sees him. When Julie and her two sons go to church the next Sunday, one of the deacons tells Stump that the Pastor has asked Stump to come in the church with his Mom, while Jess and the other children go to play. Jess and another boy have eluded the other children and decide to go look at the back of the church. There is a small place where you can see in the church and now Jess is the one that reaches the hole where he sees the pastor praying over Stump, he invites the deacons to come pray with him. At first they put their hands on Stump’s head and shoulders but then they push Stump to the floor and all fall on top of him. At this time Jess hollers “Mother” and Julie hears him but she thinks the voice came from Stump and he has been cured and she manages to get all of the men off of Stump before he suffocates. The next Sunday Stump is not so lucky. He suffocates from all of the men holding him down. In the end there is a partial settlement but from beginning to end the pastor is the epitome of evil and the story shows how easy it is for people to be taken in by evil and become evil themselves. Adelaide by herself is the only good in this story. This is a very good book but I do not believe that it is a great book.
Mike S.
"Lawyer Stevens"