Jesus Land has certainly gotten its fair share of reviews, published in places as diverse as Essence, GQ and New York Times. All but one of the reviews have been flattering, and that was published in a throwaway weekly you've never heard of by a woman you've never heard of who has a fixation with the word LAID (Freudian, perhaps?)
Seriously. It's been a great ride so far.
It's interesting to see what different reviewers focus on, be it the family dysfunction, rural racism, or religious zealotry. Jesus Land certainly contains all those elements. The best, most insightful reviews have mentioned what lies at the core of the book - my relationship with my brother David, how it was tested by fire and ultimately prevailed. The worst reviews appear to be simple rewrites of the dust jacket.
Writing and publishing such a personal book has been a bizarre experience. After years of pecking away at JL in a dank corner of my bedroom, here it is born to the world, its fate taken from my hands. It's out there for the world to interpret at will, for reviewers to praise or piss on, and I have no chance for rebuttal. Except in this blog.
So here are my favorite reviews:
Daily KosEntertainment WeeklyNY Times
