Rated of 5
by Ellen S. (Mundelein, IL) THE HOMECOMING OF SAMUEL LAKE
I cannot say enough wonderful things about this book! It reminded me of a cross between To Kill a Mockingbird and Huck Finn. Ras Ballenger is an unbelievably demonic character in this twist on the classic morality tale of good vs. evil. The protagonists simply cannot comprehend the extent of his evil until it is almost too late. As Swan's fate was hanging in the balance, I was holding my breath and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I'm not the most spiritual person by nature, but I closed the book believing in Swan's mice. To me, Toy was a 'Christ' figure; suffering for the sins of others, offering himself up in exchange for their redemption. The conclusion is satisfying, tying up all the loose ends, and leaving you on the perfect note.
Rated of 5
by Nancy A. (Woodstock, Georgia) Compelling and Satisfying Read
The story and characters will quietly find their way into your heart, and stay there, as you are drawn along in this tale of a family's love and the astonishing evil they witness that motivates them to act and, ultimately, causes profound changes in their lives, because "once you change one part of a thing, all the other parts begin to shift". This book packs an emotional wallop and, while there is much for a book club to discuss, it is not for youngsters or pre-teens. It has the potential to become a much-loved best seller.
Rated of 5
by Jeanne M. (Vancouver, WA) You Can't Go Home Again
"The Homecoming of Samuel Lake" is a well told family tale with characters I came to care about; what will happen to each of them?; how will their individual lives impact the other family members?
Tom Wolfe once stated "You can't go home again," and while this is not true literally, it is true in the sense that things will not be the same.
In this "homecoming" nothing stays the same, but is ever changing. I enjoyed reading the changes which made the book interesting and engaging.
Rated of 5
by John D. (Garland, TX) Worth a read
At first, I didn't think I would be able to finish reading this book. There was just something about the writing style that threw me off. I decided to continue reading and I'm glad I did. The best part of the book is the likeable (for the most part) characters encountered along the way plus the fact that I kept wanting to know what was going to happen next. Its not a great book but it is worth a read.
Rated of 5
by Irene M. (Ashland, OR) Wonderful Book
This novel was a real "page-turner." I finished it in two days. Besides having a very unusual, but memorable cast of characters, (although the father, Ras is somewhat overdone) the plot has many twists and turns, which certainly hold a reader's interest. I'm a city girl and don't know anything about rural Arkansas, but the author's description brought home to me the hardship of living in difficult and uncertain conditions and the joys of a loving family. I certainly look forward to Jenny Wingfield's next novel.
Rated of 5
by Iris F. (West Bloomfield, MI) The Homecoming of Samuel Lake
Every once in a while a book comes along that takes you on a ride and touches your very soul. The Homecoming of Samuel Lake has that rare quality. Set in Arkansas in the '50's and beginning with a family reunion, this is a family saga that is rich in character development and plot without ever becoming overbearing or tedious. The characters were interesting and the various plots held my interest through every page. This is a book I will treasure and will enjoy recommending to others.
A very large book - in number of pages and in content - and every page worth reading. Thoroughly enjoyed this one and her first book on the...
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Two Lives is a memoir written by international best-selling author, Vikram Seth. In this interesting and engaging book, Seth writes about his great...
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Z, the novel about the life of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald is at points charming and; like another reviewer, I kept thinking of the movie, "Midnight...
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News Corp will officially split into two companies June 28(May 24 2013) As expected, News Corp has announced it will officially split its publishing and entertainment businesses on 28 June.
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Its board approved the...
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of 5
by Ellen S. (Mundelein, IL) 
of 5
by Jeanne M. (Vancouver, WA) 
