Purple Jesus
Mar 27, 2011
Author: Ron Cooper
Publisher: Bancroft Press
Publication Date: 2010
ISBN:978-1-890862-70-1
Purvis Driggers (love the name) is typical swamp trash. His low intelligence and lack of fortitude and ambition nearly guarantee that he will be a slacker loser his entire life.
Then he "lucks" upon an old man who it is rumored has money tucked away somewhere. He also happens to appear quite dead. Purvis doesn't know who killed him, but decides to treat himself to a stroll through the house to look for money.
So starts Purvis' quest for wealth and love. The love part starts when he hears singing by the river as he sneaks out of the dead man's house and spies a baptism going on. One look at the beautiful Martha in the sheer baptism gown and he's a goner.
But Brother Andrew, a monk with his own agenda that's not always God-like has also spied the damp Martha in the water and believes she could help in his "salvation".
Neither man realizes that Martha is colder and more cunning than either of them put together.
This is a novel of three people all loving, hating and using each other - sometimes for the same goal, and sometimes completely across each other's wants and needs.
The dialogue and description of this area, the people and culture is very authentic and that alone is well worth the read. Seeing if Purvis rises above his raising and life is another.
