People out in these parts can take hold of religion like it's a drug, and they don't want to give it up once they've got hold of it. It's like it feeds them, and when they're on it they're likely to do anything these little backwoods churches tell them to do. Then they'll turn right around and kill each other over that faith, throw out their kids, cheat on husbands and wives, break up families just as quick. I don't know exactly how long Carson Chambliss had been living in Madison County the first time I ever ran up against him. And I'm not saying this fanaticism started with him, because I know it didn't. That kind of belief has been up here a long time before I arrived on this earth, and it's my guess it'll still be around for a long time after I'm gone. But I've seen his work firsthand, and I still can't put my finger on what it is and why it affect folks like it does."

Mr. Cash, please tell me you are already working on another book.

I was first introduced to Wiley Cash last fall when my GR friend Angela M chose [b:This Dark Road to Mercy|17349104|This Dark Road to Mercy|Wiley Cash|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375670274s/17349104.jpg|25337516] as the monthly pick for a group read. I loved the characters and story development in that book, and this one is amazing too.

In "Home" Cash sets a dark tale in lightly populated rural North Carolina mountain village. The story is told through the eyes of three narrators -- the town midwife, the sheriff, and a 9 year old boy.

The essence of the book is about the danger of religious fanaticism. This setting is North Carolina, but the parallels to other situations -- across the country and across the world -- are not hard to see. The book succeeds due to the depth of the characters, terrific pacing, and Cash's storytelling prowess.

5 stars.

( )

Small southern town. Snake handling preacher. Dead child.

The book tells the story from the POV of the town sheriff, the little brother of the dead boy, and an elderly woman who is part of the preacher's congregation. Dark, sad, compelling. ( )

A small southern town, an evangelical nutjob of a preacher with control issues, a marriage on the decline, an aging midwife and a sheriff who see that trouble may be coming, and two young boys who get caught up in the impending tragedy.

A little darker than my usual fare, but I loved this novel for its excellent writing and its commentary on the abuses of fanatical religion. Great character studies, too. If I come across more of Cash’s stuff, I’ll very likely pick it up. ( )

I like Southern Lit, even took a class on it in college. Picked this one up when I saw the NYTimes bestseller, and "Reads like To Kill a Mockingbird rewritten" - Harper Lee's book is my favorite, but I gave this one a try. A good example of storytelling. Didn't think I would like the changes in perspective in the book (told as three diff main characters) but ended up liking that too! ( )

I enjoyed this tale spoken by 3 different characters and their perspectives. Small rural town in NC where evangelistic preacher/church impacts the lives of many, but in a dark way. ( )