BETWEEN, GEORGIA by Joshilyn Jackson
When I first started reading Joshilyn Jackson's first novel GODS IN ALABAMA I had a difficult time getting into it. In truth I almost gave up after the first few pages. But I persevered and suddenly found myself happily involved with the unique group of characters who graced this book's pages. By book's end I was a happy reader and a true fan of Jackson's writing.
Still the same thing happened when I started Jackson's second novel BETWEEN, GEORGIA. After the first few pages I was ready to move on to something else. Again I persevered and again I soon found myself totally embroiled in small town life. Jackson's second book is even more enthralling than her first and is a book that lingers with you long after you close its pages.
Between, Georgia is an actual place but Jackson's treatment of its citizenry is completely fictitious, or at least I hope so. Otherwise, memo to Joshilyn - hire a good attorney! In Jackson's imagination Between is only a wide spot in the road that mainly houses a doll house of sorts, a butterfly museum and a bookstore.
The two main families in the town are the Fretts and the Crabtrees. These two families don't like each other now and never have. Torn between them is Nonny Frett, a thirty-year-old woman who is Crabtree by blood and Frett by adoption. This lineage keeps her torn between two worlds.
Nonny's adoptive mother is Stacia Frett, a deaf and blind single woman who was present when Nonny was born. Nonny's birth mother was a teenage Crabtree girl who was running away from her family when she stopped by the home of Bernece and Lou, Stacia's sister and brother in law. Stacia and her other sister Genny lived next door to Bernece and Lou and came over during the excitement of the girl having a baby. Stacia was right there when the baby was born and declared she was gong to keep it, and that was alright with the teenage Crabtree girl who didn't want it anyway.
Stacia raised the child, named Nonny, with the help of Genny and Bernece. Nonny grew up to be a translator for the deaf and mainly made her home in Athens, Georgia. It was there she met and married a musician named Jonno. The marriage was pretty hopeless from the start but Nonny never seems able to get around to divorcing him.
The one love of Nonny's life is Fisher, Bernece's granddaughter. Nonny dotes on her and tries to counter all the mistakes Bernece keeps making in raising her. Bernece has somehow gotten custody of Fisher from her wild and crazy daughter.
Things in Between come to a head when one of the Crabtree's Dobermans gets loose and mauls Genny. This creates a showdown that can only end badly. Nonny and her best friend, Henry Crabtree, are called upon to diffuse the situation before things go to hell in a handbasket.
Jackson knows how to keep her story moving forward at a fast pace. She also knows how to keep her characters true to their codes of living. There are some shades of good on both sides of the feud, and some shades of evil on both sides as well. The fun of the story is in watching them both be exposed.
BETWEEN, GEORGIA is a fast-paced, happy to meet you story about a southern feud that rings true. It is also a stirring saga about family and how it is formed. Humor abounds in the book but there is a strong story of love and relationships that flows underneath the comical elements.
Joshilyn Jackson is quickly becoming one of the South's premiere writers. One can only imagine how intriguing and enjoyable her future books will be. BETWEEN, GEORGIA sets a high standard for her books that follow but I have no doubts the challenge will be met.
BETWEEN, GEORGIA is published by Warner Books. It contains 294 pages and sells for $22.99.