TLC Book Tour: The Homecoming of Samuel Lake

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake

Jenny Wingfield

Random House Trade Paperbacks

352 pages

Every first Sunday in June, members of the Moses clan gather for an annual reunion at a sprawling hundred-acre farm in Arkansas. And every year, Samuel Lake, a vibrant and committed young preacher, brings his beloved wife, Willadee Moses, and their three children back for the festivities. In the midst of it all, Samuel and Willadee’s outspoken eleven-year-old daughter, Swan, is a bright light. Her high spirits and fearlessness have alternately seduced and bedeviled three generations of the family. But just as the reunion is getting under way, tragedy strikes, jolting the family to their core and setting the stage for a summer of crisis and profound change.

With the clear-eyed wisdom that illuminates the most tragic—and triumphant—aspects of human nature, Jenny Wingfield has created an enduring work of fiction.

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake was one of those books that I was dying to read when it was first released.  I even started it last summer but had to put it aside for other obligations, so when the opportunity to review it came my way, I was thrilled.  Unfortunately, I realized pretty quickly that this book just wasn’t for me.  I was determined to stick it out, but I wanted to put it down within the first forty pages.

I guess my issue was the Southern, country setting.  I am not usually one for Southern fic, and this was no exception.  Everything about this one grated on me.  The language, the characters–it was not what I expected.

I always feel bad in instances like this because The Homecoming of Samuel Lake has been well received and it was more a case of clashing interests than anything else.  I urge you all to take my review with a grain of salt because I feel like I am in the minority with this one.  In other words, the problem is me, not the book!

About Jenny Wingfield

Jenny Wingfield lives in Texas with her rescued dogs, cats, and horses. Her screenplay credits include The Man in the Moon and The Outsider. The Homecoming of Samuel Lake is her first novel.

 

 

Jenny Wingfield’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Wednesday, July 11th:  Twisting the Lens

Thursday, July 12th:  It’s a Crazy, Beautiful Life

Monday, July 16th:  Southern Girl Reads

Tuesday, July 17th:  The House of the Seven Tails

Thursday, July 19th:  The Lost Entwife

Monday, July 23rd:  Book Snob

Wednesday, July 25th:  Kritter’s Ramblings

Monday, July 30th:  A Novel Source

Wednesday, August 1st:  WV Stitcher

Monday, August 6th:  A Patchwork of Books

Wednesday, August 8th:  Reviews by Lola

Monday, August 13th:  A Musing Reviews

Monday, August 20th:  Colloquium

Wednesday, August 22nd:  Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books

Tuesday, August 28th:  Sweet Southern Home

Announcing Genevieve Wells

For those of you that are curious, I had my baby girl this past Thursday, August 2.  I was induced at 38 weeks due to high blood pressure.  After 16 hours of labor, including 3.5 hours of pushing, she was born vaginally.  Unfortunately I did have a few complications but they were pretty minor.  Baby G suffered a broken collarbone and is now battling jaundice too, but I feel so blessed because I know things could have been worse.

We’ve been told that baby has quite a temper on her but I think she is absolutely perfect! As tired as I am, I hate to put her down to even go to sleep because I don’t want to miss a single moment!

I am trying to get back into the swing of things but so far it hasn’t happened.  I haven’t cracked open a book since I went into labor on Wednesday (and I am right in the middle of Broken Harbor! I need to know what happens!) I refuse to stress about it though.  The most important thing is to enjoy my baby.  I am already upset at the prospect of her getting older and growing up.