Every Good and Perfect Gift

by Brenda Jernigan

In the tradition of Kaye Gibbons, Sheri Reynolds, and Dorothy Allison, Brenda Jernigan is an exciting and original Southern voice. This novel concerns a miraculous event -- with a contemporary spin -- that sets in motion a profoundly moving and often warmly human coming-of-age story. This is beautifully crafted writing, rich with unforgettable characters.

Every Good and Perfect Gift is set in a small town in North Carolina, a place that is comfortable with tradition, including the traditional image of God. On a sultry Sunday morning when ten-year-old Maggie Davidson swoons from the heat and sees God -- and God is a woman -- people are quick to ascribe her vision to the fantasies of an overheated girl. But when Maggie begins to demonstrate a gift of healing, people's attitudes change.
This is a story of a family of three strong women -- grandmother, mother, and daughter -- who live by the laws of love, loss, and pride. It is also the story of a community of good people gone wrong and bad people who find good in themselves. It is a knowingly detailed account of a particular part of America -- and of the wide landscape of human hearts and souls.

Genres: Fiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published May 22, 2001

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. It turned out to be more religious than I thought it was going to be. Just not what I was interested in.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay.... this fell short of my expectations. I would give it 3 1/2 if I could, but I don't think this is one that I'll remember 6 mo. from now. It started out pretty good, but then got kind of predictable. The timeline was kind of hard to follow, too. Once it stabilized, it was better. Sometimes it felt like a series of short stories instead of a cohesive novel.

That said, parts of this book were really good (five stars worth.) Other parts made me roll my eyes. I love the idea of the story and some of the characters were good, but the story felt choppy at times. The main antagonist was not much of a character at the beginning of the book, so when he suddenly came around making trouble near the middle-to-end of the book, I had to wrack my brain trying to think who he was. At 275 pages, this could have been filled out a bit and plumped into a really good read.

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. I was intrigued at the idea of the main character, a young southern girl who had visions of God appearing to her as a woman. But the focus shifted a little, and the story became more about the familial relationships between several women of varying ages and life experiences. This author is truly gifted when it comes to similes and metaphors. Ahh, and then a very gently written love story, with a twist. We are kept waiting, wondering what will happen as our heroine struggles with her faith in God, and love, and herself. This book had less to do with whether God is a "Him" or a "Her," and more to do with love and acceptance and believing in ourselves. Point taken.

[Meranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly good book. This tells the story of Maggie, who as a child sees God (who is a She by the way ;)) and is given the gift of healing. Her healing abilities occur only when accompanied by a vision of God. The book follows her through her journey into adulthood, into love and loss, a minor crisis of faith, and finding her calling.

I loved the book for the goodness of who Maggie is at her heart, as well as the strong values of her family that surrounds her. The novel was well written and a quick read to me.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. This is a very gifted author. She has a way with words, and a very genuine tone. Pitch perfect, I would say. I've actually marked some of the passages to re-read because of the profundity of her statements. Just amazing. I would recommend this highly. I can't wait to read more from this author.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed because this story had the potenial to be a really good read and at times did get there, but as the book progressed the characters and plot lines were largely underdeveloped and disjointed. I felt like one or two more edits to flesh out the thin spots and improve the story flow could have made it a five star novel.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming book about faith and family. I really enjoyed the relationship between mother, grandmother and daughter. A story set in the south in the early 1960's. The main character embarks on a personal journey of faith healing, and in the end learns to heal herself.

[Marjorie Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

a vivid exploration of a young Southern girl's life after encountering God in the form of a woman and healing touch. Brought to mind Peggy Payne's extraordinary meditation on God's mysterious and maddening presence in the life of a small liberal church leader in Revelation.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose this book because it was set in North Carolina near where I currently live. The novel is simple and written in a most caring, gentle manner. I liked the simplicity of it but at times found the plot line wanting and almost too predictable.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It is a prime example of how Southerners can be crazy about thier religion. I love the fact that God is a woman in this book. It is one of my all time favorite books too.

[Vikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It really touched my emotions. A girl in the south lives with her Mama and Granny. A boy from Princeton comes and falls in love with her.

[Becca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book that I really wanted to like but instead I found it cheesy with an ending that tied things in too neat of a bow.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Makes you think about the obligations of using one's gifts. Well-written story.