by Joshilyn Jackson
I swapped a few books with a fellow stamper on SCS a few months ago (don't even ask me who it was, at the moment all I remember is she lived in Florida). This is one of the books that was in the books she sent me. I started it about ten minutes after I finished Jodi Picoults The Tenth Circle, and I finished it this morning. I do almost all of my reading while I'm nursing Jack. It sure helps to make the time go by faster - especially in the night time hours.
Here's a brief synopsis of the book:
When Arlene Fleet headed off to college in Chicago, she made three promises to God: She would never again lie, never fornicate outside of marriage, and never, ever go back to her tiny hometown of Possett, Alabama (the "fourth rack of Hell"). All God had to do in exchange was to make sure the body of high school quarterback Jim Beverly was never found. Ten years later, Arlene has kept her promises, but an old schoolmate has recently turned up asking questions. And now Arlene’s African American beau has given her a tough ultimatum: introduce him to her family, or he’s gone. As she prepares to confront guilt, discrimination, and a decade of deception, Arlene is about to discover just how far she will go to find redemption--and love.
It was hard for me to get into this book. I don't know if it was due to a lack of interest or, more likely, just that the content and writing style were so different from the last two books I read. Once I got into it though, I was thoroughly entertained. Some of the lines Arlene and her Aunt Flo come out with are hilarious, in a witty and dry way. Another big plus was the end of the book - I can honestly say I never saw that coming! Be forewarned though - the book is, at times, pretty explicit, and there are a few chapters in the book where the f-bombs drop like crazy (a big overdone in my opinion, but whatever - it was still a good book). All in all, I'd say it was a good read. I'd gladly read another of her books in the future. I like her style.
I swapped a few books with a fellow stamper on SCS a few months ago (don't even ask me who it was, at the moment all I remember is she lived in Florida). This is one of the books that was in the books she sent me. I started it about ten minutes after I finished Jodi Picoults The Tenth Circle, and I finished it this morning. I do almost all of my reading while I'm nursing Jack. It sure helps to make the time go by faster - especially in the night time hours.
Here's a brief synopsis of the book:
When Arlene Fleet headed off to college in Chicago, she made three promises to God: She would never again lie, never fornicate outside of marriage, and never, ever go back to her tiny hometown of Possett, Alabama (the "fourth rack of Hell"). All God had to do in exchange was to make sure the body of high school quarterback Jim Beverly was never found. Ten years later, Arlene has kept her promises, but an old schoolmate has recently turned up asking questions. And now Arlene’s African American beau has given her a tough ultimatum: introduce him to her family, or he’s gone. As she prepares to confront guilt, discrimination, and a decade of deception, Arlene is about to discover just how far she will go to find redemption--and love.
It was hard for me to get into this book. I don't know if it was due to a lack of interest or, more likely, just that the content and writing style were so different from the last two books I read. Once I got into it though, I was thoroughly entertained. Some of the lines Arlene and her Aunt Flo come out with are hilarious, in a witty and dry way. Another big plus was the end of the book - I can honestly say I never saw that coming! Be forewarned though - the book is, at times, pretty explicit, and there are a few chapters in the book where the f-bombs drop like crazy (a big overdone in my opinion, but whatever - it was still a good book). All in all, I'd say it was a good read. I'd gladly read another of her books in the future. I like her style.
2 comments:
thanks for the book review! i am always looking for good ones to read. i hadn't heard of this author so i will have to head to the library later :)
I read that book a couple of years ago and seem to remember enjoying it. Quite a far-fetched ending if I remember correctly. But a good read, nonetheless.
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