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A review by deedireads
Revival Season by Monica West
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