Reviews

gods in Alabama

By Joshilyn Jackson
Warner Books
Reviewed by: Natalie R. Collins


"There are gods in Alabama: Jack Daniels, high school quarterbacks, trucks, big tits, and also Jesus."

With this powerful opening line, author Joshilyn Jackson debuts with Warner Books, in a very big and very splashy way. The advance buzz on this book, gods in Alabama, has been very loud and persistent. I am proud to say I have been part of that buzz. Given the opportunity to read an ARC (advanced review copy) I must say that Jackson's editor "done good."

When Arlene Fleet leaves her tiny hometown, Possett, Alabama, headed for college in Chicago, she makes three promises to the God. She will never lie again, she won't have sex with every living male that looks at her twice, and she will never, ever, ever return to Possett.

Promises to God are hard to keep. Although she's managed to do all three for ten years, when the ultimatum to return or forever be shunned is handed down by her aunt, who raised her, she knows she can't keep it up any longer. Sorry God.

Add to this the fact that her boyfriend, who just happens to be African American, and their relationship is pretty much a sure fire way to get yourself hung and quartered, even in today's Alabama, is determined to be introduced to her family, or he is moving on. Arlene is stuck.

Perhaps returning wouldn't be such a big deal, if there wasn't the problem of the dead body.

If she reneged on her part of the deal, surely God would renege on his? And that is something Arlene cannot handle.

With great skill, admirable humor, awesome characterizations, and a get-into-the-skin mystery that resolves in a way you don't see coming, Jackson is a writer who combines mix of literary/chicklit/women's fiction/suspense all at their best. But it's not too much. It's a skillful foray into the vagaries of human nature, and the very beast in all of us that rears up when you least expect it. Humans are remarkably flawed and deep, and Jackson never lets us forget that.

She never lets us forget who Arlene is, or how she became that person, either. Sometimes, that is the meat of a story. How did this person become so flawed? In this book, from start to finish, you get to discover that.

It's a feast. I can't wait to read what Joshilyn Jackson has to offer next.




Copyright 2005 by ReadersRoom.com, LLC. All rights reserved