- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1 edition (Jun 13 2006)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0446694533
- ISBN-13: 978-0446694537
- Product Dimensions: 13.3 x 2.2 x 20.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 295 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #130,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Arlene Fleet, the refreshingly imperfect heroine of Jackson's frank, appealing debut, launches her story with a list of the title's deities: "high school quarterbacks, trucks, big tits, and also Jesus." The first god, also a date rapist by the name of Jim Beverly, she left dead in her hometown of Possett, Ala., but the last she embraces wholeheartedly when high school graduation allows her to flee the South, the murder and her slutty reputation for a new life in Chicago. Upon leaving home, Arlene makes a bargain with God, promising to forgo sex, lies and a return home if he keeps Jim's body hidden. After nine years in Chicago as a truth-telling celibate, an unexpected visitor from home (in search of Jim Beverly) leads her to believe that God is slipping on his end of the deal. As Arlene heads for the Deep South with her African-American boyfriend, Burr, in tow, her secrets unfold in unsurprising but satisfying flashbacks. Jackson brings levity to familiar themes with a spirited take on the clichés of redneck Southern living: the Wal-Mart culture, the subtle and overt racism and the indignant religion. The novel concludes with a final, dramatic disclosure, though the payoff isn't the plot twist but rather Jackson's genuine affection for the people and places of Dixie.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Arlene Fleet likes to make deals with God and play road-trip games. In this absorbing first novel, deals and games guide all the characters' actions, but the reader won't know the real deal or the name of the game until the last page. Upon leaving her podunk hometown in Alabama, Arlene makes a deal with the Lord involving no lying, no fornicating, and no return trip as long as he keeps the body of high-school quarterback Jim Beverly hidden. When the Almighty drops his end of the bargain, Arlene heads back to Possett, determined to lie about her sexual relationship with her African American fiance, Burr, to her steel-magnolia aunt, Florence. With the threat of her past crime coming to light, Arlene understands she must now protect the family that years ago took in Arlene and her recently widowed, mentally disturbed mother. Cleverly disguised as a leisurely paced southern novel, this debut rockets to the end, even as the plot turns back on itself, surprising characters and readers alike. Book clubs will enjoy this saucy tale, as will fans of southern fiction with a twist. Kaite Mediatore
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Natural Storytelling,
By
This review is from: Gods in Alabama (Mass Market Paperback)
I am really excited by this author. I read Between, Georgia first, and was tickled. She is able to spin a tale packed full with family loyalty, zany romance, mystery and suspense without crossing the line into hokey territory. While some of the main character's behaviour in the first few chapters seems senseless, its purpose is eventually illuminated. I hope she keeps churning out great books.
4.0 out of 5 stars
good for a certain audience,
This review is from: Gods in Alabama (Mass Market Paperback)
I read Grown Up Kind of Pretty first and this one second. I liked this one better - a tighter piece of writing with a stronger literary style in her character development. Both books have a "YA" (young adult)flavour. If I were her editor, I would steer her out of that for at least her next book. She's established herself as a southern writer and it's time for a really good editor to have a hard discussion on future direction. She probably doesn't want to be known as the Judy Blume of the south or the Daniel Steel of southern YA. She has serious skills (humour and all) and they need to be planned out. With the right editor, she could be a prize contender easily. Keep doing your job Joshilyn and for goodness sakes editors, do right by her!
4.0 out of 5 stars
This book provides Some southern comfort!,,
By
This review is from: Gods in Alabama (Mass Market Paperback)
could smell the snuff juice. The scenery in this book is so real that I could see the grease spattering from the frying pan. I literally devoured it in one day. Joshilyn Jackson has an amazing ability to turn a phrase. I kept finding myself thinking, 'Oooh, good one!' as I read. This book has everything going for it: humor, mystery, great characters, and writing that just flows.In this book we get know Arlene whom has left Alabama 9 years ago after promising to give up fornication (as she politely puts it during prayers), to never tell a lie, and to never go back to the town she grew up in as long as a certain body was allowed to remain hidden. When she becomes convinced that the deal is off, she breaks all three of her promises, returning home with her boyfriend, fornicating on the way, and lying to her family that they're already married. The longer Arlene is home, she slowly begins to find out the truth about what happened all those years ago that forced her to leave home in the first place. "Gods In Alabama" is a great read. The plot and its characters are involved on enough levels to keep one guessing and involved. Arlene/Lena is a puzzled character and Ms. Jackson keeps giving the reader various glimpses into her mind, memory and spirit to help us figure out the puzzle. Although the story went back and forth in time it was very easy to follow and understand. My one complaint would be that the last chapter tied the whole story up too fast. Other than that, it's a promising debut, and Jackson has the potential to become an significant southern author.
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