Dwelling Places

by Vinita Hampton Wright

Mack and Jodie have no idea how much their lives are going to change when they decide to give up farming. Mack is hospitalized with depression, Jodie finds herself tempted by the affections of another man, and their teenage children begin looking for answers outside the family—Kenzie turns to fundamentalist Christianity, and Taylor starts cavorting with Goths.

Told in the unforgettable voices of each family member, this powerful story of family life reveals the stubborn resilience of love and how sometimes the very thing we're looking for has been waiting at home all along.

Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story overall, narrative flowed very well. Mostly interesting enough to keep the pages turning.

Noticed a few reviews here saying "it's not their thing" well, for me, having been through evangelical Christianity and being from the rural midwest USA, I could relate to, and be entertained by, much of this content, espeically the Prostestant antics.

I don't want to leave any spoilers so I won't yet I'm not so sure about the "ending"....

Classic example of maybe there should be more than 5 stars here as this is literally about a 3.6 for me, but good enough (and rounding up) to give it a 4!

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author's previous book, "Velma Still Cooks in Leeway" spoke deeply and clearly to my heart. Wright has a way with character development. And insight into the complexities and longings of the human heart and relationships is her forte. This book did not disappoint in that area. The characters were so skillfully developed, and their thoughts and feelings in many places echoed my own, and gave words to that which is hard for me to name in myself.
The adjective that comes to mind for this story is "elegaic." The Barnes family is one of many in their Iowa community who has lost their generations-old farm, as well as two dear family members, and the various griefs and stresses of that loss are what shape the plotline. Told in the voice of 4 of the main characters (the father, mother, daughter and grandmother), the story fleshes out the array of responses to such a loss. The father, Mack, becomes severely depressed (although the story begins with hm coming home from the hospital, trying to re-enter the life of his family). The mother, Jodie, having hardened her heart against the losses, turns to hard work. The daughter, Kenzie, turns to God and church. And Rita, the grandmother, works hard to fix anyone and everyone she can in their community, as well as their family.
This book is a beautiful tribute to the heartland of America and the many sturdy, hard-working families who farm it. Wendell Berry's fiction came to mind, in fact, although I actually like this author's fiction better than Berry's.
The only reason I didn't give it 4 stars: the pacing was a little slow, which kept it from being a page-turner.

[Eliece · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not a quick read, because it gave me much to ponder. It was very character driven, and as the chapters progressed, I was allowed to see deeply into the hearts and minds of each Barnes family member. This was a family in deep emotional pain. I appreciated that the author was able to write their story with such empathy, and to resist tying it up with a happy ending, yet leaving it with hope.

[Meagan Houle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Dwelling Places" dazzled me from the first chapter. I didn't expect to be swept away, and certainly didn't think I'd be moved and shaken by it. I figured it'd be a cozy, meditative read to balance the darker, grittier reads I've been enjoying lately.
I was right in a way: this book moves slowly, and its power lies in its refusal to spoon-feed its offerings. For such a simply-written story, it is deceptively difficult to fully appreciate, and demanded my full attention immediately. In "Dwelling Places," I discovered an engrossing setting filled with characters so relatable, so familiarly flawed and true to life that it hurt. Grieving for a lost way of life, a lost identity, a lost god--these are all experiences I have known in my personal life, and the author wrote about them all with a tender wisdom that will stay with me after I've forgotten the names and plot points. Other observations, including the womanly burden of caring for men--dutifully, quietly, unrewarded by thanks--resonated with me as I imagine they would resonate with almost any woman.
I don't know that this would be a five-star book for most people, quiet and subtle as it is, but still waters run deep, and this book has called something deep within me. I have a lot to think about, and I'm grateful I took the time to acquaint myself with this beautiful book and its gloriously talented author.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small town in Iowa in the early 2000s grieves the loss of a way of life, particularly through the lives of three generations of a family. Opening line: "In Beulah, Iowa, widow women all over town garden in the clothes of deceased husbands." The first few chapters are about the return of a young farmer from hospitalization for depression. Reminded me in some ways of Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, but more down-to-earth and well, muddy, where characters think and talk about God in pretty ordinary ways, one going off the rails following a fundamentalist prophet, rather than the educated, mystical reflections of preacher John Ames. Also, I love that Wright makes Christianity and church life a natural part of the setting, with all their complexity and nuance, without glorifying or demonizing them. Here are characters who I recognized but who also surprised me, and helped me feel what it's been like as rural America has changed irrevocably for the people who live on and love its land, laying the ground, perhaps, for exploding addiction and overdose, political changes, rage, and grief. "I just don't know what I'm part of anymore," says Jodie, farmer, wife, and mother of two.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a religious person and I did not grow up in a farming family. But I could relate to the people in this book. I'm a middle aged wife with two teenagers at home. I related to the change of life Mack and Jodie went through and how one may feel obsolete after many years of giving yourself to someone or something. I thought the writing was solid. I teared up in a few spots. I also liked how all of the characters names were unisex save for Rita's and I wonder what the author had in mind with that. I could also relate to the loss of industry due to my own family's history of mining in the Northeastern Pennsylvania.

[Judy Constance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was well written about the challenges farmers face and how it affects their families and communities too. I didn't give it a five star rating as it had a very abrupt ending and it would have been far more satisfying to finish well the characters who had been so carefully developed from the beginning.

[Kaley Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had started this book a few years back but wasn’t able to really get into it I picked it up again as I have moved and going through all my books I own to start reading again. This book is AMAZING!! I have just recently been diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder and this book gave me some great tips on how to cope with things!

[Amy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the time in my life that I read Dwelling Places, I was lonely and lost in my marriage. Between the characters of Jodi and Rita, I found hope. I was compelled at the time to reach out to the author and thank her for a story that resonated within me and saved my life. The characters are real, the problems of life are real, and faith is real.

[Christie Purifoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an exquisite novel. I kept thinking as I read, "This is the real world. Not only its heartache, but it's goodness and it's grace."

Vinita Hampton Wright is a phenomenal writer. I can't believe this book isn't better known.

[Toni Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story of a farm family in Iowa. As a transplanted Nebraskan (born and raised in Oregon), I have come to love and cherish this part of the country. My thanks to Vinita Hampton Wright for obviously loving it too.

[Stephanie Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my thing. It would pull me in with hints of possible promises of something that may happen and then disappear.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good character development but rather slow-moving.

[Evelyn Pecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really connected with everyone in this Iowa farm family, especially Young Taylor.

[Sallyg]

I liked this book. It wasn't real exciting, but I did like the characters and could relate to their troubles!

[Linda Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a raw look at the lives of Midwestern ex farmers. It not only resonates for farmers or mid westerners but for anyone that is struggling through our current difficult times. It's beautifully written and allows the reader to appreciate the landscape as well as the sometimes awkward family dynamic. All families have their own little secrets and this is a story about the Barne's family. A family of farmers who due to difficult times had to let their farm go. The family also has a history of depression which may or may not been the demise of the father many years back. The main character Mack has been to the hospital for depression and now is trying to get back into the swing of things, the daughter has found God not in a good way but in a going to join a crazy cult sort of way, the son is goth kid who turns out to be the most put together (which is a great lesson of what you see is NOT what you get) and the mother dealing with the stresses finds solace and release with a fellow co-worker who is not her husband. The grandmother/mother Rita is a kind old lady who will do anything for anybody and is grieving the loss of her husband and way of life on the farm, she's a spitfire who in a sense holds the family together.

It's not an exciting or sexy "can't wait to turn the page" read, but it's a very thoughtful novel that I will not soon forget. If your a fan of David Rhodes then you'll love this one as well.

Oh yeah, there is a Christian message which may or may not be okay for some people. It's not overtly so, and it's pretty easy to get past it. It mostly is about small town Christianity and the community that develops within the church, it's exactly the way I grew up so it was nice to revisit it again.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally, inspirational or Christian fiction is not my thing, but this novel received such good reviews that I thought I would give it a go. It reminded me quite a bit of Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres, except this farming family has already lost their farm when the story opens. It's also not as dark and has a hopeful ending. The reader feels that, despite everything that has happened, things will work out. The characters are well-drawn and go through some interesting changes in the course of the novel. There's actually quite a bit of negative commentary on religion; since Dwelling Places has appeared on several Christian fiction lists, this might upset some fundamental Christians. The teen-aged daughter is swept up in a period of religious fervor and is drawn to a much older man who follows a religious fanatic, while several characters muse on the hypocrisy of the local churches when it comes to actually assisting families in trouble. Vinita Hampton Wright is a Chicago author who has also written religious nonfiction.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading a book with a more realistic look at depression and how it affects the family of the person struggling with it. I loved this paragraph that concisely sums up what if feels like for the person with depression and the people around them when they first come into contact.

Folks greet them, smiling pleasantly at Mack. They welcome him back but make their greetings short, as if they understand how much he does not want to be put on the spot. It is the same way they greet someone who has lost a loved one or begun chemotherapy. The suffering is clear enough to everybody; what is necessary is saying hello, giving a bit of acknowledgement, that nod or handshake that lets a person know he is still one of them. He will always receive a handshake as long as he walk in the door. At the same time, his battles are his own, and no one pretends they can do the fighting for him. They are here, just the same, and they won’t forget his name or his pain.”

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This contemporary novel follows three generations of an Iowa farm family through a difficult period in their lives. The father has just been released from the hospital for depression, the mother is losing interest in the marriage, and the teenage children are going through a difficult time. The grandmother is also struggling.

The author is a Christian, and she deals with spiritual themes throughout the book. I appreciated the fact that these themes are presented realistically and sincerely rather than in the overly sentimental way that matters of faith are sometimes addressed in books.

Although the book is not plot heavy, it kept me engaged. I found the characters fascinating. Each chapter is told by a different member of the family, allowing the reader to get to know each of the characters individually.

[Rebecca Curtis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the characters were endering and the theme of the book of change and acceptance and to moving on was great however the book was really dry and it was hard to plow through. I really enjoyed the son's story which I didn't expect. He is trying to understand himself and to really learn who he is and accept himself. With all the change and the situation with his family I feel like even though he is a "Goth" he really understands how to best deal with his feelings. Even if those feelings are not socially acceptable by his family. I am also really impressed by the Grandmother who in the story is a character on the outside but she still has to adjust to the family changes as well, her view is a different one as she looks to the far past to understand the changes in her son. Her story is the one that made me cry.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This introspective novel examines the lives of a rural family in crisis. The wife is so tired of trying to hold her family together. Her husband has just returned from a mental health facility. Her daughter is going through an ultra-religious phase and spends hours at the church praying. Her son dresses all in black and is fascinated with death. She herself finds herself returning the attractions of a fellow teacher. As this book goes from one viewpoint to another, we see how the family crisis mirrors a larger crisis of community, and how that community eventually helps a healing of sorts to begin. The prose of this novel is very descriptive, and the characters spend a lot of time thinking deep thoughts. Good for when you are in an introspective mood.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as Wright's "Velma Still Cooks in Leeway," but I still thought this one was very good. Here's what makes Wright's books stand out: This book could be about ANY real-life Midwestern farming family -- their stories are that authentic. This family is dealing with losing farms due to economic troubles. Having grown up on a farm, I could really identify with these people's stories.

[Donna Ialongo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewers of this book often focus on its realistic portrait of the trials and tribulations of the American farm family. And, indeed, that portrait is compelling, disturbing, and, ultimately, hopeful. What has stayed with me from this book, however, is the story of how a good woman can step slowly and somewhat mindlessly into an affair and how she can slowly step out of the fog and back to her marriage to face all the messiness of loving someone.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving story about a family and community who has to give up the life of farming. The story starts as the father (Mack) suffers from deep depression and a breakdown due to the losses in his life, of the farm, of his father and his brother. But, as the story evolves it becomes clear that his wife and children and mother also grieve for what was.

A really good story. Because we also live in a farming community I could relate to the story and sense of loss.

[Adriel Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's rare to find a Christian fiction writer who isn't hokey and who deals with life issues in such a graceful, but realistic way. This is the third of Wright's books I've read and I plan on buying the 3 that I've read so I can read them again. There were parts of each of her books where I knew I was being taught something profound about God and faith, but that it wasn't necessarily planned by the author.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think of this as a quiet book--a story about a midwest family who has gone through the loss of family members and the family farm. It's about people dealing with that loss--not in a ranting Jonathan Franzen manner--but struggling the way many of us do to understand why "good" people go through bad times.

[Joann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A familiar story about farmers losing their farms. My brothers worked full time jobs and kept their land and now rent out the acerage but others in our area in SD did give up farming. My brother says it is too expensive to farm with a tractor costing $150,000. Many of the small farms are gone with the buildings burned down and nearby small towns shrinking...

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Struggles of a farm family as seen through each family member's eyes. This was a good read. I was disappointed at the ending though. But I'm someone who likes endings that wrap everything up. This book leaves you wondering about each family member and that drives me nuts!

[Debbie Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of an Iowa farm family struggling in the aftermath of the father's suicide attempt. While faith is a part of the story, it's faith through the lens of people's imperfections, misinterpretations, and weaknesses. Excellent and well-written.

[Tamra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a spectacular book but moving and realistic. Portrays the losses that can come out of no where and throw everyone into chaos. It also portrays how family members, with all their fralities, do their best to pull things together and survive in new ways of living.