If you have read other novels by Howard Frank Mosher, you
will be excited to see that God’s Kingdom is being published
October 6th. Sent in rural Vermont,
near the Canadian border, Mosher shares more stories about the Kinneson family;
this time, featuring coming of age for Jim, an aspiring writer, in the 1950’s.
To me, Mosher’s novels are gentle reads,
often focusing on nature, small town life and the wisdom shared across
generations. Storytelling is woven
throughout from many characters, including Gramp, and Jim’s father who is editor
of the local newspaper, and a much older aunt who provides insight on the family mystery. The vignettes in God’s
Kingdom have much to say about human nature and our interactions: some are sad, some are humorous, others seem
grounded in faith in a stoic New England heritage. Throughout, Jim grows in maturity and
self-awareness and the reader, too, has much to reflect upon.
God’s Kingdom is a truly enjoyable read and I highly recommend it,
especially to fans of historical fiction and of authors such as Ivan Doig (Last
Bus to Wisdom) or Sterling North (Rascal). In fact, writer Stephen
King says of God’s Kingdom, “This is American fiction at its very
best.”
