tnanz's review against another edition
5.0
Great book. I'm still kind of reeling from it, but I loved it. The ending is fast and fierce and brilliant while the body of the book is somehow light and quick (and well written) with plenty of building to real depth.
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
alpacalunch's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favourite books ever. Came across it by chance in the library aged about 15 and was intrigued by the title. Loved it, but managed to forget the title and the author! Found them out again a few years later by googling characters and plots details, bought a copy for myself and several for friends, then went on to read all other Joshilyn Jackson books I could get my hands on, but this remains the best in my opinion.
The characters and imagery stay with you, the plot is tight and the twist well hidden, the writing dryly funny and well observed.
The characters and imagery stay with you, the plot is tight and the twist well hidden, the writing dryly funny and well observed.
livrad's review against another edition
4.0
"There are Gods in Alabama: Jack Daniel's, high school quarterbacks, trucks, big tits, and also Jesus."
For ten years, Lena has avoided going home to Alabama, staying in Chicago while she works on her PhD and lives with her lawyer boyfriend. But, between her aunt's relentless requests that she come visit and her boyfriend, Burr, wanting to meet her family before they get engaged, she finally relents. There are just a few secrets she's been keeping: her family doesn't know that Burr exists--or that he's Black--and he doesn't know the real reason she fled home. ”There are gods in Alabama. . . .I know. I killed one."
This novel was full of great characters and depth, and the writing was snappy and full of Southern atmosphere.
For ten years, Lena has avoided going home to Alabama, staying in Chicago while she works on her PhD and lives with her lawyer boyfriend. But, between her aunt's relentless requests that she come visit and her boyfriend, Burr, wanting to meet her family before they get engaged, she finally relents. There are just a few secrets she's been keeping: her family doesn't know that Burr exists--or that he's Black--and he doesn't know the real reason she fled home. ”There are gods in Alabama. . . .I know. I killed one."
This novel was full of great characters and depth, and the writing was snappy and full of Southern atmosphere.
opheliabedilia's review against another edition
4.0
I just happened across this book when I was browsing my library's audio books, and downloaded it without having read any reviews or anything else by Jackson because I was in a hurry. This method of choosing books doesn't always end well, so I didn't have high hopes. So it was very nice to find that I stumbled on this little gem of a story. It was well crafted, perfectly paced, funny, and peopled with three dimensional, interesting characters. The end could not have been more satisfying. The next thing I did was find another Joshilyn Jackson book to download.
My only complaint is about the audio itself. Catherine Taber, the narrator, was great. However, the publisher added a lot of music. And it was bad. It would insert itself at what felt like random times, or I think to add drama. But it was super cheesy, and the writing is plenty good enough without some ridiculous soundtrack being piped in. I wish I could have still listened to Taber's narration and filtered out the silliness.
My only complaint is about the audio itself. Catherine Taber, the narrator, was great. However, the publisher added a lot of music. And it was bad. It would insert itself at what felt like random times, or I think to add drama. But it was super cheesy, and the writing is plenty good enough without some ridiculous soundtrack being piped in. I wish I could have still listened to Taber's narration and filtered out the silliness.
findyourgoldenhour's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. It had a good plot with some twists at the end, and I was rooting for the main character the whole time. The author's note at the end is perhaps the best author's note I've ever read! I know that sounds strange, but it made me cry. I would definitely recommend this book to someone looking for a quick read that isn't just a mindless plot-driven narrative.
cjsjellybean's review against another edition
4.0
If I could, I would give this book 3.5 stars. It was good, but not great. I just had a hard time keeping up with it, although I really did like it. I was completely shocked by the ending, however the majority of the book seemed very straight forward. It bounced back and forth between present and past, which wasn't a big deal...however it just felt very linear to me. Secondly, Burr was always calling Lena baby...it was in practically every sentence he said to her and that was just completely annoying to me. It seemed a little over used.
shanonkluttz's review against another edition
5.0
Find me a book set in the South, with those quirky characters and I will find you a five star rating!
csgvassar's review against another edition
4.0
gods in Alabama was a very fun read for me. As one who thinks I'm smarter than I actually am and revels in the challenge of figuring out a mystery, I was drawn to both the twisting tale and the sassy, I'm-in-control (or so I think) star of the novel, Lena. Lena had left her hometown years ago and sworn she would never return (or fornicate or lie) if God would keep the body hidden. Yet, for various reasons, she's returning home to the South and bringing a multitude of issues with her.
I cherished that in a complicated world of cultural diversity (racial, regional, educational, etc.), Joshilyn Jackson painted real people with all their prejudices and stereotypes, but also with their love and devotion. Another flashback novel, the plot moved quickly and always left me with curiosity as it switched from past to present.
Jackson's say it like it is writing and colorful characters made the book for me. She didn't dance around her images, but dropped me plumb in the middle of the Wal-mart clothing section and the high school make-out spot. Although the characters are your typical high school football star, misfit, preacher's wife, step-mom (sorta), etc., Jackson took my stereotypes and added another layer to each character so that their actions and speech resulted in people I felt like I knew as well as Lena.
Once again, the ending left something to be desired in my book. It was a wonderful twist and contributed greatly to what the reader learns about people and herself, but I just have to groan when everything is tied up with a bow and there are no loose ends. I do recognize that I'm the misfit here and most readers find great joy in this wholeness.
I cherished that in a complicated world of cultural diversity (racial, regional, educational, etc.), Joshilyn Jackson painted real people with all their prejudices and stereotypes, but also with their love and devotion. Another flashback novel, the plot moved quickly and always left me with curiosity as it switched from past to present.
Jackson's say it like it is writing and colorful characters made the book for me. She didn't dance around her images, but dropped me plumb in the middle of the Wal-mart clothing section and the high school make-out spot. Although the characters are your typical high school football star, misfit, preacher's wife, step-mom (sorta), etc., Jackson took my stereotypes and added another layer to each character so that their actions and speech resulted in people I felt like I knew as well as Lena.
Once again, the ending left something to be desired in my book. It was a wonderful twist and contributed greatly to what the reader learns about people and herself, but I just have to groan when everything is tied up with a bow and there are no loose ends. I do recognize that I'm the misfit here and most readers find great joy in this wholeness.
bdunson's review against another edition
4.0
It had a good story line. I just didn't like how it jumped around. I've read books that have changed to the past and then back the present and they were more smooth then this book. It seemed a little jumpy but other than that I liked the story.