Scan barcode
emilyisreading2024's review against another edition
5.0
There are beautifully evocative descriptions of the southern setting and I loved seeing references to where I grew up in western NC. The overall story is intriguing and I liked how we slowly learn more about the characters, especially through the perspectives of the different narrators, each of which seem genuine and well-written, although Adelaide was perhaps my least favorite. I'll definitely look forward to more by Wiley Cash.
rocketiza's review against another edition
3.0
This would have been a 4 or 5 star book if it didn't add about 100 extra pages about the characters past and instead kept focused on the present day story line.
kim_chelf's review against another edition
4.0
A very interesting book. I enjoyed it quite a bit despite the dark subject matter. An interesting look at religion and small town life and how everything intertwines.
callieisreading's review against another edition
5.0
Rounded up from a 4.5. Just fantastic all around- really enjoyed the characters, the story, and the narration of the audiobook.
bibliobethica's review against another edition
4.0
The author chose the perfect three narrators; a sheriff, an elderly lady, and a child. It's a great narrative about southern small time life. The characters are well developed from the crazy Pastor Chambliss to the brothers Stump and Jess. The novel is well written, but I found the ending too contrived.
marcies_8's review against another edition
3.0
I give up on Wiley Cash. I've read two of his now and find them so choppy and undeveloped. Characters are interesting but not enough time seems to be invested in them. I like the style of book that focuses on the story from more than one point of view but with Cash's writing that format seems to fall flat. Too many flashbacks distracted from the story.
terrimarshall's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting all that much, but what I got was a pretty engrossing story with some good suspense thrown in, and I found I couldn’t wait to pick this book up and read. I call a book like that a 5-star read.
liberrydude's review against another edition
4.0
Shades of that movie Sling Blade. This was a real Greek tragedy. Downright Biblical at times. I'd read Cash's second novel and really liked it so I had to read his first. This was very different and didn't have the fast pace of the second book. It starts out slow as we hear the story told by an elderly woman, than a young boy, and finally the sheriff. You know there's a terrible reckoning coming on the horizon but I was shocked at the extent of the body count. Still trying to figure out the title. Was the land really more kind than home? So much suffering in this book and it could have been prevented. Nobody spoke up and Cash doesn't have the characters feeling guilty about their silence either. Almost like it's God's will. Just another great book by an author who is a master storyteller.
bohlene's review against another edition
3.0
I have really been struggling with book endings lately...I'm sure it has something to do with something in my life but I have no interest in figuring that out. That said, I enjoyed this book until the end. No spoilers here, but the end brought it down a star for me. I thought the character development of the main character, a boy named Jess, is great and the other characters, including a preacher who enjoys using snakes in his sermons, are also great. The story kept me interested, too.