Bourbon and the second coming of Christ.

Yeah, sounds like a strange combination of what too much alcohol can do to the human's brain. Yet...there is more to this book. Even if the topics are handled with a tad heavy pen and the skills that needs polishing, there definitely is a talent for story, a vivid imagination and the drive towards the unexplainable. And the gangsters, mysteries, pretty women and men being men.
I'd say that this is novel for those who like Southern fiction. Author Billy Coffey comes to mind - even if Billy Coffey this is not, but as I said before, the potential is here. Both authors like to play with the unexplainable and at the first glance I got shocked (theologically, too) only to discover that there is a true quest for the truth.

This novel has its weak spots - yet it shoots well into the hidden place in my heart where dwells the desire to explain the unexpainable and the hope that there is a higher plan concerning the pain.

I will certainly read more from this author.

Not a bad read.  William McFee's family made bourbon before Prohibition.  His grandfather was noted for making a good bourbon.  Since then, the family has had it tough.  William wants his father Barley to start distilling bourbon again.  Barley wants nothing to do with it.  

Complicating everything is the new burial in the cemetery next door.  People think that he has some sort of spiritual strength.  People who pilgramage to the gravesite seem to have miracles.  

Then there is Barley's secret life.  

We follow all of these threads through the book and see how they intertwine.  Not a bad way to spend a quiet afternoon.

Did not know what to expect from this novel....it captured my attention...and held it. Loved this story!!!

While I found this book to be quite interesting historically, it was pretty dark with a great deal of violence and situations that are usually not found in Christian fiction. The story takes place in Kentucky at the site of a family distillery that was shut down during prohibition.

Most of the narrative takes place after the burial of a homeless man in the potter's field next to the distillery. Miracles attributed to the man bring hoards of people to his graveside after William's article appeared in the local paper. Although William is the principle character, family members, especially his father, play major roles in the story.

Difficult subjects such as alcoholism, death of a child, grief, homelessness, racism, and illegal alcohol running and its associated violence during prohibition were just a few of the topics covered in this novel. For me, it was a difficult story to read and I personally found little hope or direction toward Christ within its pages.

On the other hand, the story was well crafted with strong and complex characters. I did like the way William and his father eventually resolved their personal issues but I would like to have seen a bit more restoration and redemption in the story.

Since I live in Kentucky and am familiar with the term "Angels' share", I was intrigued and anxious to read this book. The term "Angels' share" refers to the portion of bourbon lost due to evaporation while it ages in barrels. I assumed the book would be more about the bourbon industry, but was somewhat dissappointed. I thought it was a good story, but I had a hard time reading it, as I was expecting something different and just wasn't very interested.

"Twisted Tree, Kentucky is a town that seems to have lost its identity along with its industry, bourbon distilling. The McFee family has made high-quality whiskey for a generation, but even though Prohibition is over, Barley McFee hasn’t re-started the distillery. He blames himself for the death of his young son and is haunted by his illegal activities during Prohibition. As the family comes apart, a mysterious stranger is buried on the family’s property, disciples set up camp, and miracles are witnessed. This book is just a great read, with likable characters, a little bit of mystery, a sweet romance, and no small amount of redemption. Author James Markert is also a historian, and he fills the story with fascinating and relevant historical details."

An engaging look at a post prohibition family. Several intermingling storylines keep the reader engaged.

I selected this from Netgalley as something a bit different from my usual (wide!) range of reading and was very gratified with my choice. This extremely well-written and edited novel combines a number of themes but in many ways is a coming of age story. Set just prior to WWII, many of the protaganists are WWI veterans and their readjustment to civilian life in the face of Prohibition and the Depression adds depth to the narration. I loved learning about bourbon (paraphrasing, all bourbons are whiskey but only a select few whiskeys are bourbon) and how it is made as well as some of the legends; it was also interesting to get a bit more of the background of the Volstead Act's greatest contribution to the 20th century--gangsters.

It is hard to pigeonhole The Angels’ Share in the sense of literary category, theme, or purpose. The author, James Markert, has a history degree and categorizes The Angels’ Share as “commercial fiction set during historical times.” The publisher classifies it as both General Fiction (Adult) and Christian. Four major threads compete for attention--the Depression, Prohibition, the bourbon industry, and a confusing Christlike figure.

Times are particularly hard in the fictional town of Twisted Tree where Prohibition has raised unemployment levels due to the closing of the distillery. The family that owned the distillery mysteriously seems to fare well financially, but there are dark tones to their story.

Homeless people play a major role in this novel, as in almost any tale of this era. One, in particular, stands out: Asher Keating, who has already passed away when the story begins. A much decorated war hero who saved the lives of hundreds of fellow soldiers, he quietly accumulates a following as he roams around healing, feeding the hungry, and providing clothing. Is he Jesus fulfilling the second coming? Is he a guardian angel? Is he a lunatic?

The title The Angels’ Share emphasizes both the process of making bourbon and the religious and philosophical questions posed. According to the author, angels’s share is “the quantity of whisky lost to evaporation during the aging process.” Tradition says that distillers share their bourbon with the angels as an offering so they will protect the distillery from fire.

The Angels’ Share is a very different book and a worthy read. The characters and their struggles are interesting. The setting, both locale and time, are essential to the plot. I don’t consider it to be a “Christian” book because it doesn’t follow Biblical tenants and prophecies. It does have religion and relationship to God as thematic elements, and it does provoke thought about God, the homeless, and gifted individuals. The Angels’ Share is well-written with its complex threads telling a story with depth. The dialogue is appropriate to the era with lots of slang that has fallen out of popular usage, giving a realistic touch to conversations. The relationships of the various characters result in an interesting web as they move in and out of each others’ lives. There is even a romance that is integral to the plot, but does not dominate it. As The Angels’ Share concludes, many questions are answered about the characters, but others are appropriately left to the reader to ponder.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Thomas Nelson for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.




Rating: 4/5

Category: General Fiction (Adult)

Publication: January 17, 2017 -- Thomas Nelson

Notes: I was intrigued, but not surprised, that the passages I highlighted as I read this book mostly deal with Asher Keating, the Christlike figure. There are many selections that made comparisons with or echoed Biblical text; they lead the reader to pose questions about Keating and his purpose on Earth.

Memorable Lines:
Hope can change even the most stubborn of men.

In the author’s historical notes: ...there are now more barrels of bourbon aging in Kentucky than people.

Bourbon and the Potter Field Christ

Willie McFee grows up in Twisted Tree, Kentucky. His family is relatively well off, although the town is suffering the effects of having the bourbon distillery, owned by the McFee family, shut down by Prohibition.

Although Prohibition is over, Barley, Willie’s father shows no interest in reopening the distillery. Willie encourages him dreaming of becoming the distiller as his grandfather planned. Then a drifter comes to town. He dies and is buried in the Potter’s Field on the McFee property, but that’s not the end of the story.

Gossip circulates giving the man credit for performing miracles. Soon people arrive to pray at the site. Rumors that he is the Second Coming of Christ spread changing the town and the McFees.

This historical novel is true to the time presenting the problems and dislocation caused by Prohibition and the Depression. It’s also historically accurate that during the period itinerant preachers and drifters wandered from place to place giving voice to the word of God and sometimes miracles happened.

The characters in the book are well developed. Willie struggles with his ambition and his father’s retreat from the world. The townspeople are representative of people caught in a difficult situation they cannot control.

The story is full of twists. The several plots coming together from World War I and the Depression to the problems of Prohibition. If you enjoy a well written historical novel, you’ll enjoy this book.

I received this book from Harper Collins for this review.

I enjoyed this story, maybe more so because I know the history of the bourbon industry in Kentucky. Enjoyable characters and story.

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