The Second Coming of Curly Red

By Jody Seay

Book Overview

This candid, compelling, compassionate novel could have been torn out of today's newspaper headings. One minute Texan Jimmy Heron is sitting next to his beloved wife of 50 years eating pie, the next minute she is dead in his arms; killed by a racist, woman-hating, semiautomatic gun-toting maniac. Shattered by Lou's senseless death, Jimmy Heron hits the road - can't sit still; can hardly breathe. He roams the western landscape looking for solace until he lands in the tiny pioneer town of Reliance, Oregon. Here he settles, figuring it is as good a place as any to wait until he dies. His new neighbors, however, delicately jump into his life. They are a lesbian couple eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child and their Native American ranch hand. Together they gently encourage Jimmy to deal with loss and death and kindness, perseverance and love. Jimmy Heron starts the healing process. That's when his new friends become the targets of a vicious campaign. Fueled by lies and bigotry couched as "family values", the hatred begins to poison the soul of their little community. Each character caught in the conflagration must decide what they believe. It is in this heat, a community is forged and a town remembers how it got its name. The Second Coming of Curly Red will grab you by the heart and not let go.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1938282108
• ISBN13: 9781938282102
• Release Date: February 2014
• Publisher: Koho Pono, LLC
• Length: 374 Pages
• Weight: 1.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Enchanting, and Rich as Butter

Keep an eye on Jody Seay. This woman's work is marvelous. There is something about the way she magically strings words together that makes you just proud to be a member of the human race! Let's hope we all hear much, much more from this wonderfully gifted writer.

An important book for "Everyone, USA."

This book takes preachers of hate head-on as it points out how hateful rhetoric creates hate-filled actions. As a school counselor in Oregon for many years, I have witnessed first-hand how hatred, violence and intolerance can devastate families, friendships and communities. Although many books have been written by members of various groups addressing this issue, generally these books are geared toward their own particular group or audience. I found, The Second Coming of Curly Red, to be refreshing in that it is written for "Everyone, USA." Jody Seay lets the story and the characters of her novel build a platform of kindness, compassion and understanding, then invites the rest of us to step up on it and get bigger than we thought we were. This is a very important book... an honest and heartwrenching book that should be read by everyone who has a desire to understand diversity and grow in tolerance and acceptance of all human beings.

A story of hearts opening, a discovery of our one-ness!

Jody Seay is a true story-teller. My attachment to these characters--Jimmy, Lou, Jonah, Cory, and of course, Curly Red-- was similar to my connection to the characters in Fried Green Tomatoes, or to those in Where The Heart Is. I was drawn into the sorrows, joys, and the ever-present humor shared among these characters. They became my friends, and I was outraged at the indignities they endured, I grieved with their losses, and celebrated their triumphs. I did not want this book to end, and I anxiously await Ms.Seay's next offering!

A wonderful book by a very talented writer!

This book is the BEST! This book made me laugh and cry-sometimes even on the same page! Anyone who has lost someone they loved can understand the tragedy of Jimmy Heron and his wife. However, there is hope in this book also; not just for Jimmy but for the other characters who confront the issues of homo-phobia, hate crimes, and ignorance. The characters in this book are believable and you feel like you know them personally. Jody's storytelling ability is remarkable and it makes you just want to keep reading more and more and more. I can't wait until her next book!

Warm and engaging

Ms. Seay's first novel is filled with gentle humor, compassionate wisdom and engaging characters. Her story is a wonderful model for life-affirming transcendence of prejudice and loss. I am looking forward to her next work!