Search This Blog









2023 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama (2)
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona (2)
- Arkansas (1)
- California (16)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut (3)
- Delaware (1)
- Florida (2)
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho (1)
- Illinois (1)
- Indiana (1)
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas (1)
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (4)
- Maryland (3)
- Massachusetts (4)
- Michigan (4)
- Minnesota (1)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri (1)
- Montana (2)
- Nebraska (1)
- Nevada (1)
- New Hampshire (1)
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico (1)
- New York (15)
- North Carolina (4)
- North Dakota (1)
- Ohio (3)
- Oklahoma (1)
- Oregon (1)
- Pennsylvania (1)
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota (1)
- Tennessee (2)
- Texas (4)
- Utah (1)
- Vermont (4)
- Virginia (2)
- Washington (6)
- West Virginia (1)
- Wisconsin (2)
- (1)
- Washington, D.C.* (1)
International:
- Australia (3)
- Barbados (1)
- Canada (9)
- Chile (1)
- England (26)
- France (2)
- Ireland (2)
- Italy (1)
- Nigeria (1)
- Norway (1)
- Scotland (3)
- South Korea (1)
- Sweden (1)
- The Netherlands (2)
- Ukraine (1)
-Vietnam (1)





2023 Build Your Library Reading Challenge







Thursday, February 08, 2018
Warm, Quirky Southern Family Secrets Novel a Glittering Gem
11:58 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Leia Birch Briggs loves herself a superhero. Literally. One drunken night after a book-signing, the comic book author and illustrator finds herself in bed with Batman. After the (very uncharacteristic) one-night stand, Leia's left with a little surprise—one that's going to make a big impression on her very proper Southern family.
Before she's had a chance to break her own news, Leia finds out that her beloved grandmother is suffering from a severe case of dementia. "Birchie" has been out of it for some time, a fact her best friend has been charged with keeping under wraps. After a scandalous faux pas at a public event, it becomes impossible to hush up Birchie's declining health. Although Leia is furious at Miss Wattie for her subterfuge, Leia nevertheless hightails it to Birchville, Alabama, to straighten the old ladies out. Along the way, she picks up her 13-year-old niece, Lavender, who's dealing with her own family crisis.
As if Leia doesn't have enough to deal with, she makes another shocking discovery—a trunk full of bones in her grandmother's attic. While she sorts through Birchie's house, tries to drum up the courage to announce she's pregnant with a bi-racial baby, and attempts to break through some killer writer's block, Leia also has to solve an old family mystery. Through it all, she'll learn some surprising truths about herself, her family, and her future.
Although I've heard great things about Joshilyn Jackson, this is the first time I've picked up one of her books. And you know what? It won't be the last. I adored The Almost Sisters, a warm, quirky novel about the ups, downs, and all-arounds of being part of a family. Although the plot summary makes The Almost Sisters sound like an easy, breezy beach read, it actually has a lot more depth than that. Hitting as it does on issues like racism, privilege, and the devastating effects of dementia, it's a sad and thought-provoking tale at times. It's also funny, compelling, and touching. Even though I saw its big reveal coming from a mile away, I loved this novel and will definitely be looking for more gems from the talented Ms. Jackson.
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), sexual content, and violence
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
5 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)




Reading
Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center

Listening
Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr.



Followin' with Bloglovin'



-
"The Sky Over Rebecca" by Matthew Fox43 minutes ago
-
-
Bookcover Spotlight2 hours ago
-
-
Monthly Round-Up: November 20234 hours ago
-
-
-
November Reading Wrap Up 20237 hours ago
-
-
#ThrowbackThursday. The House of the Mosque11 hours ago
-
-
-
A Review of A Winter’s Night14 hours ago
-
My Tel Aviv Table By Limor Chen15 hours ago
-
-
The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill17 hours ago
-
Shades of Death by Angela Ransom18 hours ago
-
November Reflections21 hours ago
-
The Fourth Rule - Jeff Lindsay1 day ago
-
-
-
-
Nonfiction November: New to my TBR1 day ago
-
Grounds for Murder by Tara Lush2 days ago
-
-
-
I have been reading...4 days ago
-
Sunday Salon: November 26, 20234 days ago
-
-
-
2024 Motif Reading Challenge1 week ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?1 month ago
-
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra5 months ago
-
-
Dotty Beanie with Ears6 months ago
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-

Grab my Button!



Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
-
▼
2018
(223)
-
▼
February
(46)
-
▼
Feb 08
(12)
- Promising Mystery Series Opener Convinces Me to Re...
- Confusing, Far-fetched Psychological Thriller a St...
- Macmillan's Newest Sad, But Compelling
- Disappointing Dystopian Opener A Not Very Promisin...
- Gorgeous Cover the Best Thing About Creepy Dual-Ti...
- Adoption Novel Raw and Honest
- Teen Murder Mystery Twisty, Tense
- Dual Timeline Mystery/Romance Clean and Uplifting
- Sweeping Historical Pandemic Novel Sad But Compelling
- Warm, Quirky Southern Family Secrets Novel a Glitt...
- The Disappearances Offers An Intelligent, Magical ...
- Gripping WWII Novel An Engrossing Read
-
▼
Feb 08
(12)
-
▼
February
(46)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
I haven't read any of this author's books yet, though I've certainly heard good things about them. This one seems like a good place to start. Happily, I already own it - haven't read it - but own it.
ReplyDeleteQuirky, or crazy? Either way, I can't wait to give this one a read. :)
ReplyDeleteWhy must you tempt me?!!! Argh!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like there is so much going on in this book, I hope it has focus.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good one. I'm not sure I can read it just now, though, because I'm having issues with family and it might be too close to home.
ReplyDelete