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Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia by Dennis Covington
karadotten1's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
ceegreen's review
5.0
This was a strange and wondeful read. I picked it because I love a bit of Southern Gothic, and this is a non-fiction take on that genre, a journalist going back to his roots in Alabama to investigate the snake handling phenomenon.
But several times I had to check that this is non-fiction, isn' t it? The 68 year old identically dressed twins, Burma and Irma; the distant relative who tells Dennis her two brothers had been eunuchs and when asked for details clarifies they had high voices, couldn't grow beards and were born without testicles, or the snake handler who decides after being bitten 3 times, that she'll just stick to the fire handling and strychnine drinking - that all happened. Didn't it?
The book is full of such intriguing bizzareness, it's made me rethink everything I've read in the Southern Gothic genre, because to trot out and modify an over-used, but so appropriate cliche, truth in the South seems to be at least as strange as fiction - no need to make it up!
But several times I had to check that this is non-fiction, isn' t it? The 68 year old identically dressed twins, Burma and Irma; the distant relative who tells Dennis her two brothers had been eunuchs and when asked for details clarifies they had high voices, couldn't grow beards and were born without testicles, or the snake handler who decides after being bitten 3 times, that she'll just stick to the fire handling and strychnine drinking - that all happened. Didn't it?
The book is full of such intriguing bizzareness, it's made me rethink everything I've read in the Southern Gothic genre, because to trot out and modify an over-used, but so appropriate cliche, truth in the South seems to be at least as strange as fiction - no need to make it up!
llkendrick's review against another edition
4.0
Joe and I once watched a documentary on the History Channel about Southern religions and they highlighted snake handlers. We both love learning about other religions so we found it fascinating. My inlaws (who we're living with) have a great library set up in Colton's current bedroom and I just love looking for new books to read there. This book caught my eye and when I saw that it was about snake handling, I was sold! I really liked this book a lot. It's a non-fiction so it thoroughly explains the history of snake handling and the authors personal experiences with it. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about snake handling churches in the Applachians.
xxstefaniereadsxx's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I live in Tennessee, and am well aware of at least one snake handling church locally. They are of the Holiness branch of religious folks, and they are certainly a different group of people. I do not understand how people can believe that holding a wild animal that is full of potentially fatal venom is a way to prove that you are doing right in the eyes of God. That whole concept is just too far fetched for someone like me. The story of the attempted murder was unbelievable, but also not that shocking at the same time. It was a good book, not very long, but good. I suggested that my sister read this book, but I'm not sure if she ever did.
amberrose's review against another edition
4.0
This book definitely surprised me. Covington captures a culture I am not familiar with and presents it in a way that is engaging, hilarious, and heartbreaking. Sometimes simultaneously. A master of nonfiction, Covington pulls the reader into the world of snake-handling but by the end, I wasn't thinking this group were weirdos or extremists; they were complex, multi-faceted individuals acting as part of something true for themselves.
Weird and inspiring, this book definitely left it's mark.
Weird and inspiring, this book definitely left it's mark.
leilaniann's review against another edition
5.0
"Madness and religion were a hair's breadth away." Even if you don't believe in what they're doing, you gotta respect the deep passion they bring to it. I loved this book.
ajsterkel's review against another edition
3.0
Likes: I don't know much about Christianity, but I think if God wanted us to touch rattlesnakes, he wouldn’t have put rattles on them. That sound means not to touch them.
Anyway, the author is a journalist who spent two years as a member of a snake-handling church in southern Appalachia. His interest in snake handling starts with a work assignment and curiosity about his family heritage. It quickly develops into an obsession that kind of freaks him out. He isn’t afraid to examine his own life. Holding rattlesnakes and drinking poison are odd activities to want to do. In this book, the author delves into the history of snake handling and looks at his own thrill-seeking behavior to discover why people take up serpents.
I appreciate the author’s honesty. He shows how difficult it can be for a journalist to write about personal subjects in an objective way. He goes to the church as a journalist in search of a good story, but the service speaks to him as a danger-loving Christian. For me, the most fascinating part of the book is watching the author struggle between being an observer and wanting to participate. I like that he admits to being a bad journalist. Good journalists don’t become personally involved with their subjects. Once he starts snake handling, it takes over his life. It becomes way more than just a story for a newspaper.
Dislikes: This is a short book, but it feels long. There are quite a few scenes of men preaching while holding snakes. I appreciate knowing the religious reasons behind the snake obsession, but it gets repetitive quickly. I don’t think the author had enough material to fill a whole book. I was often tempted to skim the snake-handling scenes. I feel like I got the point after the first one.
Originally, the author attended this particular snake-handling church because one of the members had been arrested for attempted murder. He forced a snake to bite his wife (twice). The author planned to write about the attempted murder trial. That plan mostly gets derailed when the author joins the church. I wish more of the book had been about the crime and the people involved. That would have been more interesting than the repetitive snake/preaching scenes.
The bottom line: An informative look at Appalachian history and how journalists struggle to stay objective. I occasionally got bored.
Do you like opinions, giveaways, and bookish nonsense? I have a blog for that.
Anyway, the author is a journalist who spent two years as a member of a snake-handling church in southern Appalachia. His interest in snake handling starts with a work assignment and curiosity about his family heritage. It quickly develops into an obsession that kind of freaks him out. He isn’t afraid to examine his own life. Holding rattlesnakes and drinking poison are odd activities to want to do. In this book, the author delves into the history of snake handling and looks at his own thrill-seeking behavior to discover why people take up serpents.
I appreciate the author’s honesty. He shows how difficult it can be for a journalist to write about personal subjects in an objective way. He goes to the church as a journalist in search of a good story, but the service speaks to him as a danger-loving Christian. For me, the most fascinating part of the book is watching the author struggle between being an observer and wanting to participate. I like that he admits to being a bad journalist. Good journalists don’t become personally involved with their subjects. Once he starts snake handling, it takes over his life. It becomes way more than just a story for a newspaper.
“There are moments when you stand on the brink of a new experience and understand that you have no choice about it. Either you walk into the experience or you turn away from it, but you know that no matter what you choose, you will have altered your life in a permanent way. Either way, there will be consequences.” – Salvation on Sand Mountain
Dislikes: This is a short book, but it feels long. There are quite a few scenes of men preaching while holding snakes. I appreciate knowing the religious reasons behind the snake obsession, but it gets repetitive quickly. I don’t think the author had enough material to fill a whole book. I was often tempted to skim the snake-handling scenes. I feel like I got the point after the first one.
Originally, the author attended this particular snake-handling church because one of the members had been arrested for attempted murder. He forced a snake to bite his wife (twice). The author planned to write about the attempted murder trial. That plan mostly gets derailed when the author joins the church. I wish more of the book had been about the crime and the people involved. That would have been more interesting than the repetitive snake/preaching scenes.
The bottom line: An informative look at Appalachian history and how journalists struggle to stay objective. I occasionally got bored.
Do you like opinions, giveaways, and bookish nonsense? I have a blog for that.