Fiction has had much to
say about Southern women from Scarlet to the unbeatable Steel Magnolias.
Authors still have much more to offer as we discover in this funny,
touching debut novel by Joshilyn Jackson.
Georgia native Catherine Taber gives an estimable voice performance as
she narrates the story of Arlene Fleet, a gal who only wanted to see her
hometown of Possett, Alabama, in her rearview mirror. On her way up
North to college Arlene has a little chat with the Almighty in which she
makes him three promises if He will only do one little thing for her -
make sure the body of beefy high school footballer, Jim Beverly, is
never found.
Arlene does a good job of forgetting Possett for ten years. She has
become a teacher and a promising Ph.D. candidate with a steady black
boyfriend, Burr. He's almost too good to be true, and Arlene never wants
Burr to find himself at the mercy of her bigoted relatives.
But an unexpected and unwanted visitor throws a monkeywrench into her
plans. Jim's former girlfriend shows up in Chicago after all these
years, making it clear that Arlene must return to Alabama. With Burr at
her side she heads South.
What she finds during her visit will surprise not only Arlene, but
listeners, too.
review by
Gail Cooke
SLR Recommends Joshilyn Jackson's debut novel,
gods in Alabama!
