Review: The Emerson Gospel by Robbyn Burger

Summary
The Emerson Gospel is the story of a young woman from New York and the lessons she learns about life, family, and battling your demons.

Haley Emerson is the daughter of a strained marriage between famous country crooner Ray Emerson and his religious & abused wife.  Together with her two sisters, Kendall and Jenny, and her brother Robert, Haley has seen her father womanize, battle addiction and alcoholism, and end up divorced. Family gatherings were always arduous; Kendall and their mother were always willing to give their father a second chance, whereas Jenny and Haley were less tolerant.

To escape her family and the lives they've chosen, Haley moves to New York City to works at a successful brokerage firm. In New York, the good times, booze, and money never cease to roll in. Haley visits her family on Thanksgiving and Christmas out of loyalty.

The story begins on Christmas of 1997. Haley is at home in Tennessee, going through the motions of family obligation. We are introduced to each member of the Emerson family and learn of what a black sheep Haley is. She returns to New York where she meets and starts dating Alex, a successful attorney. Haley is used to the party scene, drinking to excess and recreationally using drugs. Even though she has seen how drugs and alcohol have torn her family apart, Haley denies any issues. We see the lives and personal issues the other Emerson children have, including abuse and uncertainty. As the year goes on, Haley must admit to and confront her demons, or risk turning out exactly like her father.

Review
The Emerson Gospel is not a traditional story. There is no typical mustache-twirling villain. Instead, you find yourself hoping Haley is able to recognize what is staring her in the face and overcome her ego to get help. Even her womanizing and abusive father redeems himself. We never see the side of him Haley describes seeing as a child. Instead, Ray is recovered and genuinely apologetic, a completely different man from the one described. He tries to help Haley recognize her demons and get help, hoping to avert her from the life he led.

My one complaint about The Emerson Gospel is the amount of time it took to get to Haley's problems. Although there are a few definite instances of alcohol abuse within the first chapters (drunk driving to get away from Alex's sorry excuse for a family,)  the rising action is more of a steady incline. However, a lot was spent learning about more of the characters and their backgrounds.

Verdict
Overall, The Emerson Gospel was a good read. It's not overly involved, and you want to cheer on the characters. I would recommend it to anybody who is into books about learning to accept yourself, battle your demons, and returning to your roots. Like I said, no mustache-twirling villain, so if that's what you're looking for,  you won't find it here.

3 stars