A review by mmilligan94
Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Like the main characters, I grew up in Memphis.  I lived in a slightly less dangerous but equally poor area of town known as nutbush.  Despite the common ground if it weren’t for the Pappy Van Winkles 23, I would have forgotten about this book the second i finished the last page.  It’s a standard generational trauma story that unsuccessfully tries to bring hope in the end.  The men are abusers and the women keep the children in situations where they are abused.  

I move from to 2.5 stars to 3 because I unironically like the author’s pretentious brand dropping at odd moments.  It as baffling as it is amusing.  My favorite brand drop though circles us back back to Pappy Van Winkles.  One of the characters casually pulls out a bottle of Pappy Van Winkles 23 and pours herself a drink.  Hold up…I’m intrigued.  This lady, relying on food stamps and living in the hood, just gonna open her kitchen cabinet on a Tuesday night and bust out a $5000 bottle of whiskey?  Does she know it’s a rare whiskey?  How did she come to own a whiskey that is notoriously difficult to find?  What else does she have in that cabinet that renders Pappys a drink for any ol’ day?  Why didn’t her son sell it?  I have so many questions.  Don’t get me started on the off hand mention of vintage Chanel...
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