Gospel Hour

by T.R. Pearson

When Donnie Huff survives a near-fatal logging accident, his ambitious mother-in-law insists that he has returned from the dead, and he embarks on a Pentecostal revival trail and a discovery of his own faith

Genres: Fiction, Novels

360 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Thomas Reid Pearson is an American novelist born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is the author of seventeen novels and four works of non-fiction under his own name, including A Short History of a Small Place, Cry Me A River, Jerusalem Gap, and Seaworthy, and has written three additional novels -- Ranchero, Beluga, and Nowhere Nice -- under the pseudonym Rick Gavin. Pearson has also ghostwritten several other books, both fiction and nonfiction, and has written or co-written various feature film and TV scripts.

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

(This was read in 1991, so obviously I was reading the hardcover edition, not this paperback 1992 edition.) Generally, an outstanding book. The overly descriptive writing can be tedious and tough to plow through at times, but Pearson's eye for rural southern mannerisms, dialect and humor are well worth it. The story of a logger nearly drowned in an accident, who is persuaded by his mother-in-law that he was transported to the heavenly portal and said "hey" to Jesus. Memorable characters--Delmon, the baby who is forever sucking on rocks and spitting out food; Marie, Donnie's wife who lives for decopage; and Sheba the wirehaired dog who always forgets who she has and hasn't seen and therefore barks at everyone. Most memorable quote, when Donnie is told by his Opal that his duty is to lead people to the Lord, "They've been to the Lord...the Lord sent them back." Good scenes--the true hopelessness and despair of the people in the tent meeting. Donnie realizes that they have more problems than he can hope to solve. Also the life and drowning of Lila B. Underwood's brother as a child.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this man's work, particularly the "first phase" Neely books, and this Virginia one. The briefer, more recent stuff of the last ten years is also terrific, but these earlier sprawlers are the ones I fell for and the ones that read like nothing else.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of his

[Sholeen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe even give it 3 1/2. It is funny but still somehow hard to get through.