Brother to a Dragonfly - Inspirational Novel by Banner Books | Perfect for Book Clubs & Literary Enthusiasts

I don't know where I've been, but I'd never heard of Will Campbell or Brother to a Dragonfly. What a book! My mind was making little explosions as I read through the pages of this memoir about two brothers, the South, and racism. The telling of it touched me deeply. What I take away from it now is different than what I would have taken away as a younger person--and times have changed. We go through evolutions in our lives, and we come to see things differently than we once did. Will Campbell, as well, learns and sorts as he goes. The imagery is powerful, and the message is powerful. The book's two threads, interwoven to the end, captivated me: the brothers and their somewhat painful but loyal and loving relationship, and the preacher who is the man for the job as he carries the race burden for the marginalized and strives to use his life to awaken the country to its ignorance and injustice.Campbell's total conversion, after twenty years of preaching, is worth reading. He is asked which one of two men does God love most, a man who was recently murdered? Or the person who murdered him? Campbell struggles to answer. Moments later he has an epiphany. " Suddenly everything became clear. Everything. It was a revelation. The glow of the malt which we were well into by then seemed to illuminate and intensify it. I walked across the room and opened the blind, staring directly into the glare of the street light. And I began to whimper. But the crying was interspersed with laughter. It was a strange experience. . ."He sees truth and it looks different. He sees his own wrong thinking even in his well-doing. This leads him in a new direction which is misunderstood by others. I believe one has to appreciate Campbell's mainspring, his faith, to fully understand where it takes him. Brother to a Dragonfly covers history I remember from my childhood. One is presented with life and injustice. Your own values and, quite possibly, beliefs about others will be up for reconsideration. Will's brother is troubled which adds another dimension. This poignant tale is for the person who wants to be stretched. It is a fascinating read.