The story of Revival is dark and tragic. It is not one I would choose on my own; however, my book club selected it and I read it all the way through. Whether or not you enjoy the more macabre side of his tales, Stephen King is unarguably one of the best writers of our generation. His characters and storytelling draw you in quickly and keep you reading, whether you want to or not. I kept reading Revival for two main reasons: 1) the love of the main character, Jamie, who is introduced as a young child and 2) because I had to see what happened to him and his “fifth business,” the Reverend Charles Jacobs, even though I knew it would likely be disturbing. It was.
King’s description of the small town Jamie where Jamie grew up and the church where he met Jacobs were spot on in my experience, even though my small town and church were deep in the heart of Texas, not in Maine. The similarities were a bit chilling, minus the tragic plot twists and the “terrible sermon” that changed Jamie’s life. All of that was easy to picture, unlike anything that came after it. If you appreciate great characters and storytelling, you should enjoy the read. If you also appreciate Stephen King’s particular type of storytelling (you know, creepy, scary, sometimes terrifying), you will love this book.
I didn’t love Revival, but not because it wasn’t beautifully crafted. It was. I still enjoyed reading it, in spite of its dark nature. It was even better when I could accompany it with a glass of red wine, such as Coppola’s Director’s Cut Pinot Noir. Since summer is almost here and temps are climbing, I would suggest drinking it slightly chilled.
Shelly Wilbanks 