Christian Fiction Devourers discussion

Happy Saturday, everyone! One of our Books of the Month is River Rising by Athol Dickson.

Goodreads summary:
Welcome to Pilotville, Louisiana, 1927, isolated outpost on the Mississippi River--a stilt village bounded by swampland to the horizon, accessible only by boat, an island of brotherly love in a sea of racism. Meet Hale Poser, a stranger with a bad hip who's come looking for his roots--a humble man, a righteous man, a miracle man. In the swamp beyond the cypress and the tupelo and veiled by Spanish moss lies a lingering evil. For years it slept in dreadful isolation. Now comes Hale Poser, and it will sleep no more. It will rain down on Pilotville, it will rise up like a river, and nothing but a miracle can stop this awful flood.

Discussion questions hopefully to come! And as always feel free to simply share your thoughts and/or post your own questions. I'm hoping to pick this up from the library later this afternoon.

I found this a very interesting book. Loved how the language and imagery reminded me so much of the Louisiana bayous.

I really enjoyed this book. It was mysterious, it was deep, it was dark in spots, with sudden rays of light. Just like what I imagine the bayous to be. My mind is still slowly pondering over it all, and one area of the book I keep mulling over is the miracles - how they were just part of who Hale was (in Christ?) in the beginning, and then how they became a source of pride for him once he realized they were there. Not to sound too silly, because I don't want to trivialize the book in anyway, but the miracles kind of reminded me of how Veggie Tales portrayed the "one bean" in "Lord of the Beans", as a gift to share with others and not to horde to oneself (we have only just outgrown Veggie Tales in our home). I only bring that up because it is a powerful message, which came through in this book as well, but in a much more complex way.

What does anyone else think about the miracles and how they changed for Hale through the book?

Mellie wrote: "I really enjoyed this book. It was mysterious, it was deep, it was dark in spots, with sudden rays of light. Just like what I imagine the bayous to be. My mind is still slowly pondering over it ..."

I felt the same way about the book having lived near the Louisiana bayous in Texas and seeing them up close and personal. The author definitely captured their essence with her writing style.

okay, I guess I am the only one but I really have not liked this book. Only because it is a B of M am I still reading it. I'm at 60% and should finish today---I hope the ending is worth the depressing and dark storyline. Interesting contrast between Hale's vision of the way life on earth should be and the reality of its fallen nature. I liked Hale who was so humble and kind in the beginning, but now that his dark side is showing, it is as if all hope is lost.

ChrisGA wrote: "okay, I guess I am the only one but I really have not liked this book. Only because it is a B of M am I still reading it. I'm at 60% and should finish today---I hope the ending is worth the depres..."

Keep reading Chris there is hope ahead.

I did finish the book and agree that there is a powerful message in it. Yes, Loraine, I agree there is hope at the end but I spent the book trying to figure out whether Hale was supposed to represent
Jesus or just a man used by God to deliver His message.
The racial slurs and the brutality of racism hurt to read even though I am WASP. This is a book I will probably work into a Sunday School lesson one day. . .

ChrisGA wrote: "I did finish the book and agree that there is a powerful message in it. Yes, Loraine, I agree there is hope at the end but I spent the book trying to figure out whether Hale was supposed to repres..."

Glad you finished it Chris and saw the hope at the end. I began my first year of teaching in North Carolina in the beginning of desegregation. We were stationed there in the military. Unfortunately, the only thing that was desegregated was the teaching staff. The student body of our elementary was completely black. This was a poor group of children other than those whose parent/s were in the military. They taught me a lot that year about what racism felt like from the eyes of second graders. An experience I wouldn't trade for the world.

Getting a late start on this one, but like so far. The forward in the ebook edition was very thought provoking...the idea that miracles abound everyday, but we don't recognize them as such...just coincidences, accident, luck, etc! So the premise for the author was to create a character who lived in a world of daily miracles, and to explore if man would now expect and accept them as a natural daily occurrence ...or perhaps explain them away again! ...can see alot of spiritual and historical layers here!

Thank you ladies for discussing! Unfortunately I haven't been able to track down a copy of this one, so I might have to skip it for now. Loving the discussion that going on though :)

I read this book last year and really enjoyed it. It was just so atmospheric and haunting, but at the same time taught us not to rely on ourselves. Also, the glimpse into history was fascinating.

K wrote: "Getting a late start on this one, but like so far. The forward in the ebook edition was very thought provoking...the idea that miracles abound everyday, but we don't recognize them as such...just c..."

I'm getting a late start on this one as well. I am liking it so far! It is quite interesting!