The Baptism of Billy Bean

by Roger Alan Skipper

Lane Hollar's seen little of the world beyond West Virginia--Parris Island and Vietnam--but that was enough. Now, thirty years later, he's estranged from his only son, Frank, and from society at large. Lane has his grandson, Toby; his daughter-in-law, Darlene; his bait shop; and his banjo, and he desires or needs nothing else. But then one day, he and Toby are out fishing when they witness a drug-related murder. Suddenly, the boundaries of his world...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1582434603
• ISBN13: 9781582434605
• Release Date: February 2009
• Publisher: Counterpoint LLC
• Length: 360 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.9" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Wonderfully well written

If you've ever thought a novel set in Appalachia wouldn't interest you, you need to acquaint yourself with Roger Alan Skipper and his two novels, Tear Down the Mountain and The Baptism of Billy Bean. Skipper's characters move through settings so deftly described, the reader's mind sees every detail. From the moment Lane, the protagonist of The Baptism of Billy Bean, witnesses a murder, we are drawn into his journey to find justice as well as fascinated by his emotional growth along the way. The writing is simply wonderful. Every sentence seems lovingly crafted, every description nuanced.

Great Story, Beautifully Told

This was truly a fabulous book. I fell in love with the authenticity of Lane Hollar in the first chapter, and I couldn't put this one down. I love writers who write sentences that you have to stop and read out loud to yourself. And Roger Skipper is that kind of writer. I also love writers who take the familiar and ... make you see it in a new way. And Roger Skipper is that kind of writer. The Baptism of Billy Bean is a great story, beautifully told.

Excellent craftsmanship, authentic voice

"The Baptism of Billy Bean" is intensely engaging from the first paragraph. The author's ability to catch the cadences and colloquialisms of the region, without fudging or sentimentalizing, is extraordinary and betrays a huge talent at work. In the tradition of Cormac McCarthy, the book evokes a place and time with certitude and honesty. Worth a second or third read! I eagerly anticipate the next book Skipper offers us lucky readers!

The Baptism of Billy Bean

I've read all of Roger Skipper's books and believe this to be his finest. The characters and plot are well developed and highly realistic. His grasp of the culture of appalachia, its people and the difficulties of everyday life rival James Lee Burke's treatment of rural Louisiana. I highly recommend the book.

Appalachian Honesty

Roger Skipper creates pictures and sounds in The Baptism of Billy Bean that I see and hear on a daily basis. The book weaves a tale of "the way it is" amongst a distinct population within his beloved Appalachia, all the while expressing feelings of nostalgia for the past and hope for the future. I look forward to his next book.