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A review by amber_lea84
One Mississippi by Mark Childress
3.0
It's hard to review this book without writing a bunch of spoilers, because one of the great things about this book is the plot twists. I accidentally found out about the ending by looking up what book lists this book had been added to, so don't do that! (I went into this book knowing almost nothing. If you're reading reviews and you haven't read the book...stop! This book is the kind of book that's so much better if you don't know anything about it.)
It's definitely a well-written page turner, and I would have given it four stars if it wasn't for the treatment of its gay characters. In fact, it's so messed up it probably only deserves two stars.
(Spoiler alert for this paragraph!) So there are four gay characters, and two are pedophiles, one's a huge jerk, and another's a straight up serious criminal. This book is just as much about homophobia as it is about racism, except the black characters aren't portrayed as a bunch of out of control criminals...they're human beings who do things for reasons the reader can empathize with. The gay characters don't quite get that same treatment. They're just lusty and weird, and sometimes the protagonist feels pity for them. I need to point out that the whole gay villain stereotype is super irresponsible. It just fuels the argument that gay dudes are weird and want to have sex with kids and they can't control themselves. Like yes, the main character feels sorry (and it's more pity than empathy) for them and he makes an attempt to sympathize despite his homophobia...but I don't know. It's just gross and not okay. I get that this takes place in the early 70's in Mississippi and maybe you didn't find out someone was gay UNLESS they committed a crime that outed them...but still, when you write about these things you should make an effort to not perpetuate homophobia and negative stereotypes of minorities.
And I'm not really comfortable with the treatment of Arnita either. That poor girl deserved so much better. I kinda wish this book was about her because she was a damn interesting character.
I have some stuff to say on the handling of bullying too but again, spoilers.
I'm laughing at the reviewers who think this book is "x-rated". It's pretty messed up, but it's mild compared to say, Stephen King. I guess I'm no stranger to dark, messed up writing and this feels pretty pg-13 to me because it's not very graphic and most of the characters act so freakin' wholesome. It's the kind of book where it's a big deal for someone to drop the f-bomb. Which is effing hilarious to me.
Basically this was a good book that could have been a lot better.
It's definitely a well-written page turner, and I would have given it four stars if it wasn't for the treatment of its gay characters. In fact, it's so messed up it probably only deserves two stars.
(Spoiler alert for this paragraph!) So there are four gay characters, and two are pedophiles, one's a huge jerk, and another's a straight up serious criminal. This book is just as much about homophobia as it is about racism, except the black characters aren't portrayed as a bunch of out of control criminals...they're human beings who do things for reasons the reader can empathize with. The gay characters don't quite get that same treatment. They're just lusty and weird, and sometimes the protagonist feels pity for them. I need to point out that the whole gay villain stereotype is super irresponsible. It just fuels the argument that gay dudes are weird and want to have sex with kids and they can't control themselves. Like yes, the main character feels sorry (and it's more pity than empathy) for them and he makes an attempt to sympathize despite his homophobia...but I don't know. It's just gross and not okay. I get that this takes place in the early 70's in Mississippi and maybe you didn't find out someone was gay UNLESS they committed a crime that outed them...but still, when you write about these things you should make an effort to not perpetuate homophobia and negative stereotypes of minorities.
And I'm not really comfortable with the treatment of Arnita either. That poor girl deserved so much better. I kinda wish this book was about her because she was a damn interesting character.
I have some stuff to say on the handling of bullying too but again, spoilers.
I'm laughing at the reviewers who think this book is "x-rated". It's pretty messed up, but it's mild compared to say, Stephen King. I guess I'm no stranger to dark, messed up writing and this feels pretty pg-13 to me because it's not very graphic and most of the characters act so freakin' wholesome. It's the kind of book where it's a big deal for someone to drop the f-bomb. Which is effing hilarious to me.
Basically this was a good book that could have been a lot better.