Hiding Place

Hiding Place is the third book by John Wideman that I read (the first two being Brothers and Keepers, and Damballah), and it's the one that really solidified his place in my mind as one of our best living writers. He takes the title from an old Gospel tune, "I went to the rock to hide my face / and the rock cried out, no hiding place" and the feel of the book is like a Gospel or blues song. It takes place in modern Pittsburgh and revolves around the relationship between Bess and Tommy, who are family, a bond which Bess dismisses, but they come to an understanding about themselves and each other. The ending is not happy, but it's powerful and hopeful and reflects the struggle of doing what's right. A powerful, beautifully written book that I can't recommend enough.