Reviews – Page 59 – Southern Review of Books

“Revolutions of All Colors”: “A Story that Communities Do Not Forget”

By: Don J Rath December 15, 2020July 12, 2021

ReviewsDewaine Farria, Fiction, Revolutions of All Colors2 Comments

Dewaine Farria’s novel “Revolutions of All Colors” spans four generations of two interconnected families, from the early 1970s to the present day.

Spiritual Links and Colorful Language in “If I Had Two Wings”

By: Clifford Garstang December 8, 2020July 12, 2021

ReviewsFiction, If I Had Two Wings, Randal KenanLeave a Comment

Randall Kenan’s story collection “If I Had Two Wings” displays a rich fictional landscape, plenty of magical realism, and a vibrant cast of characters.

“The Once and Future Witches”: Where Women and their Words have Power

By: Amy R. Martin November 30, 2020July 12, 2021

ReviewsAlix E. Harrow, Fiction, The Once and Future WitchesLeave a Comment

Alix E. Harrow’s novel “The Once and Future Witches” is a witch-tale about witch-tales.

Heart and Logic in “Soul Full of Coal Dust”

By: Jessi Rae Morton November 27, 2020July 12, 2021

ReviewsChris Hamby, Nonfiction, Soul Full of Coal Dust2 Comments

“Soul Full of Coal Dust: A Fight for Breath and Justice in Appalachia” by Chris Hamby is a beautifully crafted deep dive into the horrific realities of black lung disease.

“Cuyahoga” Adds to the Elite Company of American Tall Tale Heroes

By: Bradley Sides November 25, 2020July 12, 2021

ReviewsCuyahoga, Fiction, Pete BeattyLeave a Comment

Pete Beatty’s exhilarating, laugh-out-loud debut novel, “Cuyahoga,” gives birth to literature’s next great tall-tale hero, Big Son.

A Community Defined by Fear and Suspicion in “How Fire Runs”

By: Michel Sabbagh November 23, 2020July 12, 2021

ReviewsCharles Dodd White, Fiction, How Fire RunsLeave a Comment

Set in Trump-era Tennessee, Charles Dodd White’s “How Fire Runs” follows a small town’s struggle against white supremacy.

Call and Response in ‘How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America’

By: Rachael Greene November 12, 2020March 14, 2021

ReviewsHow to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America, Kiese Laymon, NonfictionLeave a Comment

Kiese Laymon’s ‘How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America’ is a conversation that takes place on and off the page.

The Rise and Fall of a Southern Hotbed of Vice

By: Dean Jobb October 29, 2020January 20, 2024

ReviewsDavid Hill, Nonfiction, The Vapors1 Comment

In “The Vapors,” David Hill tells the all-but-forgotten story of the Arkansas town that punched far above its weight as one of America’s early playgrounds for the rich and famous – and for millions of others who wanted to hobnob with the one percent.