What readers think of A Land More Kind Than Home, plus links to write your own review.

As a resident of the mountains of North Carolina, I was drawn to this novel through curiosity. Add to that the facts that the author is from North Carolina and the style is one of changing point of view . . . well, I was hooked. And I was not disappointed. Included in the mix -- snake handling, a church closed off to the public by paper on the windows, a child caught in the midst of adult drama, and a sheriff fighting demons of his own. Wiley Cash is able to create a tension that both enthralls and exasperates. How can a town be so mesmerized by a power-hungry preacher? Not a new phenomenon--we've seen it before. How can parents ignore the needs of their children? We've seen that before, too. How can the weak be preyed upon? Yep, that's not new either. But Mr. Cash is able to bring these human weaknesses together in a story that has elements of mystery, fascination, and sheer dread. A fine read and a promising new author on the scene.

This is a very good read. I could not wait to read it each day and when I was through, held it in my hands and tears came unexpectedly. The history of the area in North Carolina at the time of the novel was excellent. The characters were well developed and the author made you feel that you really knew them. I will look forward to reading other novels from this very talented writer.

This was a story that began with two brothers innocent desire to investigate some adults talking. One of these boys, Stump, is mute. Is Stump suddenly in need of the healing offered at Rev Chambliss's church, The one with newspaper covered windows and snakes in boxes. Long ago the Rev. found the vulnerability of the boy's mother by providing the religious hope and a community that she desires.

This is just the beginning of a intriguing, what next kind of story. Thank you Mr. Cash for a book that I read while sitting, standing, & eating. I feel like these well conceived characters will give me much to reflect on.

I read this book (A Land More Kind Than Home) in an afternoon. Well written, entertaining, and thought provoking. Definitely describes small mountain town North Carolina.

This story, which revolves around a rogue preacher and a faith-healing gone wrong, leaves a number of questions unanswered - but that's it's only weakness. Voiced through three characters - a midwife, a sheriff, and the younger brother of the victim, Cash's tale provides a clear sense of place, excellent character development, and a clear story line with just enough backstory to define all of the character relationships. There was room for more detail, but the author's restraint in providing it kept the story crisp and compelling. I did not want this book to end, and I will certainly read Wiley Cash's next effort.

A well written story on a topic that might not be that interesting to many people except for the expertise of the author. The characters were well developed and the book was compelling enough to read in one sitting, you can't wait to find out what happens. Being from the South, I have certainly heard of these religious practices, but the author made you want to know more even with such a difficult topic. The book was definitely something different than so many of the book topics today. I would love to read another book by this author.

The title alone tugs at the heartstrings! Personally, it was difficult to get past the subject matter of this book. Some of the images were very disturbing. Although this book may have been an unwise choice for me to review, it's also clear that Wiley Cash has written a powerful first novel.

A very interesting view of a culture that I am not familiar with. This is a story in which the characters are so well developed that the reader actually develops feelings for them. The story is some what sad but shows what can happen when hypocrisy becomes the way of religious people. I enjoyed reading this book.