A Land More Kind Than Home

By: Wiley Cash

Narrated by: Nick Sullivan, Lorna Raver, Mark Bramhall

Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

A stunning debut reminiscent of the beloved novels of John Hart and Tom Franklin, A Land More Kind Than Home is a mesmerizing literary thriller about the bond between two brothers and the evil they face in a small western North Carolina town....

For a curious boy like Jess Hall, growing up in Marshall means trouble when your mother catches you spying on grown-ups. Adventurous and precocious, Jess is enormously protective of his older brother, Christopher, a mute whom everyone calls Stump. Though their mother has warned them not to snoop, Stump can't help sneaking a look at something he's not supposed to - an act that will have catastrophic repercussions, shattering both his world and Jess's.

It's a wrenching event that thrusts Jess into an adulthood for which he's not prepared. While there is much about the world that still confuses him, he now knows that a new understanding can bring not only a growing danger and evil - but also the possibility of freedom and deliverance as well.

Told by three resonant and evocative characters - Jess; Adelaide Lyle, the town midwife and moral conscience; and Clem Barefield, a sheriff with his own painful past - A Land More Kind Than Home is a haunting tale of courage in the face of cruelty and the power of love to overcome the darkness that lives in us all. These are masterful portrayals, written with assurance and truth, and they show us the extraordinary promise of this remarkable first novel.

©2012 Wiley Cash (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

Mesmerizing and haunting

This is a beautifully written book with powerful characterization. It is told from three points of view - a story-telling technique that I happen to love because I know how difficult it is to write. Jess Hall is the younger brother of "Stump," a mute; Adelaide Lyle is an elderly woman and former midwife; and Clem Barefield, the town sheriff. The brothers, Jess and Stump, are endlessly curious which leads them into trouble and unleashes a chain of events that leads to a tragic climax.

What I most loved about this story was the way the author crafted the characters revealing bits and pieces of their pasts with both delicacy and power. I especially loved Clem for his essential goodness and his weariness of the evils of the world. The author's ability to convey a sense of place through the personalities of the people that inhabit it is mesmerizing. The ending is heart-breaking but believable. Altogether a great read.

The narration was excellent - I especially loved Mark Bramhill, whose strong, gruff voice perfectly embodied the world-weariness of a small town sheriff who has just seen too much and is tired of it all.

Great Story, Brilliant Narration!

Anybody reading this is already a fan of audiobooks and knows that narration can richly enhance the written word. While reading, I can use my imagination but when I listen, a professional actor can push the story to life.

In this book, the team of narrators were superb. I think I would have liked reading this book...BUT....I loved listening to it!

I great tale of a charlatan 'pastor' and naive congregation, a cowed elderly but wise woman, innocent boys and sheriff with a painful past.

I think you'll love this book.

A haunting story, beautifully performed.

What did you love best about A Land More Kind Than Home?

This story is a mystery, a coming of age story, and a struggle between good and evil all rolled into one. It was well paced and well written.

The voice acting was great and kept me immersed in the story. All three narrators were great.

Although I enjoyed the story, I wish the book went more deep into the climax. It felt so built up just to end so quickly.

Great Listen!

The narrarators made this book come to life. I didn't want to have to pause it!
I would strongly advise listening to it.

Best Performance I've listened to

What did you love best about A Land More Kind Than Home?

The performance of a Land More Kind Than Home was the best I've heard. The characters came to life. Well worth it.

Nice story, but not great -- somewhat formulaic

While I enjoyed this book, it wasn't real moving for me. The plot arc was fairly conventional, even predictable. The characters somewhat typical, with none being truly lovable. The book is read by a few readers--some good, others less so.

A Sad Tale of Love and Loss

This was a beautiful story of flawed individuals who suffer horrendous losses. There were three narrators providing a triumvirate of perspectives. The evil preacher could have been more deeply explored; the glimpse into extreme religious practices was interesting.
I was moved by the story but was left with a heavy heart when it was over.

Character development

Wiley Cash created a tapestry one character at a time, and there was no way to predict what the completed picture would look like until the last chapter. An incredible writer.

Bravo!

This is one of those cases where the audiobook is probably better than the book itself. I don't normally like hearing multiple narrators, but these three do an amazing job. It is hard to pick one over the others. They are each devastatingly perfect, drawing you into the pathos (and brilliance) of each character masterfully.

The narrators have something to work with, of course. The writing is absolutely brilliant, with each character revealing the pieces of their past that made them who they are. By the end, you know them well. They've come to life -- and you love all three, particularly Jess, the boy who watches (literally) as his life unravels. An amazing feat for such a short book.

Can't wait for this author's next one.