'Gods in Alabama' by Joshilyn Jackson is a gripping novel that follows the story of Arlene Lena Fleet, a woman who fled her hometown in Alabama after a traumatic incident. Ten years later, under pressure from her boyfriend and the threat of her secrets being exposed, she is forced to return home. The book delves into Arlene's past, her complicated relationships with her family, and the mysteries surrounding her time in Alabama. The plot is filled with twists and turns, keeping the reader engaged until the very end. Jackson's writing style combines wry humor with suspense, creating a compelling narrative that explores themes of family, secrets, and redemption.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book includes high content warnings for themes related to murder, violence, racism, sexual assault, and mental health issues, making it suitable for mature audiences.
Has Romance?
While the romantic elements are present and significant, they serve as a backdrop to the main plot and character development, indicating a medium level of romance in the story.
From The Publisher:
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. Arlene loves him dearly but knows her lily white (not to mention deeply racist)Southern Baptist family will not understand her relationship with an African American boyfriend. Reluctantly, Arlene bows to the pressure, and she and Burr embark on the long-avoided road trip back home. As Arlene digs through guilt and deception, her patched-together alibi begins to unravel, and she discovers how far she will go for love and a chance at redemption.
Ratings (6)
Incredible (2) | |
Loved It (1) | |
Liked It (2) | |
It Was OK (1) |
Reader Stats (9):
Read It (6) | |
Want To Read (2) | |
Not Interested (1) |
1 comment(s)
This...might be a perfect modern southern gothic? The question is because I don't want to call anything perfect, but this debut novel is so brilliant in its structure, characterizations, dialogue, and did I mention structure? Because the structure is amazing. In alternating chapters, we see Lena travelling home to Alabama for the first time in ten years after what she believes is a pact with God falls apart, along with the story of why she left Alabama. It dovetails perfectly with a road game she's invented with her boyfriend Burr, "What's in my pocketses," in which the first player tells a story from back to front, stopping halfway in the middle. The second player has to finish telling the story through the beginning, with points deducted for how exactly the second player matches the first player's story. There should be only one way to begin the story based on how the first player built the ending. The secrets in Arlene's pocketses are various and dark, but she doesn't have all of them. She has to make the trip back home to find out what she actually has in her pocketses. And of course, there are multiple endings to the story depending on how many secrets you know. Ultimately the game falls apart.
I love the opacity of Clarice, who is simultaneously the best person in the book, and the way the Alabama land plays such a strong role in the plot. The characters push their way through it, especially the "heaps" of kudzu, in their desire to save/punish/avenge each other. It's beautiful. Just read it right now.
What can you read after
Gods in Alabama?
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
