A Land More Kind Than Home – The Review
Written by Nikki-ann on Sunday, 4 March , 2012 at 4:59 pm
Author: Wiley Cash
Publisher: Doubleday
ISBN: 9780857520807
One Sunday, in the mountains of North Carolina, nine-year-old Jess Hall should have been down by the river with the other children. Instead, he and his friend Joe Bill were trying to find out what happens at the church where the windows are blocked with newspaper. To his horror, Jess watches as his mute brother is smothered during a healing service.
Local sheriff, Clem Barefield, must untangle the tragedy and violence that follows, in a case that reminds him of his own dead son.
A Land More Kind Than Home is a heartbreaking story about family, relationships and faith, cruelty and innocence. The tragic story is told through three people: Jess Hall, Adelaide Lyle and Clem Barefield, and each has their own voice. Despite the three different narrators, the story is easy to follow and I think the three of them give slightly different angles to the story – that of a little boy who experiences more than one boy should, of an old woman who dislikes the way her church practices and that of the sheriff looking in on the whole situation.
The book’s tag-line is “Religion is supposed to shield children from the evil of the world…”, but instead we find Adelaide Lyle trying to shield the children from their local church, from Carson Chambliss, a pastor with unconventional and dangerous ideas. From the readers point of view, Chambliss is thoroughly unlikeable (to say the least!). He likes to think he’s got power, and to some extent he does… power over his congregation. This is one of those situations where those on the outside of the church can see that what is going (when they see it) on isn’t right. However, those in the church faithfully follow their pastor like lambs and without question.
I really felt for poor little Jess. Things go from bad to worse for him and he thinks he could have made a difference if he had spoke up. Maybe it would, maybe it wouldn’t, but there’s one thing he knows… Life will never be the same.
This literary thriller is perhaps an unusual read for me, in one respect. I normally steer clear of books with a religious thread, I don’t know why… I’ve just seemed to have steered clear of religion from a very young age (despite my great grandfather having been a lay preacher!).
Based on a true event, A Land More Kind Than Home is Wiley Cash’s debut novel and a thoroughly good one at that. It is a gripping read and one that draws the reader in. Recommended!
A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash is due for release in the UK on 29th March 2012. Pre-order your copy now!
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Please note: I received this book free of charge from Transworld Publishers in return for a review. However, this has in no way influenced my opinion of the book.
Comments (6)
Category: Books,Crime,Reviews,Thriller
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Comment by Imaginography
Made Sunday, 4 of March , 2012 at 7:06 pm
I usually steer clear of books with a religious thread too.Great review as ever Nikki-Ann 
Comment by Yvonne
Made Sunday, 4 of March , 2012 at 11:04 pm
Hi Nikki,
Based on a true event and with a religious thread!
Usually something I would avoid like the plague, yet this one sounds oddly intriguing and I suspect very emotional.
Surprisingly this book has attracted more reviews here in the UK, than it has in the US and has almost unanimously been rated excellent, so it may be worth a try.
Nice review, as always
Have a good week.
Comment by Jenners
Made Monday, 5 of March , 2012 at 7:43 pm
Religion is a tough one to write and read about but this sounds pretty good.
Comment by Shelleyrae
Made Monday, 5 of March , 2012 at 11:20 pm
I tend to avoid religious threads as well but I do like the sound of this thriller. Thanks for the review
Comment by Petty Witter
Made Tuesday, 6 of March , 2012 at 4:08 pm
This sounds interesting. A book that explores the notion that “Religion is supposed to shield children from the evil of the world” intrigues me.
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Made Monday, 26 of March , 2012 at 9:02 pm
[...] You can see another review of this over at Notes of Life. [...]
