THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 21, 1996 TAG: 9601180572
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Book Review
SOURCE: BY AUDREY KNOTH
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
THE RAPTURE OF CANAAN
SHERI REYNOLDS
G.P. Putnam's Sons. 317 pp. $22.95.
Writing fiction with religious themes is not easy, particularly when the goal is to be accessible to secular readers.
In The Rapture of Canaan, author Sheri Reynolds succeeds admirably at this task. In keeping with the title's reference to the Bible's promised land, the story portrays a group of people who have centered their lives on their religious beliefs. But the novel portrays human complexities in a way that speaks to a broad audience.
The tale is narrated by Ninah Huff, a teenager who has grown up in a rural fundamentalist sect in the South. Known as ``The Church of Fire and Brimstone and God's Almighty Baptizing Wind,'' the group consists of about 80 people, many of whom are Ninah's relatives.
The sect was founded by Ninah's grandfather, who continues to serve as its leader and preacher. Ninah views Grandpa Herman's teachings with a rather wry mix of belief and skepticism.
``I guess you could say the church doctrine came from Grandpa Herman's sensibilities. He used the Bible, of course, but only the parts he liked.
``I don't know if Grandpa got a copy of the laws from some other religion or if he just made them up, but he'd walk around saying things like, `He who invades another man's nets or fish traps or takes fish from another man's fishing preserve shall pay fifty dollars as compensation. Half to the man from whom they were stolen and half to The Church of Fire and Brimstone and God's Almighty Baptizing Wind. Amen.'''
The book chronicles Ninah's maturing within this rigid setting, one in which vanity and sexuality are suppressed by shapeless clothing and strict punishments, such as sleeping on nettles or in graves. Inevitably, these measures fail to protect Ninah from pregnancy and ensuing tragedy.
Although these events are intended as the central plot, what makes The Rapture of Canaan especially distinctive is its portrayal of the psychology of sect life.
At times, Ninah laments the lack of personal identity that comes with surrendering individual interests to a group.
``We were all lanky. We all dressed alike. We slept in the same hard beds and washed with soaps made from the same iron pot. We may as well have been skeletons, unidentifiable. We may as well have interchanged our bones.''
Yet, there are moments of joy - simple pleasures that can only come of being part of a tight-knit group that lives close to the land. Ninah recollects one such instance, when everyone gathered inside after romping in a rare snowstorm.
``We all sat on the floor . . . andpa Herman] thanked God for the snow and for allowing us to enjoy it so much. Nanna'd made cider, and everybody, children and grown-ups alike, had a cup, and we sung hymns together. Uncle Ernest and Aunt Kate brought out the guitar and banjo, and even though they never got them tuned the same, we didn't mind.''
Another intriguing aspect of The Rapture of Canaan is the relationship between Grandpa Herman and Nanna, his wife. She sits quietly through Grandpa's sermons, even ones in which he holds up her early life as an example of sin. But she regularly hints to Ninah that she doesn't agree with most of what her husband says. According to Nanna, ``Herman is doing the best he knows. . . . He's not a perfect man.''
Shari Reynolds has taught writing at Old Dominion University. She now teaches at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, where she lives. Reynolds made a critical splash with her first novel, Bitterroot Landing. This book is a worthy successor - gracefully written and jeweled with [insight into human nature.] MEMO: Audrey Knoth is a free-lance writer and executive director of public
relations at Goldman & Associates in Norfolk. by CNB