****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
If I didn't know that Wiley Cash's "A Land More Kind Than Home" is his debut novel, I would think he has a string of bestsellers under his belt. Over the past few years since I've had my Kindle, I've read a lot of new authors and first books by them, but I think Wiley Cash's book is the best so far. His use of language, the development of his characters and his ability to go from present to past smoothly with the change of narrator makes him seem like a seasoned, veteran writer.The book begins with the voice of Adelaide Lyle who is an older woman known in the area of North Carolina where the story takes place as a midwife and someone to whom people can go to talk out their problems. She has been a member of the same church for many years, and the same church where Julie Hall and her two sons, Jess and Christopher, a mute, attend. Julie's husband, Ben Hall, doesn't go to church. Julie goes inside the church, but doesn't allow the children to go inside yet. At 9 and 13 years old, they are still too young for what goes on in Carson Chambliss's church services. Chambliss had come to town after the death of the former pastor and had made a lot of changes."The name of our congregation got changed too, from French Broad Church of Christ to River Road Church of Christ in Signs Following. Under that new sign, right out there by the road, Chambliss lettered the words 'Mark 16:17-18' in black paint, and that was just about all he felt led to preach on too, and that's why I had to do what I done. I'd seen enough, too much, and it was my time to go." (pg. 2, Loc. 95)Miss Adelaide had seen enough of Chambliss and his deacons handling dangerous snakes, and she had an inkling that Chambliss himself was the real snake in the grass. The pastor had most of the congregation under his spell, but Adelaide was most concerned about the children who were in the church on Sunday mornings, and little did she know that the days of one of that flock would be numbered.Jess and Christopher were taught by their mother that it was improper to spy on grown-ups. But Christopher, or Stump as he was nicknamed, and his brother, Jess, did a little spying one afternoon and saw something that they never should have seen. Stump was mute, unable to speak at all, and Jess would never tell. Jess loved Stump and watched over him, protecting him and helping him. Stump and Jess were close and loved each other and often played together. Their father, Ben, was someone that Jess looked up to.Jess, Adelaide and the local sheriff, Clem Barefield, tell the story from their viewpoints. The book is a story of old hurts brought to the forefront, forgiveness, truth and healing. It is also a story of deceit. The ending comes far too soon as the story escalates into a surprising outcome and we must say good-bye to the characters.I loved this book and Wiley Cash is certainly a writer to keep an eye on. I'm looking forward to his next book. Highly recommended.
