What a bizarre, strange, yet interesting novel. Who would of ever think of writing a novel about a burnt-faced, outcast girl talking to the dead? A Gracious Plenty, written by Sheri Reynolds, has written such a mysterious, ironic, yet interestingly short novel that would capture anyone's attention. But, not always in a good way. Throughout the beginning of the book, there is hardly a plot nor anything to be solved in the end. What makes the novel interesting are the characters. From the beginning to the end, Finch, the main character, practically tells her whole life story. Finch's recollections surprisingly don't make this novel into a biography but, more of a novel about a lost soul. Different characters, dead and alive, all have bizarre life stories behind them. For example, Lucy, Finch's best friend, who is dead, was once a beauty queen, and a sripper, then commited suicide. William Blott, another dead character, is a cross-dresser who was born poor but died rich. The only living character who understands Finch is a vegetable farmer, who doesn't play a big role and a man named Leonard. Since Leonard's life is very similar to Finch's, the two can eventually find what they are looking for, the promise of touch. Sheri Reynolds has cereated such an ironic ending to this novel that it will practically put a person into shock. I recommend this novel to anyone who's in for a surprise endings.

A Gracious Plenty is a very well written book and easy for all people to read. The main character, Finch Nobles, is a lady who was badly burned in a household accident as a child.This book has many twists and some parts will catch you by surprise. That is the biggest reason that I found this book so interesting. Reynolds also uses imagery which makes this book very mesmerizing. This is a very good story and everyone who reads it will definately gain something from.
A Gracious Plenty is a triumph of story, voice, and character. The afflicted and unforgettable Finch, whose longings inspire in equal measure love and awe and pity, who seeks to understand the difference between the kind of suffering brought upon us and the kind we bring upon ourselves, defies mortality. Stunning and authentic. . . this is a beautiful book.
A Gracious Plenty lures the reader quickly into the story, and refuses to release its hold on your imagination until you've read it through. This novel of eccentricity and inner beauty transcends the way we often categorize both the living and the dead. Sheri Reynolds shows rare talent and inventiveness, and deserves every bit of attention she gets.

A Gracious Plenty is a very well written book and easy for all people to read. The main character, Finch Nobles, is a lady who was badly burned in a household accident as a child. She tends a cemetary and has the power to speak to dead people. She uses these dead people to talk about her troubles since they are her only friends.
This book has many twists and some parts will catch you by surprise. That is the biggest reason that I found this book so interesting. Reynolds also uses imagery which makes this book very mesmerizing. This is a very good story and everyone who reads it will definately gain something from.

In The Rapture of Canaan, Sheri Reynolds creates an incredibly touching tale in an incredibly surrealistic world. The main character, Ninah, lives in a restrictive cult society created by her Grandpa Herman, the patriarch of the family and self-proclaimed leader of the The Church of Fire and Brimstone and God's Almighty Baptizing Wind. The rules laid down for living in this group go unchallenged by the family, despite the severity of the punishments. As Ninah passes through adolesence, she is tortured by the conflict created between her growing feelings of sexuality and her fear of God. When she is caught administering her own "punishment", in which she has put broken nut shells in her shoes to remind her of the suffering of Jesus, she is assigned to pair with a young man as her "Prayer Parnter." The consequences lead to chaos, and ultimately to the end of the cult.
Reynolds' incredibly complex characters are what make this story fascinating. Their actions and the motivations behind them are so well written that the reader can develope an sympathy for each of the characters, even the dictatorial and almost irrational Grandpa Herman.
I thought this was an amazing book. I read it in two days, and now, a week later, I am still thinking about. It's rare for me to rate a book 5 stars, but if I could give this book 6 stars, I would!

There aren't enough good words to describe The Rapture of Canaan by Sheri Reynolds. This is the story of Ninah, grandchild to the founder of a radical church called "The Church of Fire and Brimstone and God's Almighty Baptizing Wind." The church strictly forbids fornication, lying, or any other type of sin, real or imagined, that you can think of. Some of Grandpa Herman's punishments for sin include hefty donations to the church, putting nettles in one's bed, or even sleeping in an open grave.

For young Ninah all these punishments and threats of damnation are terrifying for a girl who is coming of age and discovering feelings for the opposite sex. The object of her desire takes the shape of her prayer partner, James. The events that follow will change Ninah's life, as well as the lives of those around her.

Reynolds' portrayal of James and Ninah is charming, warm, witty, and tragic, all rolled into one. The southern flavor of the book only adds to the delicious atmosphere. I found all of the characters to be very believable and important to the overall story. Great characterization and a thick plot can be hard to come by at times, yet Reynolds executes it perfectly.

Sheri Reynolds has me hooked with The Rapture of Canaan and I can't wait to read more of her work. This book will capture your heart.

Even from the very first page, it's as if the words are lifted up off the page, enrapturing you into this poignantly powerful and passionate story of a young girl struggling to make sense of it all. She's coming of age in a society, led by her Grandpa Herman, where almost everything is a sin.

Reynolds' portrayal of this type of religion was astounding, yet hauntingly disturbing. I cringed and felt my stomach grow a couple of notches just reading her descriptions of their beliefs and punishments of "sinners". In many ways, I related so well to this book. I do not come from a family that is nearly as fervent as this community was, but like Ninah, I've cast my own questions about God and struggled to find "the truth".

I read the book in one day - not because it was an easy read - but simply because I couldn't put the book down. Reynold's writing style makes it easy for you to read each page without effort - as if it was a song in your head.

My only disappointment was the ending. I agree with one of the other raters who said that it didn't leave her much closure.

The Rapture of Canaan is a beautifully piece of work that you must not miss out on. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Sheri Reynolds writing is elequant and poetic, even in a stroy marred by incest. Bitterrot Landing's herione, Jael, is a survivor of incest and rape. To cope with her abuse, Jael listens to the spiritual voices that come to her. It is through her conversations with the spiritual voices that she begins to address the autrocities that have been committed against her.

Initially we meet Jael and are aware of the abuse that she has endured. After being deserted and subsequently rescued, Jael finds her home in a church and among loving people. As the novel progresses, we witness Jael experience healthy relationships and begin to confront her past. The reader will anxiously be turning the pages as Jael sets out on a journey to reconcile her past and feel whole again.

Bitterroot Landing is a novel about finding yourself when you've been trapped by fear. It is about rebuilding the broken, and most importantly, it is the story of resilieny of the survivor.

A haunting novel to read. Be prepared, Bitterroot Landing will stay in your thoughts long after the last page is turned.

This is one of those occasions where I'm sorry that I can give no more than five stars to a work. Sheri Reynolds has done a sensitive, masterful and intelligent job here -- this book is not only a fine piece of literature, it's a service to humankind that it was written. While some of the scenes and images may be a bit graphic for some readers, they are ultimately necessary to convey the events and emotions experienced by the main character.

Incest is an ugly thing, but a real thing -- it occurs in our so-called 'civilized' society, whether people want to admit it or not. And dealing with it, and its life-long effects on the victims/survivors is a struggle that can crush a weak spirit. The one who has been victimized must reach down, deep inside and find that strength of spirit and determination to fight back against its devastating effects, to reclaim and reinvent their lives. This is an incredibly moving depiction of such a struggle.

The author manages to put us INSIDE Jael's heart and soul and mind -- we journey this difficult road along with her, discovering the roots of her trauma only as she discovers them herself. The flashback scenes are particularly compelling -- their meanings become clearer and clearer with the passage of time.

When I got his book recently, I read it one day, then re-read it over the next 2-3 days -- I wanted to burn this story and these characters into my mind while the images were still fresh. I sat in the laundromat reading, completely unashamed of the tears streaming down my face -- someone I love very much has been facing this with incredible courage over the last three years, and I couldn't help but see her on almost every page.

I cannot recommend this novel highly enough -- it does more than anything I've ever read to help the reader understand and relate to the pain, struggle and courage that are involved in 'walking the path' to recovery.

I randomly picked up this book at a bookstore to which I had a gift certificate. I was not dissapointed. I devoured the book and felt changed when I finished it. Reynolds' words are crafted with such thought that they create the most vivid, beautiful images. Her words pulled me into the story and I truly believed in Jaels life and pain. Jaels' triumphs over her inner conflicts left me inspired. Her bitter struggle is almost tangible and nothing seems far-fetched because of how deep I was into the story. I pick this book up and read it often and it always leaves me filled with intense emotions.