JESUS SAVES by Darcery Steinke

Re-finished Fr 6/1/18

This is one of my old trade paperbacks that I first read during my vacation to Key West- week before Labor Day, 1998.

This a few stories, but the central theme is Sandy Patrick.  A lurid and hallucinogenic portrait of her kidnapping and victimization by an old, bearded pervert in a rural area; possibly the American Northwest.

Ginger- she knew Sandy and her life has changed because of the disappearance.
Ginger's mother has died from cancer. She lost her faith in god and as she was dying and her husband would pray over her, she insisted that he hold the hand of one of Ginger's teddy bears.

Ginger's father is a Lutheran minister at odds with the powers within his church.
Mr. Hulhoffer is an old man who made his fortune in cheap furniture for the suburban economic boom of the late 50's and early and 60's. He calls the shots at the church (actually there is a suburban branch and a crumbling downtown branch), and he wants to get rid of Ginger's father. He feels that the direction of religion is to make the services more like TV or professional sports; yoga and exercise programs for the women and softball teams and special interest groups for the men.
Ginger's father is more in touch with the ancient ways of God and The Church.

Ginger has a sexual relationship with a boy her own age, Ted. His brother is also around and he is older and a delinquent.

The kidnapper is an older man with a long beard and very dirty. Almost like a human troll.

Most of the chapters are titled 'Ginger', but a couple are 'Sandy', from the victim's point of view.

Sometimes Sandy's story disintegrates into a cartoon or fable. It involves the interactions of bears, unicorns, and other animals.

When Hulhoffer finally gets rid of Ginger's father, he begins a relationship with Ruth Patrick, Sandy's mother. This woman seems to 'ground' the man, and it seems like he'll have a future.

The book has a very, very creepy vibe and effectively conveys a feeling of perversion and transgression.

I also bought another book by this author, SUICIDE BLONDE and I'll definitely re-check this out.