The Homecoming of Samuel Lake

A Novel

By: Jenny Wingfield

Narrated by: Catherine Taber

Every first Sunday in June, members of the Moses clan gather for an annual reunion at “the old home place,” 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. The children embrace the reunion as a welcome escape from the prying eyes of their father’s congregation; for Willadee it’s a precious opportunity to spend time with her mother and father, Calla and John. But just as the reunion is getting under way, tragedy strikes, jolting the family to their core: John’s untimely death and, soon after, the loss of Samuel’s parish, which set the stage for a summer of crisis and profound change.

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 it is Blade Ballenger, a traumatized eight-year-old neighbor, who soon captures Swan’s undivided attention. Full of righteous anger, and innocent of the peril facing her and those she loves, Swan makes it her mission to keep the boy safe from his terrifying father.

With characters who spring to life as vividly as if they were members of one’s own family, and with the clear-eyed wisdom that illuminates the most tragic—and triumphant—aspects of human nature, Jenny Wingfield emerges as one of the most vital, engaging storytellers writing today. In The Homecoming of Samuel Lake she has created a memorable and lasting work of fiction.

©2011 Jenny Wingfield (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Wingfield writes complex, believable heroes... with redemption trumping tragedies in scenes ripe with tension and dread.” (Publishers Weekly)

"Raw, dark, and powerful. Southern Gothic at its best. Puts one in mind of Erskine Caldwell and Flannery O'Connor." (Fannie Flagg, bestselling author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe)

“Jenny Wingfield’s richly detailed account of good and evil in 1950s Arkansas will captivate anyone who treasures the values of faith and honesty that are a part of America’s rural past. Wingfield’s sense of people and place is uncanny. After reading The Homecoming of Samuel Lake, you too will believe in miracles.” (Sandra Dallas, New York Times bestselling author of Prayers for Sale and Whiter Than Snow)

listen with caution

don't want to give a low rating because the book was obviously written by a very good author. I was quite taken back by some of the content and had to skip over some spots.

BLADE BALLENGER BROKE MY HEART!

I soaked up every last capturing word. This book was so well written. All the characters had many layers rich in personality. I could easily picture the whole thing. Do not pass this up.

Good read

This was a book read for a book club and at the time I did not do my due diligence and research the genre. This is classified by some as southern gothic which is reflected later in the book by the cruel and dark content towards animals and children. The book started as a great read and as someone who is from the south I was enjoying it and could actually visualize the characters as they came to life. It is well rewritten, and a book that I had a hard time putting down but it does have some disturbing content towards the end (after you have been sucked into the story). And although this is reality and does occur, it’s not something I enjoy during my time of escape. As an author with a background in film, I can see that this was written for that purpose in the future.

Great Read

Wow....so many emotions during this book. Story lines that I didn't see coming kept me on the edge and waiting for the next line!
The narrator was excellent at making the characters come to life.

A must read

This book captivated me from the beginning. The author has a way of weaving the story together. A definite must read!

One of my favorites for 2011...!

I can't remember a book I've liked this much for ages! I listened to it several times, just to continue savoring each character and to enjoy the friendships and understanding which emerge. These are brave folks who we can learn from.

More true than most people know

Where does The Homecoming of Samuel Lake rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

High up on my list and it brings to mind others I have met in my life who have experienced life just as told in the story.

What does Catherine Taber bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Typically I don't enjoy southern accents but I stand corrected. Catherine Taber makes me feel like she is reading her own truth with the perfect blend of a story teller reading her own biography.

If you could take any character from The Homecoming of Samuel Lake out to dinner, who would it be and why?

The children of course. They reminded me of the games I played on the ranch growing up with my siblings and cousins. We even rode an adopted horse that we were warned to stay away from. We didn't even know how to saddle a horse all by ourselves but that never stood in the way of riding her around the property. This sweetheart of a horse knew that we had no clue what we were doing so she made all the decisions about where she would take us.

Any additional comments?

Wonderful and heartwarming book. The difficult parts came from the sadness in the story but without this, the story would not be believable.

Wonderful storytelling.

The story pulled me in and I really felt like I got to know the characters, especially since it was told from each main characters point of view at different times. It was funny at some parts, and I had tears running down my face at other parts. The narrator had the perfect voice for this book.

Great Book and Awesome narrator!

Would you listen to The Homecoming of Samuel Lake again? Why?

No, I don't re-read books because there are too many out there to read or listen to.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Swan. She was passionate about what she believed in and very caring, but also had a lot of sassiness to go along with good side.

What does Catherine Taber bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The emotion in her voice. She made the characters come to life.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes....but it was a very long book

LOVED LOVED LOVED this book!

Where does The Homecoming of Samuel Lake rank among all the audiobooks you???ve listened to so far?

Near the top and I listen to lots of books.

What other book might you compare The Homecoming of Samuel Lake to and why?

On par with A Prayer for Owen Meany. Made me laugh, made me cry, made me want to seek justice against awful people.

What does Catherine Taber bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

Loved her narration and I'm a narration snob. Didn't use fake southern accents. Great job.

If you could rename The Homecoming of Samuel Lake, what would you call it?

hmmmm...good question. Throughout most of the book I thought the title wasn't a good one. The book was about so much more than just Sam Lake. In my opinion, Swan is the strongest, most dominant character in the book. Maybe I would name it A Moses Never Lies

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this, especially for readers who like Southern literature. It was hard to listen to at a times because the subject matter was so upsetting but it was a great book.