Reviews

Southernmost by Silas House

beemini's review against another edition

4.0

This book is bigger on the inside. A solid tale of an ex-Pentecostal preacher who tries to convince his congregation to be tolerant and who has to flee town as a result. A really nice double portrait of Tennessee and Key West, which usually don’t occupy the same literary space.

encgolsen's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Asher, a Pentecostal preacher, helps a stranger save lives when floods devastate his rural Tennessee town. When the man (and his boyfriend) attempt to attend church services, Asher finds himself torn between his own evolving views and the convictions of his congregation, including his wife. Asher must decide how far he's willing to go to find forgiveness and to show his son a different view of the world. A thoughtful story of faith and fatherhood by Kentucky’s newly appointed Poet Laureate. 

susannah_n's review

3.0

2-1/2 stars

profmt's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

emilyrivesbrown's review against another edition

4.0

This was a good book and really made me think.

jdh_ky's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

hansonkali's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

Oh how I related to this book so much. As someone who grew up Appalachia and going to Pentecostal churches and then being LGBTQ on top of that so much of this book hit home oof. But lord was this book good and I just wish everyone could read this. 

jaidenmarie11's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book started out really great and I would love to revisit the first section but the second and third were so boring and I found really had no impact on the book what so ever. What was done in 150 pages could have been done in 50. The ending was nice enough but I feel like there wasn’t enough of a conclusion. It was a bit too open ended without having a specific reason to be open ended. I found the discussion on religion very beautiful and poignant and the father-son and brotherly relationships were standouts. The middle dragged so bad but I’m not opposed to rereading when I have the time to waste on reading a 200 page road trip. 

cathyleigh1's review against another edition

4.0

This is the first book I've read by this author, but now plan to read more. A wonderfully told story about the love between a father and son. It's also about a man discovering that his long-held beliefs have changed. Highly recommend.

madeline_cola's review against another edition

3.0

3/3.5 || i liked this book because of my personal experience with homophobia within the catholic church, but besides that, the writing did not impress me and i thought the book was a bit shallow. House tries to have the reader sympathize with a straight white pastor dealing with homophobia and i personally think the book would have been 100% better if the focus was on Asher’s gay brother, Luke, and his experiences with coming out, the backlash he experiences from the church and the community, and his personal journey after he leaves.