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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this quintessentially Southern book!! It’s both dark and funny, with a murder mystery, a wonderfully dysfunctional family, and true-to-life southern dialogue. I loved the many women in this story who are shining examples of strong women, able to be both loving mothers and murderous protectors without batting an eye. If you love southern fiction, or just a well-told story with a satisfying ending, you won’t regret reading this book. I did a tandem read with audio/physical copy, and the audio is wonderful!
Wow, it is hard to describe this book, as not only is it full of southern humor, drama and great quotes and one liners – it also a murder mystery. Jackson is a talented author--so creative and out of the box -- definitely knows the Deep South and Alabama. I have been reading a lot of her books lately, and you do not want to miss one word of this page-turner from past to present.
I loved “Backseat Saints” which I read before Gods of Alabama, so it was nice to put the two stories to together with the famous Jim Beverly and Rose. Arlene/Burr –a great combo as well as the quirky other characters. Full of dark secrets which come to a surface. I have to laugh over the southern Baptist ways as this is definitely the Bible belt. I can only imagine this southern girl moving to the Midwest – culture shock? The book involves family dynamics, relations, rape, racial relationship and learning to have courage to face your past. You have to love Aunt Flo!
I read half of the book as e-book and the second half via. There are positives of both; however, the sound effects and the southern accent really sets the stage for the dramatic ending.
I highly recommend all Jackson’s books (have one yet to read). They are all quite entertaining- you will want to read her latest “My Miraculous” and “Someone Else’s Love Story”!
I loved “Backseat Saints” which I read before Gods of Alabama, so it was nice to put the two stories to together with the famous Jim Beverly and Rose. Arlene/Burr –a great combo as well as the quirky other characters. Full of dark secrets which come to a surface. I have to laugh over the southern Baptist ways as this is definitely the Bible belt. I can only imagine this southern girl moving to the Midwest – culture shock? The book involves family dynamics, relations, rape, racial relationship and learning to have courage to face your past. You have to love Aunt Flo!
I read half of the book as e-book and the second half via. There are positives of both; however, the sound effects and the southern accent really sets the stage for the dramatic ending.
I highly recommend all Jackson’s books (have one yet to read). They are all quite entertaining- you will want to read her latest “My Miraculous” and “Someone Else’s Love Story”!
Very Southern novel. Author came to speak to a few of our book clubs in Alabama. She's very talented and a little outrageous! Fun to listen to. This novel just didn't work for me entirely. Wasn't quite sure the characters would really have behaved as she had them behaving. We had a bit of an interesting discussion about that. But for those who particularly like "Southern literature," Jackson is a good bet.
gods in Alabama tells the story of Arlene Fleet, who is living, happily enough, in Chicago having made a deal with God that if one event is kept a secret then she'll always tell the truth, give up fornication and never return to Possett, Alabama. When an old schoolmate shows up at her door, asking the wrong questions, Arlene figures all promises are broken and she heads south with her boyfriend to fix what needs repair.
Jackson is both a Southern writer and a very funny one as she casts a familiar eye over small town Alabama life. From a disapproval of Arlene's church-going habits -- she's attending a Baptist church but not a Southern Baptist church, leaving serious questions to be asked about her spiritual health, to her family's consternation at her boyfriend being African American -- as Arlene tells Burr, "They aren't like Ku Kluxy, but…", to the woman next door who has an odd relationship with her pet chicken, Jackson's novel is funny, even as she guides the reader through some very tough situations.
Jackson is both a Southern writer and a very funny one as she casts a familiar eye over small town Alabama life. From a disapproval of Arlene's church-going habits -- she's attending a Baptist church but not a Southern Baptist church, leaving serious questions to be asked about her spiritual health, to her family's consternation at her boyfriend being African American -- as Arlene tells Burr, "They aren't like Ku Kluxy, but…", to the woman next door who has an odd relationship with her pet chicken, Jackson's novel is funny, even as she guides the reader through some very tough situations.
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
has twists and turns, surprises, an overall good read...not quite what i expected.
See my full review at https://topplingbookpile.wordpress.com/2021/10/06/gods-in-alabama-by-joshilyn-jackson/
This was my first Joshilyn Jackson book & I was very quickly hooked! Her writing is simply excellent, & her characters are just so real. LOVE this & every other one of her books I've read this far.
I'm a big Joshilyn Jackson fan and there are only a couple of her books that I haven't yet read. Her debut, GODS IN ALABAMA, is no longer one of them. Despite being her first novel, the book has everything I consider "vintage" Jackson—an atmospheric Southern setting; a strong, likable heroine; witty dialogue; humorous narration; and an engrossing plot. It's been a few years since I've read a Jackson book, but this one seems more raw than her others, in that it's got a lot of language and crude sexual descriptions. It's also a rather depressing story. I would have preferred a toned-down, more PG-13 version for sure. That being said, I still found GODS IN ALABAMA engrossing, funny, and touching (in kind of a weird way). It's far from my favorite Jackson novel (that would be THE ALMOST SISTERS), but I liked it more or less.
If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I rounded up.
If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I rounded up.