Salvation on Sand MountainSalvation on Sand Mountain
Score Modern
What it's about
Dennis Covington, a journalist, went to cover the trial of an Alabama preacher accused of trying to kill his wife with rattlesnakes. He became fascinated by the snake-handling churches of Appalachia, where believers handle venomous snakes and drink poison to prove their faith, and was drawn into their world himself.
Why it's worth reading
It was a National Book Award finalist. It's a strange, haunting book.
You'll love it if you liked
The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory
The Varieties of Religious Experience
Have a Little Faith: A True StoryGood to know
It's short.
By the numbers
- Readers30 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics28 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
On our reserve shelf: it doesn't have enough readers yet for us to rank it alongside the Must-Read 50 pool. We check again every month, and it can still turn up in your 50 once you've read most of our ranked books.
Why it made the list
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Quick answers
Is Salvation on Sand Mountain worth reading?
It was a National Book Award finalist. Its Must-Read Score is 58.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Salvation on Sand Mountain about?
Dennis Covington, a journalist, went to cover the trial of an Alabama preacher accused of trying to kill his wife with rattlesnakes. He became fascinated by the snake-handling churches of Appalachia, where believers handle venomous snakes and drink poison to prove their faith, and was drawn into their world himself.
How long does it take to read Salvation on Sand Mountain?
About 6 hours (240 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Salvation on Sand Mountain?
If you liked it, try The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory by Tim Alberta, The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James or Have a Little Faith: A True Story by Mitch Albom.