Kinfolk
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4.3 • 4 Ratings
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- $19.99
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- $19.99
Publisher Description
Read by the author.
Sometimes it’s the most unlikely meetings that give us life’s greatest gifts.
1970s, Southern Alabama. Sixty-two-year-old Jeremiah Lewis Taylor, or “Nub,” has spent his whole life listening to those he loves tell him he’s no good—first his ex-wife, now his always-disapproving daughter. Sure, his escapades have made him, along with his cousin and perennial sidekick, Benny, just a smidge too familiar with small-town law enforcement, but he’s never harmed anyone—except perhaps himself.
Nub never meant to change his ways, but when he and fifteen-year-old Waffle House waitress Minnie form an unlikely friendship, he realizes for the first time that there may be some good in him after all. Six-foot-five Minnie has been dealt a full deck of bad luck—her father is a convicted murderer serving a life sentence, her mother is dead and buried, and she has a Grand Ole Opry–worthy singing voice with no place to perform. Oh, and there’s the small fact that she’s unexpectedly pregnant, courtesy of a no-good high-school boy.
Gradually, Nub realizes the gift he’s been given: a second chance to make a difference.
Beloved Southern writer Sean Dietrich, also known as Sean of the South, once again brings people and places to life in this lyrical song-turned-story about found family, second chances, country music, and the poignant power of love and forgiveness.
Heartwarming Southern fiction from Sean of the SouthStand-alone novelAlso by Sean Dietrich: The Incredible Winston Browne, Stars of Alabama, and You Are My Sunshine
Customer Reviews
Starts Slow But Is Worth The Wait
Kinfolk by Sean Dietrich was read by the author. I often find this to be a mixed bag because an author knows the pronunciation of the names s/he is using and the voices that s/he imagined when writing the book, but may not be a proficient narrator. That was not the case in this instant. The author had a slow, southern drawl that was perfect for the setting of this story. The story is primarily about “Nub,” a man in his sixties who was divorced and estranged from his daughter due to his alcoholism, and Minnie, a fifteen year old Waffle House line cook. Minnie had been dealt a hand of bad luck. Her father was in prison as a convicted murderer and her mother died. Nub and Minnie’s paths crossed in a shared hospital room, and both of their lives were changed for the better. This is a story of found family, second chances, country music, and the power of love and forgiveness. It took me a while to really engage with this audiobook. The author followed the storylines of Nub, his daughter Emily, Minnie, and Minnie’s father and there was quite a lot of world-building that was done to really set the scene for the story. I stuck with it because the writing was good and the characters were interesting and I was sure that when the author pulled it all together it would all make sense. It turned out that I was absolutely right and the resulting story is one that will stick with me for a long time. He described the hardships of living in a small town in impoverished circumstances, struggling with impact of PTSD from fighting a war, growing up as a child of an alcoholic, or finding one’s parent after a suicide. The intersection of these characters’ lives result in the opportunity to make amends for past mistakes or find hope when it seemed all hope was lost. It is a story that leaves the reader with a feeling of well-being when a number of seemingly hopeless circumstances are altered for the better. I fell in love with these characters and if you are a lover of historical fiction, you may too. I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after listening to an advanced complementary copy of this audiobook thanks to Netgalley and Harper Muse.