BOOK REVIEW: GODS IN ALABAMA BY JOSHILYN JACKSON

 Hello dear readers! Today I'm back with another book review.  This was my first novel by Joshilyn Jackson. Gods in Alabama was her debut novel, I believe. It's always fun to discover a new author. Let's start with the positives and work our way from there. What I liked the most about this novel is how it is focused on female relationships. On the surface, it might look like a love story mixed up with a murder mystery but at its core, it is something else. The novel follows a story of Arlene, who escaped the South never to come back. Arlene (who now goes by the name Lena) talks regularly on the phone with her aunt but refuses to visit her family in the South. Arlene was practically raised by her aunt because her mother was incapable of taking care of her. The relationship between the protagonist Arlene and her first cousin, the girls being as close as sisters, was quite touching. Moreover, the relationship between the protagonist Arlene and her aunt (who is in a way her adoptive mother) was  quite interesting and intense. I liked how the novel focused on the female characters, even if there was some place left for their character development.  Gods in Alabama might be a bit clumsy in the way it handled some things, but on overall it was a good read. 

My review will be accompanied with some appropriately 'girly' photographs. I took these photographs about a week or so ago, when I finished this interesting novel. Besides this book review, I will also show you two outfits featuring vintage dresses I inherited and a bouquet of flowers. My husband bought me this bouquet of flowers for his birthday. Isn't that so sweet? A typical Leo, he is. Always generous. I though this floral bouquet matched the cover of the book quite nicely not to mention my vintage dresses.  You never know where you will find inspiration for your next outfit. 






The plot of the novel is simple enough. Arlene has got a secret. That is what kept her away from the South. She has made a promise to God to stay away from men and live according to her faith. In return, God should help her keep her secret. Arlene is in serious relationship with a very patient (and a bit too perfect to be convincing) tax layer. Somehow he puts up with her wanting to remain celibate until marriage, but he draws the line when she refuses to take him to meet her family.  This is what is said on the book itself and it is a pretty good introduction to this novel: "For 10 years Arlene has kept her promises, and God has kept His end of the bargain. Until now. When an old schoolmate from Possett turns up at Arlene's door in Chicago asking questions about Jim Beverly, former quarterback and god of Possett High, Arlene's break with her former hometown is forced to an end. At the same time, Burr, her long-time boyfriend, has raised an ultimatum: introduce him to her family or consider him gone. "


I have a soft spot for Southern American writers so I figured I should give this one a go.  As I explained Jackson is new to me. I don't regret picking up this novel. Even if Jackson is no Faulkner, her writing engaged me. Indeed, Jackson's writing is quite energetic and dynamic. The beginning of the novel is quite intense and dramatic.  Maybe a little bit too melodramatic for my taste, but there is a healthy dose of humour that makes it easier to swallow.  

I mean the opening paragraph to this novel is pretty hilarious: “There are gods in Alabama: Jack Daniel's, high school quarterbacks, trucks, big tits, and also Jesus.” The writer then goes on to point out the protagonist left one of them behind. That got me interested soon enough. Bonus points to me for instantly figuring out what god the protagonist Arlene/ Lena left behind. Instantly, I felt drawn into this story. I cannot say that the entire novel was as powerful as the beginning pages, but some parts of it were quite impressive. I only wish it was a  more balanced or ambitious piece of writing.


This writer has got spirit, I give her that. However, at times this novel feels like a strange mix of chic lit, murder mystery and family drama. It is too melodramatic to be taken seriously even when it covers some difficult topics such as: abuse, drinking, violence, depression, loneliness, bullying, self-harming and racism. Maybe it is all a bit too much for one book? I mean there really is a lot put into this novel. Fortunately, there were some funny moments along the way to ease the reading. Not enough to completely forgive the slow, predictable (and yet unconvincing) plot development and a generally stereotyped portrayal of South, though. Nevertheless, there is enough spirit and humour in this novel to make it an enjoyable read. 

Despite some plot holes and general silliness, I found Gods in Alabama to be an interesting read. This is Joshilyn Jackson's first novel I believe and it shows. The ending doesn't really make sense, the characters are not as well developed as I would like and the dialogues don't sound natural. However, within its pages, there is a nervous kind of energy that captivates the reader- at least that is what I felt. Moreover, I simply loved how at its core this novel is more focused on a relationship between Arlene/Lena and her aunt (who basically raised her) then on any romantic relationship. Yes, there is a romantic relationship but it is not what drives the plot. I thought that was quite a fresh take on things. To conclude, this novel didn't really lived up to its potential, but it left me wanting more. I do want to read more Joshilyn Jackson!







I mentioned that I enjoy literature of the American South. By that I primarily mean writers like William Faulkner and Tennessee Williams. I reviewed some of them in the past. 
ORPHEUS DESCENDING BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS
THE TIMELESS WORLD OF A PLAY (A QUOTE) BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

When it comes to more contemporary readers, I feel I can recommend The Help by Kathryn Sockett. 

If you would like to read more of female authors, here is my list with 30 recommendations!





OUTFIT DETAILS

OUTFIT #1:

THE PINK DRESS- VINTAGE (worn here) + links bellow

THE WHITE SHIRT- OLD (a part of my old flight attendant uniform)

 ORANGE HEELS- OLD (not branded)




OUTFIT #2

THE RED DRESS- VINTAGE (with my DIY touched- I hand painted it and sewed the crystals myself)- worn here

THE ORANGE HEELS- OLD (not branded)- here & here





Thank you for reading and stopping by. Have a lovely day!

Comments

  1. Elena M21 August 2021 at 11:41

    That sounds very interesting!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. J.P. Alexander21 August 2021 at 17:54

    No he leído nada de esa autora, pero me parece interesante. Lo tendré en cuenta . Me gustan tus zapatos y el vestido rosa.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ananka21 August 2021 at 18:43

    Sounds a good read and love love love these 2 outfits :-D

    ReplyDelete
  4. ellie22 August 2021 at 05:33

    Such lovely outfits. Amazing stilletos! Oh, some southern writers are better than others and when it comes to Southern women writers (America) they are usually over the top and practically trailer trash in some cases. Some of their southern ways can go a long way. Thanks so much for your review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ivana Split22 August 2021 at 09:35

      The ones I read were mostly really good. This one was nice but maybe a bit tacky (not trashy, though).

      Delete
  5. Caitlin'nMegan22 August 2021 at 05:35

    Oh, it does sound like a fun read! Lovely dresses too! Really, some lovely photos of your artwork as well as the book. Such a treat! Thanks so much.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Polyester Princess23 August 2021 at 10:33

    This novel certainly appeals to me, so thank you for the introduction.
    I used to read Southern American literature almost exclusively for a couple of years in my twenties.
    As for your outfits, they are both delightful, but the red dress especially so! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ivana Split30 August 2021 at 06:04

      Thank you, I love this red dress. I don't wear it as much as I should.

      Delete
  7. Sheila23 August 2021 at 14:38

    I love books that focus on female relationships - and what a great opening line!

    Gorgeous flowers - they go so well with your lovely outfits, Ivana. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ivana Split30 August 2021 at 06:04

      The opening line is hilarious- and it really makes sense it the context of the novel.

      Delete
  8. Vix24 August 2021 at 10:52

    Two fabulous frocks, you look fantastic!
    Thank you for the in depth review, as a rampant atheist I'm afraid I'd see the word God and have to leave the book on the shelf! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ivana Split30 August 2021 at 06:05

      It's not a very religious book, but since the murder mystery is a bit weak I'm not sure you'd like it.

      Delete

Post a Comment

All your comments mean a lot to me, even the criticism. Naravno da mi puno znači što ste uzeli vrijeme da nešto napišete, pa makar to bila i kritika. Per me le vostre parole sono sempre preziose anche quando si tratta di critiche.

Popular posts from this blog

THE ISLAND OF THE MISSING TREES BY ELIF SHAFAK (BOOK REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION)

Image
Today I shall review The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak. I was actually gifted this book. What a wonderful present it proved to be! Published in 2021, this postmodern  novel  follows two  story lines and uses framed narration.  The Island of Missing Trees  tells the life story of a Greek Turkish couple and their adolescent daughter.  This novel examines and explores a number of topics such as identity, migration, immigrant life, war trauma, memory, love and family. It's an ambitious novel that examines serious topics with due respect and sensitivity . I read it months ago, but I remember it vividly. Honestly, I cried a lot while reading this novel. It really moved me greatly. In fact, that is probably why it took me this long to finish this book review. I needed to emotionally process the story.   The Island of Missing Trees is   set in London and Cyprus. The narration isn't chronological .  The story jumps back and forth, following two main timelines, one set in moder
Read more

SUPPORTING LOCAL DESIGNERS IN MOSTAR: TRANSITIONAL AUTUMN STYLING WITH OZZ BRAND

Image
Hello readers and fellow bloggers! In this post, I'll share two transitional outfits featuring a lilac skirt from fashion designer Stanka Zovko. If you're a regular reader of this blog, you've probably seen this skirt before. Afterall, I'm really good at shopping my closet. I've been wearing this lilac skirt a lot in the past few months. It's also a great piece for transitional weather because it can be easily layered, or dressed up and down.  Supporting local designers and artisans is certainly something that pays off in the long run. If you want to own unique pieces and at the same time, support your local community, you should really explore shopping local, or commissioning local artisans and designers.  Sustainability in fashion is a big topic nowadays! However, sometimes I feel like people make it more complicated than it really is. We should go back to our origins. Explore vintage, second hand and local shopping. Learn how to stay away from the big shoppin
Read more

FORGIVENESS DAY BY URSULA K. LE GUIN (BOOK REVIEW AND AN AUTUMN STYLING)

Image
Hello dear readers and fellow bloggers! How are you today? I'm back with another Ursula K. Le Guin book review. In this post, I'll review " Forgiveness Day" , a science fiction novella that is a part of the Hainish Circle. Published in 1995, "Forgiveness Day " won multiple awards. This novella is often published together with her other novellas from the Hainish Circle, and it can be find in various editions of Four Ways to Forgiveness and Five Ways to Forgiveness.   Thematically, this novella is a part of five stories featuring two Hainish planets, but it can definitely be read on its own. I think it functions well as a stand alone novella. I listened to it in audio form, and I didn't have any problems following the story.  The world building is simple and effective. The author fills us in about the history of the two planets as the story enfolds. For such a short work of prose, this novella is really impressive in that it manages to explore the theme o
Read more

MALTA HIKING TALES (PART FIVE) GHAJN TUFFIEFA AND QUARABBA BAY

Image
Hello dear readers and fellow bloggers! I'm back with another Malta themed post. Recently I posted a painting inspired by Malta. As some of you might remember, I visited Malta a few years ago, but I only blogged about it last April, when I published a series of post on Malta. My series about Malta isn't finished, though. In fact, today we're going to continue it. Considering my stay on Malta was two weeks long, it deserves more than a couple of posts. There is a lot to see and do on Malta. It's a small island, but one that's filled with so much life and beauty. Although Malta faces some problems caused by fast tourism, it remains an unique and magical island.  In this post, I'll take you to the bays I visited while hiking on Malta. One of them (Ghajn Tuffieha Bay) is the one I painted. You can visit that post by clicking on the link below: TRAVEL WITH MY ART #43, GHAJN TUFFIEHA BAY, MALTA LET'S START WITH THE GOLDEN BAY We actually didn't go all the way
Read more

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER, A SHORT STORY BY W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM

Image
Hello dear readers and fellow bloggers! Welcome November! We'll welcome this new month with a blog review. In this post, I'll share my review for Maugham's short story titled T he Ant and the Grasshopper . This post will also be  a reading recommendation because I enjoyed this story a great deal. I've been reading Maugham's The Complete Short Stories for some time now. I've been taking my time with this collection, but I enjoyed it a lot. When I finish this book in its entirely, I'll share a review for all of his stories. Until then, I'll keep posting individual reviews of stories I liked the most. If you want to read Maugham yourself, you can find his collected works online (among other places  on project Gutenberg ) and read them for free.  W. Somerset Maugham is a writer whose subtle use of humour is delightful, but sometimes it's easy to miss it just because it's so subtle. He's wonderful at mixing the harsh realities of life with clever
Read more

FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY WATERCOLOUR: LONG DRESSES AND DE PROFUNDIS QUOTES!

Image
 Hello dear readers and fellow bloggers! It's almost ten. I've had a long week and I'm quite tired and sleepy. However, I'll try to wrap this post up for you tonight. What kind of post? Well, a post about art. Fashion art to be more precise.  I've been on a roll lately with my art posts. After a period of not posting my art at all, due to a variety of reasons, I started posting my art in every post. I got back to my destination art series, and now it's time for another post in my fashion art series. Friday Fashion Illustration  is somewhat of a regular feature on my blog. Today I'll share two watercolour pencil fashion illustrations of mine. I sketched both of them this Summer in my A3 mixed media sketchbook. I sketched the long yellow dress first, and then the blue and read one. The medium for both of them is watercolour pencils on paper, the same brand I always use. I find watercolour pencils to be quite practical, especially for sketching. I often use the
Read more