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Revival
By the summer of 1984, televangelism has driven religious revivals to the brink of extinction. Struggling to make ends meet, charismatic preacher Elliot Prescott Chipps and his troupe of traveling revival performers will do anything to fill their collection plates. Putting down stakes in Akron, Ohio, the revival draws desperate and curious locals with its exotic music, acts of healing, and promise of eternal salvation. But Chipps, dissatisfied with the pittance of tithes, has a bigger score in mind.
Over the course of five days, a bewildered boy, a pool-hustling alcoholic, a deluded beard, an unstable pianist, a deadbeat dad, a jilted young woman, a lovelorn local pastor, an estranged singer, and a nihilistic conman converge under the revival’s golden tent seeking something they’ve lost. What they’ll find is a revelation none of them could have foreseen.
Over the course of five days, a bewildered boy, a pool-hustling alcoholic, a deluded beard, an unstable pianist, a deadbeat dad, a jilted young woman, a lovelorn local pastor, an estranged singer, and a nihilistic conman converge under the revival’s golden tent seeking something they’ve lost. What they’ll find is a revelation none of them could have foreseen.
408 pages, Paperback
Published April 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 2, 2026
*I am voluntarily leaving a review after having received a free copy of this book.*
This is not the kind of thing I normally read, but I was surprised by how invested I was in it. I liked the idea of all these separate people with their individual circumstances coming together at the end of the book. I enjoyed some characters' stories more than others. A few parts seemed to go on for longer than was necessary. Some editing might be required in order to tighten things up. I was looking forward to seeing how everything played out in the final chapter, but unfortunately it felt pretty anticlimactic, and a little confusing. I'm not totally clear on what actually ended up happening. But for the most part, I enjoyed the ride.
This is not the kind of thing I normally read, but I was surprised by how invested I was in it. I liked the idea of all these separate people with their individual circumstances coming together at the end of the book. I enjoyed some characters' stories more than others. A few parts seemed to go on for longer than was necessary. Some editing might be required in order to tighten things up. I was looking forward to seeing how everything played out in the final chapter, but unfortunately it felt pretty anticlimactic, and a little confusing. I'm not totally clear on what actually ended up happening. But for the most part, I enjoyed the ride.
May 14, 2026
I found Revival fascinating. Introduced to a cast of characters through the innocent eyes of young Robbie, the reader proceeds to follow the story through the lives of his community members, the troupe putting on his local revival, and even his estranged father.
Though the revival itself takes place over five brief days, Ross artfully draws out the genesis of longings and traumas for the various characters as he dedicates chapters to their stories. He uses a variety of techniques to differentiate between the sections, such as the epistolary form, jumping times as a character swims in and out of consciousness, and moving backward in time through a character’s development.
I appreciated the way Revival captured the moment in time and place: 1984 in Ohio. Details bring to life that era when Akron was experiencing the waning industrial economy and churches that had previously thrived now struggled to keep their doors open, making them vulnerable to opportunists. As the book delves into the lives of the characters, other times and places are also fleshed out in gorgeous detail – the art of the pool hustle, the desperate life of an orphan, the frustration of disability.
This book was a treat! Enjoy it, and pay attention to every character. They keep coming back.
Though the revival itself takes place over five brief days, Ross artfully draws out the genesis of longings and traumas for the various characters as he dedicates chapters to their stories. He uses a variety of techniques to differentiate between the sections, such as the epistolary form, jumping times as a character swims in and out of consciousness, and moving backward in time through a character’s development.
I appreciated the way Revival captured the moment in time and place: 1984 in Ohio. Details bring to life that era when Akron was experiencing the waning industrial economy and churches that had previously thrived now struggled to keep their doors open, making them vulnerable to opportunists. As the book delves into the lives of the characters, other times and places are also fleshed out in gorgeous detail – the art of the pool hustle, the desperate life of an orphan, the frustration of disability.
This book was a treat! Enjoy it, and pay attention to every character. They keep coming back.
April 7, 2026
televangelism Is not doing very well so he has plans to regain it all. At first it is not going well until a mixture of people appear who may just something they were not expecting. See how it goes
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a powerful message
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a powerful message
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews