Book review by Jim "Zig" Zeigler of the novel ‘Kinfolk’ by Sean Dietrich.
Sean Dietrich is known as “Sean of the South.” He writes columns and books about the South, sings about the South and speaks about the South.
While Sean was born in Missouri (is that in the South?) and raised there until age 12, he now lives in Birmingham and is an adopted Alabamian – an adoption that clearly took.
“I wasn’t born in Alabama, but I got here as quickly as I could.”
I just finished reading his 2023 novel "Kinfolk." It is an Alabama story.
The towns and counties in Sean’s novel are fictional. Whenever I read an Alabama-based novel that uses fictional place names, I play a game as I read. I try to figure out what real Alabama places the fictional towns and counties are referring to – if any.
The action is in and around Park, Alabama. No such town. It is in Ash County. No such county.
So, I started trying to pinpoint the disguised Alabama places by looking for small clues in the text. I thought I had it.
Park, Alabama, is close to Interstate 65. It is 200 miles north of Greenville, where two main characters ate at Bates House of Turkey, a real and well-known place. And then, what I thought was the clinching clue – they grow peaches in Ash County.
You can guess it by now. Park, Alabama, is in Ash County, which in real Alabama could be Chilton County, the peach basket of the state.
Two things didn't fit. Chilton County is only 100 miles north of Greenville, not 200. And Chilton County is not "the smallest county in the state," as is Ash County. A bit off, but this is fiction.
Another clue wasn’t as obvious, but it fits. There is a large and prominent water tower outside of town near fictional Park, Alabama. It played a major role in the plot. The peach water tower north of Clanton may be the Park water tower in the novel.
Oh well. Maybe my game while reading fiction about Alabama does not work.
The 400-page hardback, paperback or audio can be purchased here.
"Kinfolk" is a novel of second chances. A second chance for the town-drunk, self-centered Nub Taylor. A second chance for pregnant, six foot-five, and unpopular teenager Minnie. A second chance for Nub’s cancer-stricken schoolteacher daughter to reunite with her estranged father – in fact, for the whole family to reunite.
It tells how almost the entire town was able to forgive and reach out to the trouble-making town drunk, Nub, giving him a second chance.
The star of the novel, drunk ne’re-do-well Nub, did not intend to change his ways. Life things happened in Park that pushed Nub in that direction. He had befriended Minnie when she was a 15-year-old cook at Waffle House (right there on I-65 at the Clanton exit. I know it well.)
Minnie’s father was in prison, serving a life sentence. Her mom committed suicide. After defending herself in a fight at school, Minne was sent off to a facility as a ward of the state.
Nub did a most unlikely series of things. He went through the tedious process of qualifying as a foster parent. He made arrangements to obtain custody of Minnie at his unkempt old family home.
Nub survived fights, attacks and a house fire by enemies (some of whom had some reasons for their antagonism) and difficult communications with Minnie’s school and with his ex-wife and “ex-daughter.”
A big wig in the Park First Baptist Church paid for and booked Nub, his band and singer Minnie to sing at the large Easter Sunday morning service. After congregants realized it was Nub, the town drunk who had done bad things to many of them, and that the featured singer was an unmarried pregnant teenager, murmuring turned to walk-outs.
Minnie’s angelic singing converted the remaining audience, and a difficult day became a blessing.
Dietrich commented: “Gradually, Nub realizes the gift he’s been given: a second chance to make a difference.”
I think Sean Dietrich missed a chance. While “kinfolk” is a good Alabama word, as the book title, it does not adequately describe the plot. To me, Sean’s comment nailed a more appropriate title: “A Second Chance to Make a Difference.” That’s what the book is about.
Also by Sean Dietrich: "The Incredible Winston Browne," "Stars of Alabama" and "You Are My Sunshine."
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
