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More copies of this ISBN:Gods in Alabama: A Novelby Joshilyn Jackson
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:When Arlene Fleet heads up north for college, she promises God that she'll stop fornicating and lying, and never, ever go back to her hometown in Alabama. All she wants from Him is one miracle: make sure the body is never found.
Now, ten years later, God has broken the deal. Her hometown lands on her Chicago doorstep in the most annoying way and Burr, her African American boyfriend, insists on meeting her lily-white kith and kin. With the fickle finger of fate pointing her south-and toward her steel magnolia Aunt Florence; eccentric, half-mad Mama; and sweet-as-pecan-pie Cousin Clarice-Arlene and Burr are soon confronting the demons and the secrets she ran from. Here, in the heart of redneck country, the truth is waiting?to either destroy Arlene's life, or open her eyes to a love powerful enough to renew it. Review:"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 clichs 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. Agent, Jacques de Spoelberg. Major ad/promo, author tour. (Apr.) " Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.) Review:"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." Booklist Review:"[A] potent mix of humor, murder, and a dysfunctional Southern family....While written for adults, this novel reminds us again that the teenage subculture is complex and powerful and that unholy acts may be committed in the name of love. Recommended." Library Journal Review:"A likable new talent chained to a creaky old plot." Kirkus Reviews Review:"Gods in Alabama has everything a first (or any) novel should possess but seldom does....It's the kind of book you hate to finish but can't wait to pass on to friends." Cleveland Plain Dealer Review:"While some of the plot elements...might seem familiar, Jackson ably overcomes them through sure-handed writing and a bawdy sense of humor that never loses its Southern charm." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Review:"The plot is so ambitious and full of twists, the reader may have a hard time getting a read on where the novel's headed....Readers should be aware that this is not a light Southern yarn." Dallas Morning News Review:"The plot, masterfully constructed, has more twists and turns than a wiggle worm on the end of a small hook. The heroine is a strong, calculating presence and her frequent disputes with her overbearing aunt add friction to a family drama already fraught with tension." Orlando Sentinel Synopsis:Now in paperback, Jackson's "stellar debut has all the elements of great Southern fiction, a plucky heroine, a gripping tale, and a mysterious dead body that needs explanation" (Adriana Trigiani, author of "Big Stone Gap"). Synopsis:In this stunning and award-winning debut novel, Jackson tells the story of a young woman whose future is threatened by a crime from her youth. A #1 Book Sense Pick. About the AuthorJoshilyn Jackson lives with her husband and children outside of Atlanta, where she is currently at work on her next novel. What Our Readers Are SayingAdd a comment for a chance to win!
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