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The Homecoming of Samuel Lake: A Novel Audiobook
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(4.00) - 2,163 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Every first Sunday in June, members of the Moses clan gather for an annual reunion at “the old home place,” a sprawling hundred-acre farm in Arkansas. And every year, Samuel Lake, a vibrant and committed young preacher, brings his beloved wife, Willadee Moses, and their three children back for the festivities. The children embrace the reunion as a welcome escape from the prying eyes of their father’s congregation; for Willadee it’s a precious opportunity to spend time with her mother and father, Calla and John. But just as the reunion is getting under way, tragedy strikes, jolting the family to their core: John’s untimely death and, soon after, the loss of Samuel’s parish, which set the stage for a summer of crisis and profound change. In the midst of it all, Samuel and Willadee’s outspoken eleven-year-old daughter, Swan, is a bright light. Her high spirits and fearlessness have alternately seduced and bedeviled three generations of the family. But it is Blade Ballenger, a traumatized eight-year-old neighbor, who soon captures Swan’s undivided attention. Full of righteous anger, and innocent of the peril facing her and those she loves, Swan makes it her mission to keep the boy safe from his terrifying father. With characters who spring to life as vividly as if they were members of one’s own family, and with the clear-eyed wisdom that illuminates the most tragic—and triumphant—aspects of human nature, Jenny Wingfield emerges as one of the most vital, engaging storytellers writing today. In The Homecoming of Samuel Lake she has created a memorable and lasting work of fiction.
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"Wow, a debut novel - what a storyteller! I was immediately pulled into the story, fell head over heals with Swan Lake and her brothers. When I finish a book and find myself missing the characters in my day it rates as a favorite for me. I look forward to future books from Jenny Wingfield."
— Marge (5 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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Selected for the July 2011 Indie Next List
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Nominated for the Barnes & Noble Discover Award
The Homecoming of Samuel Lake Listener Reviews
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" So well written. Unbelievable characterization. "
— Amy, 2/4/2014 -
" May 21 bookclub. Very good book so far. Hard to stop reading, it's keeping me up too late because I just have to know what happens next. "
— Karin, 1/29/2014 -
" good read but i found the shocking ending too dark and tragic "
— Elizabeth, 1/20/2014 -
" Brilliant. I love a Southern story, and this is one of the best I have read. Well written with such a journey of emotions. I'm missing the Moses/Lake family already! Looking forward to more of Ms Wingfield's work. "
— Lynne, 1/17/2014 -
" Loved it. I'm a sucker for a feel good family book. This story had such good ambiance. Did I believe the ultimate miracle-based climax? No, but who cares? "
— Connie, 12/24/2013 -
" A beautiful tale of faith, soul-deep love, and redemption. Jenny Wingfield is able to transport her readers to a different time and place, where the air has the fragrance of days gone by and the sky looks as though it can't decide whether to laugh or cry. "
— Gini, 11/19/2013 -
" This was such a joy to read -- I loved the characters and the author's sense of humor. It's funny, heartbreaking and uplifting. Definitely my favorite book I have read this year. "
— Rhonda, 11/9/2013 -
" I couldn't put this book down. It is beautifully written, and had me laughing and crying in turns. Jenny Wingfield makes the reader believe in miracles. "
— Judy, 11/2/2013 -
" Wonderful story and characters. There was some upsetting content about hurting animals and children that I skipped/skimmed over and still thoroughly enjoyed this book. "
— Dyan, 9/7/2013 -
" Read this for one of my book clubs. Really liked Swan, Toy, and Blade characters and felt for them through their trials and difficulties. However, I didn't feel this book was very well written and was just another ho-hum novel that was nothing special. "
— Rosebud, 8/16/2013 -
" Little slow at beginning but then I couldn't put it down. Made me cry. Sweet. Awful. Keep thinking about the characters. "
— Hilary, 8/12/2013 -
" Good book...easy to read with heartwarming characters. Did not see the obvious end coming:( "
— Jenny, 10/17/2012 -
" I couldn't put this down! "
— Steph, 10/1/2012 -
" This was a great story. Full of twists, with some miracles and a truly evil character (or two). It's told with a straightforward point of view. I laughed,cried and worried. This is too good--I want to talk about it with my book club sisters! "
— Sara, 6/8/2012 -
" I stayed up late to finish this book, I could not put it down. It reminded me of real storytellers like Anne Tyler and Anita Shreve but laced with a real hint of menace. I did not want it to end. "
— Amanda, 3/21/2012 -
" A good old southern town feel with the family dynamics to make an enjoyable read. "
— Alicia, 2/12/2012 -
" Stopped reading pretty quickly in because of language and other inappropriate content. It was hard to put down, though, because the writing was fantastic. "
— Jennifer, 11/23/2011 -
" Great book!! I didn't want it to end I was truly in love with the characters and wanted to know what happened next!! "
— Jen, 10/3/2011
About Jenny Wingfield
Jenny Wingfield lives in Texas with her rescued dogs, cats, and horses. Her screenplay credits include The Man in the Moon and The Outsider.
About Catherine Taber
Catherine Taber, a Georgia native, is an Earphones Award-winning audiobook narrator and actress whose film roles include the coming-of-age drama The Girls’ Room and the romantic comedy Just Like Heaven. She was the voice of Tina in Curious George 2, Padme Amidala in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Leia in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. She has provided voice work for numerous video games and was nominated for an award from the National Academy of Video Game Testers and Reviewers for her portrayal of Penelo in “Final Fantasy 12.”