What do You think about The Homecoming Of Samuel Lake (2011)?
This novel will have you thinking about faith and miracles in a whole different light. Debut novelist Jenny Wingfield conjures a cast of characters fresh and imaginative – all set against the lush backdrop of a rural Arkansas farming landscape in the ‘50s.“I think maybe miracles are something everybody has to find out about for themselves.” This astute knowledge comes from one of the key characters, a likable, resilient pre-teen Swan, and gets to the heart of this story that focuses on the family struggles of an out-of-work preacher.Wingfield’s narrative style – using an observant, omniscient point of view – allows the reader to explore a number of dark topics: manipulation, abuse, dishonesty, infidelity, animal cruelty. They are, however, tempered with countless laugh-out-loud moments, including (among others) the name of the grandfather’s bar, “Moses Never Closes.” And of course, there is hope and love peppered throughout this story that follows the lives of four incredible, children, their parents, and aunts/uncles. And no story would be a good story without a villain; Wingfield delivers just that, a character named Ras, who is so despicable and abhorrent that he still gives me the shivers. (Warning: not an easy read for some).Perhaps I was drawn also by Wingfield’s portrayal of religion; the revival scenes and even the thoughts of the preacher, Samuel, were reminiscent of the stories my mom tells of revivals in the ‘50s in her hometown of Pennsylvania. (For anyone shy of religion, this is not a book with a religious agenda. In fact, often the religion takes a back seat to other pivotal plot threads.)Even though this story has heartbreaking, heartbreaking elements, I think Wingfield expertly wove reality and hope into the story. The ending was not a “perfect” and “wrapped in a bow,” “tidy” ending (I personally love endings that aren't perfectly wrapped). But in so many ways it was a peaceful ending – a reminder that each of us must come to peace with our circumstances, whether they are good or bad.I’m looking forward to more of Wingfield’s work!
—Melissa Crytzer Fry
Congrats Jenny Wingfield on a very good debut novel! I mentally set myself up before I finished the first chapter. I was thinking this was going to be like a cream puff - flaky on the outside and creamy on the inside with not a lot of flavor. Boy, was I wrong. The Moses and Lake families are hit with one tragedy right after the next in 1956 Arkansas and Mrs. Wingfield has created some realistic characters that you can believe in. I felt like I could walk in the Moses house, pour myself a glass of ice tea and help myself to the leftover ham and biscuits on the back of the stove. Family drama, family grief and, finally, a families love conquers all in The Homecoming of Samuel Lake. Well written with wit, sadness and tragedy. Well done Jenny Wingfield. When can I read your next novel?
—Tina
4.5 starsEleven year old Swan Lake is a preacher's daughter, down in Louisiana. Every summer, she goes with her momma and two brothers to her momma's home place, up in Arkansas, for a Moses family reunion. This particular reunion is remarkable for two reasons, both of which completely change Swan's life. In a world of biscuits and horses, preachin' and drinkin', there is love and beauty as well as a darkness and evil that won't stay put. Swan's pluck and fierce faith give her courage as she learns that we all have to somehow navigate that darkness.I have spent quite a long time thinking about how to sum up this beautiful and harsh book. I love that I listened to it, the Southern drawl of the reader did much to soak me in Swan's life and time. Nothing is wasted in this story - each detail and each person is a critical piece of the Moses family story, and I love how the threads all make their way back together. I also loved Swan's father's faith, how his faith helped Swan find her own, and how for them, God and his miracles are very much a real part of their lives.Gritty and raw, I actually did a gasp and put my hand over my mouth at one point - the evil in this book is so frightening that it could be very upsetting. An evil that has no redemption or remorse. And yet somehow, and this is how I know this author is amazing, all that evil did not create a completely depressing book. There are also little moments of light, snapshots of a beauty so thick that it almost hurts - shiny bits of wisdom and humanity that, especially in contrast to all that evil, somehow make us believe that it's all going to be okay.I cannot recommend this book to everyone, but if you think this sounds like something you'd appreciate, I do definitely recommend the audiobook - it gripped me from the beginning.
—Corinne
