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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
This was an interesting read for me. It was recommended to me a couple of times and has gotten high reviews. I started it with great anticipation only to find it quite odd and I wasn't certain I wanted to continue. I kept reading and it grew on me little by little. It's a Southern story about family, love, religion and a murder. Quite the combination. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Arlene is home in Alabama after 10 years of embracing celibacy, honesty and her absolute oath to never return to Possett. And once there, Arlene's demons close in. It took 200 pages, but the last 75 made it worth the read. "... I never judged you. You misunderstood. You thought I knew stuff I didn't. There was all this space between us, and you put whatever you wanted there. But you got it wrong."
I think I may just have to accept that while Joshilyn Jackson is a beautiful writer, I just don't love her books for some reason. However, you should give her a shot as I have a feeling it's not her, it's me! ;)
I really dont know why everyone isn't raving about this book. It was amazing! Could. Not. Put. It. Down. Go all of you...now... buy this book!
quick read. unexpected resolution. i like how the author played with the idea of personal perspective not translating to the truth of the situation
I recently read Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson and found it just sort of mediocre. There was an excerpt of Gods in Alabama in the back and I read it and got hooked. I much preferred Arlene as a narrator and laughed out loud so many times while reading this. Really enjoyable read, not much thinking required.
This is one of those books that I wish I had written. Not like any other book I've ever read. Wonderful twisting plot and characters. Will search for more by this author ASAP.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'm torn about what to think about this book. I definately liked [b: Between, Georgia|241969|Between, Georgia|Joshilyn Jackson|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1428466106s/241969.jpg|1345521] better. Right off the bat, I kept thinking this one was just weird.
The present/past story telling worked in Between, since you were just learning about her in bits and pieces, and it didn't have to be in chronological order. In this one, it was alternating chapters (not just drifting back to a memory), but I don't think it worked as well. Lena tells about a story telling game they play on road trips, and I soon figured out that was the flow of this book. Starting at the ends, and weaving it's way back to the beginning of the story. But it didn't work for me, as I felt just a hair too much in the dark about what I wanted to know to really enjoy it.
Now, the plot and character. I had a hard time finding anything about Lena that I could identify with. She had, just to sum it up, a terrible childhood. That totally screwed with her head. She is bizzarre to me, and I had a hard time caring what happened to her. The only reason I finished it was to find out what truly happened. Not because I cared about anyone in the book all that much, but just because I longed for an explination of the weirdness. I guess I kinda got one, but I'm still saying the book is weird.
The present/past story telling worked in Between, since you were just learning about her in bits and pieces, and it didn't have to be in chronological order. In this one, it was alternating chapters (not just drifting back to a memory), but I don't think it worked as well. Lena tells about a story telling game they play on road trips, and I soon figured out that was the flow of this book. Starting at the ends, and weaving it's way back to the beginning of the story. But it didn't work for me, as I felt just a hair too much in the dark about what I wanted to know to really enjoy it.
Now, the plot and character. I had a hard time finding anything about Lena that I could identify with. She had, just to sum it up, a terrible childhood. That totally screwed with her head. She is bizzarre to me, and I had a hard time caring what happened to her. The only reason I finished it was to find out what truly happened. Not because I cared about anyone in the book all that much, but just because I longed for an explination of the weirdness. I guess I kinda got one, but I'm still saying the book is weird.
I would go with 3.5 stars if I could, but I'm choosing 4 only because this is the book that got me out of a reading dry spell.