I live in Tennessee, and am well aware of at least one snake handling church locally. They are of the Holiness branch of religious folks, and they are certainly a different group of people. I do not understand how people can believe that holding a wild animal that is full of potentially fatal venom is a way to prove that you are doing right in the eyes of God. That whole concept is just too far fetched for someone like me. The story of the attempted murder was unbelievable, but also not that shocking at the same time. It was a good book, not very long, but good. I suggested that my sister read this book, but I'm not sure if she ever did.