Interesting story - I enjoyed it.

sending out in book box

Removing from bookbox

I loved the opening:

There are gods in Alabama: Jack Daniels, high school quarterbacks, trucks, big tits, and also Jesus.

Arlene (or as she's known in Chicago, Lena) left Possett, Alabama after high school, and - as part of a deal with God - has not returned in 10 years. She's got a good reason. She doesn't want to stir up interest in an old murder because she's the killer. But a combination of pressure from her Alabama family and Burr, her African American boyfriend, compel her to return.

This is one of those novels that is hard to classify - while it's set in the South, it is not your typical Southern fiction; while there is a murder involved, it is clear what happened and who killed Jim; this is a story of love, family, and confronting the past. There are plenty of quirky characters, mostly in her family - Aunt Florence who is as tough and hard-hearted as they come; Uncle Bruster who's the softie in the family; Arlene's mama who's slightly crazy and unable to function as a mother; and her cousin Clarice who uses her optimism as a shield against dealing with the unpleasant aspects of life. Arlene has made a deal with God, but when the deal starts to unravel, it's up to her, with Burr's assistance, to confront her past and find a way to move forward.

There were parts, especially in the beginning, that seemed to drag, but for the most part it was an interesting look at families - those you are born into and those you make.

Gave to a friend for releasing at women's shelter - unsure if the book will be journaled, so happy trails.