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rebwenhall's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was such a great book. It was rather infuriating, but it was written quite subtly in the way that all the characters begin to realize their father is not a good man.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Ableism and Miscarriage
coverofkayla's review
dark
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Self harm
emzireads's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Domestic abuse, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Self harm
bootsmom3's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
serendipitysbooks's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ever read a book that you enjoy but then struggle to know what to say about it? Revival Season is that book for me. I finished it a couple of months ago and have drafted and deleted several reviews in the interim.
It’s a novel that explores aspects of patriarchal evangelical religion, something I’m oddly interested in - as an outside observer, definitely not planning to join any churches! So I enjoyed being exposed more to that community and trying to understand the people who inhabit it.
The feminist in me always loves to rage-read an awful male character. Rev. Samuel Horton certainly delivered in that regard. The more his power and control lessened, the more violent, manipulative, and abusive he became.
I also enjoyed reading this as a coming of age story. As her father’s fortunes decline and he reveals himself not to be the man 15 year old Miriam thought he was, she has to reevaluate how she views him, her parents’ marriage, and her faith. Complicating things is the fact that she comes to believe she has the power to heal, something her church and father say is reserved for men.
It’s a slow burn and overall a quiet book. There’s religion but not in a preachy way. Like I said I enjoyed it.
This book would pair well with God Spare the Girls which I read and enjoyed earlier in the year. (I had planned to read them back to back but my library had other plans.) It too looks at the impact an evangelical preacher’s fall from grace has on his daughters, and on their understanding and practice of their their faith.
It’s a novel that explores aspects of patriarchal evangelical religion, something I’m oddly interested in - as an outside observer, definitely not planning to join any churches! So I enjoyed being exposed more to that community and trying to understand the people who inhabit it.
The feminist in me always loves to rage-read an awful male character. Rev. Samuel Horton certainly delivered in that regard. The more his power and control lessened, the more violent, manipulative, and abusive he became.
I also enjoyed reading this as a coming of age story. As her father’s fortunes decline and he reveals himself not to be the man 15 year old Miriam thought he was, she has to reevaluate how she views him, her parents’ marriage, and her faith. Complicating things is the fact that she comes to believe she has the power to heal, something her church and father say is reserved for men.
It’s a slow burn and overall a quiet book. There’s religion but not in a preachy way. Like I said I enjoyed it.
This book would pair well with God Spare the Girls which I read and enjoyed earlier in the year. (I had planned to read them back to back but my library had other plans.) It too looks at the impact an evangelical preacher’s fall from grace has on his daughters, and on their understanding and practice of their their faith.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Self harm
jryberg's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
catladyreads's review
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, and Pregnancy
kaylaf_'s review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Ableism, Infertility, and Miscarriage
bridgettb's review
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
deedireads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
Revival Season is a well-paced, impressive debut novel with big, full characters and a central conflict that’s as unique as it is familiar. I really enjoyed it.
For you if: You like contemporary fiction with a more literary feel.
FULL REVIEW:
First, thank you to Simon & Schuster for the review copy of this one via NetGalley! I read it in one day, partly as an ebook and partly as an audiobook (and a good chunk as I stood in line outside Strand Bookstore waiting to sell them some used books — best way to pass the time!). I was totally sucked in.
The story is about a girl named Miriam, whose father is a famous Baptist preacher known for an ability to heal the sick. She’s brought up pious and conservative, not even allowed the vanity of clear nail polish, where women know their place and family members who don’t convert are treated as if they don’t exist. One summer, at the start of that year’s “revival season” (tour of the South seeking converters), Miriam sees something she shouldn’t, and her understanding of her father and the world shifts. Then it seems as though Miriam herself may have the gift to heal, and the shift becomes a shattering.
There are tough parts of this book (plenty of content/trigger warnings), but throughout I was drawn deeply into Miriam’s world and thoughts. The characters in this book are so well written, and the tension and conflict are so acute, that I found my heart literally pounding at the end. I loved the seamless inclusion of magical realism (or, if you will, miracles), and I was cheering the whole time throughout Miriam’s complete transformation.
This is one of those novels that I think a lot of different readers will enjoy, as it toes the line between contemporary and literary really well. You should check it out!
TL;DR REVIEW:
Revival Season is a well-paced, impressive debut novel with big, full characters and a central conflict that’s as unique as it is familiar. I really enjoyed it.
For you if: You like contemporary fiction with a more literary feel.
FULL REVIEW:
First, thank you to Simon & Schuster for the review copy of this one via NetGalley! I read it in one day, partly as an ebook and partly as an audiobook (and a good chunk as I stood in line outside Strand Bookstore waiting to sell them some used books — best way to pass the time!). I was totally sucked in.
The story is about a girl named Miriam, whose father is a famous Baptist preacher known for an ability to heal the sick. She’s brought up pious and conservative, not even allowed the vanity of clear nail polish, where women know their place and family members who don’t convert are treated as if they don’t exist. One summer, at the start of that year’s “revival season” (tour of the South seeking converters), Miriam sees something she shouldn’t, and her understanding of her father and the world shifts. Then it seems as though Miriam herself may have the gift to heal, and the shift becomes a shattering.
There are tough parts of this book (plenty of content/trigger warnings), but throughout I was drawn deeply into Miriam’s world and thoughts. The characters in this book are so well written, and the tension and conflict are so acute, that I found my heart literally pounding at the end. I loved the seamless inclusion of magical realism (or, if you will, miracles), and I was cheering the whole time throughout Miriam’s complete transformation.
This is one of those novels that I think a lot of different readers will enjoy, as it toes the line between contemporary and literary really well. You should check it out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Self harm
Moderate: Ableism and Child death