Revival Season : Book review


Book review

Title: Revival Season
Author: Monica West
Genre: Literary Fiction

Was good to read this book authored by one of my professors at University. 

Revival story is a tender portrayal of a girl whose life takes a sudden turn at a shocking discovery. 

We have our protagonist Miriam- daughter of one of the famous Baptist preacher. Every summer, Miriam and her family pack themselves in a minivan and travel entire South for revival season. This is a time when her father practices healing powers on people who badly want to be cured from various ailments. That summer when things don’t go as expected, Miriam witnesses something horrifying from her father. Things become more complicated when Miriam also discovers her ability to heal- something that her father is against as he doesn’t believe that women can possess such powers. Miriam must make a choice. Torn between her family and her special powers, the rest of the narrative takes us through her life and journey of surviving amidst harsh, violent  and patriarchal mindsets. 

Written in first person from the point of view of Mariam, the story more or less moves in chronological sequence. The story initially starts off slow orienting readers to the world of faith and healing interspersed with verses from the BIble.  And then it picks up pace after that act of violence and Miriam’s sudden discovery of her healing abilities.

 The voice of the protagonist is one of the greatest strengths. It’s raw, tender and strong in certain instances. You experience her suppression, despair, confusion and pain. In her lucid language, the author portrays vivid descriptions of the place, people, rituals, emotions and nature. 

Religion and faith are resounding themes in the book. Besides this, the author touches upon family, loss and healing. The book explores several dynamics like the mother daughter relationship, sibling revelry, a patriarchal society and sensitive subjects like cerebral palsy. 

Revival season is not an easy read. It’s disturbing content of abuse tends to make you cringe. It reminds you of Tara Westover’s Educated. And yet there is tenderness in its portrayal and little uplifting moments that ultimately tugs your heartstrings. You find yourself rooting for the fifteen year old protagonist who is striving to earn her rightful place. This coming of age novel is bound to linger in your mind as a lot of it is left to the interpretation of the reader.

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