Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
From the outside, it doesn’t look like Nub and Minnie have much in common. He’s an elderly drunk who works as a laborer for the government, and she’s a high school student working at Waffle House to make ends meet. Not exactly out of place in the 1970’s, but not exactly accepted by the community either. No one had any idea how much would change for Nub and Minnie when fate brought them together as hospital roommates one night.
Sean Dietrich’s Kinfolk is a story of redemption and forgiveness as Nub and Minnie piece their lives together after tragedy. It’s also the story of choosing the family that is best for us and finding support from our community. Dietrich beautifully shows how a compassion and kindness can help someone to blossom into the best versions of themselves, whereas discrimination and hatred can break them down. Set in Alabama, Dietrich also incorporates southern favorites of church revivals and the Grand Ole Opry while showing that being down on your luck doesn’t mean you are a lesser person.
I give Kinfolk 4 out of 5 stars. This book started from a very dark place with the introduction and dedication but progressed to a place of hope. I appreciate the way Dietrich included details about each scene that brought them to life off the page. The final scenes at the Grand Ole Opry felt disconnected though, as if there was a conversation or event missing from the final novel. The disjointed story left me a bit lost and wondering if a scene was sitting in the editing wastebasket. I chose the audio version of this book and was excited to hear the author read his work. This book is the same class with Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove and John Berendt’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil – southern gothic fiction with a great redemption arc.
If you are a fan of southern gothic literature – this is the next big release you should pick up! I would also recommend this book for readers looking for a great “read by the author” audiobook. Given the discussions of suicide and death, this may be better suited for more mature audiences over 13.
The beautiful cover artwork caught my eye on my Netgalley shelf immediately – the farmhouse set against the sunrise reminded me of my own upbringing in a more rural small town environment where everyone knew your business and the church ladies judged you more harshly than those you may have wronged. Dietrich’s fictional community could have been pulled straight from my hometown.
Kinfolk will release on November 14th – preorder your copy today!
This post contains affiliate links.
What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Triangle, Katharine Weber
- Current audio book: The Emperor’s Children, Claire Messud
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Triptych, Karen Slaughter
Discover more from Read With Lindsey
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
One thought on “Kinfolk”