As always, for the complete lists of books and authors recommended by those of us participating in Friday’s Forgotten Books, surf over to Patti Abbott’s blog at http://pattinase.blogspot.com/ While there, check out her latest Flash Fiction Challenge and other offerings. Lots of good stuff.
For Arlene Fleet, it has been ten years and God has apparently decided their deal is off. She had promised God that she wouldn't fornicate with boys, she wouldn't tell another lie, and she would never go back home to her own fourth circle of personal hell, Possett, Alabama. She has managed to do that by staying in Chicago, teaching or taking classes ever summer, having a boyfriend who is willing to wait as long as she wants, and refusing all requests to come home by her family no matter what the occasion or reason.
"At this point, I figured I had firmly established that I would not be coming home, even if all if Chicago was scheduled to be consumed by the holy flames of a vengeful Old Testament-style Lord. `Thanks for the invite, Mama,' I would say, `but I have plans to be burned up in a fire that weekend.' Mama, however, could wipe a conversation out of her mind an infinite number of times and come back to the topic fresh as a daisy the next time we spoke." (Page 2)
In exchange, all God was supposed to do was to make sure that the body was never found. There are gods in Alabama and Arlene killed one ten years ago. Since God has allowed Rose Mae Lolley to show up on a therapist inspired quest to dig up the past at her door in Chicago, Arlene knows that the past has rear its ugly head once and fore all, and can no longer be denied. She has to find a way to stop her and the only option seems to be to go home and intercept Rose before she connects with the rest of the family.
If that wasn't enough, Arlene's African American boyfriend has decided its time to meet the family. Not only does her hard as nails Aunt Florence want her to come home for Uncle Buster's retirement party, but Burr wants to meet the family. The thought terrifies Arlene. Not only from the fact that she will have to work mightily at keeping the secret safe and unknown, but she knows what her family is like and how they are. It may be the here and now, but cultural tendencies run deep and she knows that to bring her boyfriend, the man that she loves more than anything else and certainly more than she can consciously admit to herself, home is like trying to mix oil and water together. Burr thinks he knows what could be in store for him and does not care. For all intents and purposes his family has accepted her for what she is and it is long past time for her side to meet him. He needs them to meet him not just for her sake but also for his own as proof of their relationship. If she won't take him home to Alabama to meet the family, their relationship is over.
Squeezed on all sides and desperate to keep the past hidden, Arlene gives into fate and heads home, Burr in tow. For Burr, it is a bit of a culture shock. For Arlene, it is about keeping the past, as she knows it, buried deep in the kudzu.
An incredibly emotional book, author Joshilyn Jackson has managed to create a debut southern noir novel in the finest traditions of the genre. Open and accessible, unlike many classic novels in the genre, the work is a tale of pain and redemption. At times, humorous, at times dark and violent, all times engrossing, Arlene begins a long spiritual journey to reclaim her very identity and in some sense, become born again as befitting her being raised as a Southern Baptist. Told with flashbacks when necessary, this novel is steeped with rich characters that come alive for the reader. While it touches on typical southern themes of racism, bigotry and class struggle, the author blends in a murder mystery and details how the little things in a family can become so very important.
It simply isn't possible to explain the rich tapestry of this book and the chord it strikes within, in the context of a simple book review. For those of us raised in the South, the book reflects our friends and family. We who were raised here know people who are these people to the very core of their being. As such, while they may go by a different name on the printed page, we know who they are as they live and breathe. Therefore, this book becomes a window, not just to the author's world, but to the world of all of us.
"At this point, I figured I had firmly established that I would not be coming home, even if all if Chicago was scheduled to be consumed by the holy flames of a vengeful Old Testament-style Lord. `Thanks for the invite, Mama,' I would say, `but I have plans to be burned up in a fire that weekend.' Mama, however, could wipe a conversation out of her mind an infinite number of times and come back to the topic fresh as a daisy the next time we spoke." (Page 2)
In exchange, all God was supposed to do was to make sure that the body was never found. There are gods in Alabama and Arlene killed one ten years ago. Since God has allowed Rose Mae Lolley to show up on a therapist inspired quest to dig up the past at her door in Chicago, Arlene knows that the past has rear its ugly head once and fore all, and can no longer be denied. She has to find a way to stop her and the only option seems to be to go home and intercept Rose before she connects with the rest of the family.
If that wasn't enough, Arlene's African American boyfriend has decided its time to meet the family. Not only does her hard as nails Aunt Florence want her to come home for Uncle Buster's retirement party, but Burr wants to meet the family. The thought terrifies Arlene. Not only from the fact that she will have to work mightily at keeping the secret safe and unknown, but she knows what her family is like and how they are. It may be the here and now, but cultural tendencies run deep and she knows that to bring her boyfriend, the man that she loves more than anything else and certainly more than she can consciously admit to herself, home is like trying to mix oil and water together. Burr thinks he knows what could be in store for him and does not care. For all intents and purposes his family has accepted her for what she is and it is long past time for her side to meet him. He needs them to meet him not just for her sake but also for his own as proof of their relationship. If she won't take him home to Alabama to meet the family, their relationship is over.
Squeezed on all sides and desperate to keep the past hidden, Arlene gives into fate and heads home, Burr in tow. For Burr, it is a bit of a culture shock. For Arlene, it is about keeping the past, as she knows it, buried deep in the kudzu.
An incredibly emotional book, author Joshilyn Jackson has managed to create a debut southern noir novel in the finest traditions of the genre. Open and accessible, unlike many classic novels in the genre, the work is a tale of pain and redemption. At times, humorous, at times dark and violent, all times engrossing, Arlene begins a long spiritual journey to reclaim her very identity and in some sense, become born again as befitting her being raised as a Southern Baptist. Told with flashbacks when necessary, this novel is steeped with rich characters that come alive for the reader. While it touches on typical southern themes of racism, bigotry and class struggle, the author blends in a murder mystery and details how the little things in a family can become so very important.
It simply isn't possible to explain the rich tapestry of this book and the chord it strikes within, in the context of a simple book review. For those of us raised in the South, the book reflects our friends and family. We who were raised here know people who are these people to the very core of their being. As such, while they may go by a different name on the printed page, we know who they are as they live and breathe. Therefore, this book becomes a window, not just to the author's world, but to the world of all of us.
Gods in Alabama
Joshilyn Jackson
Warner Books (Hachette Book Group)
April 13, 2005
ISBN# 0446524190
Hardcover
275 Pages
Kevin R. Tipple ©2005, 2011
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2 comments:
You always write a great review, Kevin. Thanks!
Thank you, Patti.
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