This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Gaius Konstantine for Readers' Favorite
“The truth? It don't fit clean. Life don't work like no sermon or a newspaper headline. It's messy. It bleeds.” Life does these things and more, and messy can be an understatement as The Bible Of Blackwater County, a novel by Jenny Cafaro, clearly illustrates. Set in Depression-era Appalachia, the story follows young Bessie Winters, a girl from a destitute family. But poverty is only half of it. Bessie lives in a society that crushes dreams and is populated by small-minded individuals who judge others without ever having walked in their shoes. Under those circumstances, many people would succumb to despair, but Bessie is no ordinary person; she is the rare exception who manages to avoid being driven into the mud despite the tragedy life throws her way.
Unforgiving at times, but masterfully composed and resonant, The Bible of Blackwater County by Jenny Cafaro is a perfect example of modern literature at its finest. The plot centers on a young girl living through harsh times as she navigates an unforgiving era marked by poverty and stigma. Yet while the plot itself is very strong, the thematic depth is outstanding, as despair, manipulation, hope, and the struggle for survival make this book difficult to put down. Character development is also good, and the cast are all well-crafted individuals who are believable and relatable. A moderate pace combined with a deliberately accented writing style works well in recreating an era and atmosphere long gone. Overall, The Bible of Blackwater County is an exemplary tale that will delight fans of multiple genres. I easily recommend it.
