Book Review: Going Down South: A Novel
by Bonnie J. Glover
Publication Date: Jul 29, 2008
List Price: $14.00
Format: Paperback, 259 pages
Classification: Fiction
ISBN13: 9780345480910
Imprint: One World/Ballantine
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Parent Company: Bertelsmann
Read a Description of Going Down South: A Novel
Book Reviewed by Thumper
When I started reading books many, many years ago, I came to
the conclusion that there is no drama like family drama. A few
years ago when African-American literature came into vogue once
again, there were a good number of family dramas being published
by African-American authors. Like the old adage say, you never
miss the water till the well runs dry; well, in the middle of
reading Going Down South, I did not realize how much I missed
the family dramas. Going Down South, a novel by
Bonnie J. Glover, is a family drama that focuses on three
women and how their relationship with each other changes when
the 15 year old daughter becomes pregnant in the early 1960s and
long held secrets are revealed. Going Down South is a small,
powerful, charming, yet graceful novel that shines like small
bright rays of sunshine. The novel breaks your heart and heals
it with wisdom and humor. I loved it.
Fifteen years old Olivia Jean Stone loves her father Turk Stone.
Olivia has always been in battle for Turks affection with her
mother Daisy Stone. The dysfunctional relationships between the
three would have continued if it was not for Olivia Jean
discovering that she was pregnant. Due to the times, Daisy could
not allow her neighbors or family friends to know that Olivia
Jean had gotten herself in ’the family way’. Daisy gets the
bright idea to send Olivia Jean to live with her mother, Birdie
in Cold Water Springs, Alabama. Although they had talked on the
phone a few times, Olivia Jean and Birdie had never met in
person. The Stone family travels from New York City to Alabama
planning to drop Olivia Jean off, to live out the duration of
her pregnancy, while Turk and Daisy return to New York City.
Birdie throws a monkey wrench in that dream by stating to Turk
and Daisy that one of them was going to have to stay on with
Olivia Jean or no deal. Daisy decides to stay. It is during this
time the three women will examine their histories, divulge
secrets that kept them emotionally apart, develop feelings for
one another and heal the hurt and anger that had evolved over
the years between them.
I adored Going Down South! The characters and the story are well
developed. Olivia Jean, Daisy and Birdie, as well as their
relationships with each other, are the real stars of the show.
Glover gives each of them strong, personable voices. In my
opinion, the story did not truly take off until the three
characters were isolated with each other and the layers of their
relationship were exposed and the women had to deal with their
buried emotions and each other. In this instance it became
apparent to me how well Glover had solidly constructed the
characters with a minimum use of words; distinct proof that
sometimes getting to the point, literally, is the best route to
go.
The novel is divided into four parts, with Olivia Jean, Daisy
and Birdie each narrating the history of their lives, then
finally, the section features them together. I had an issue with
the characters individual sections’flashbacks. As you all
probably already know by now, I can not stand flashbacks! When
each of the characters was narrating their individual portion of
the story, each section contained flashbacks. I eventually got
over the use of the flashbacks because: 1.) the narrative was
smooth and charming making it intoxicating to read; 2.) the last
section which dealt with the three characters existing together
under the same roof, was told in chronological order. I laughed
and boohoo-ed throughout the book. By the time I started the
last section of the novel, I had happily forgiven Glover for the
flashbacks.
Going Down South was an incredible treat. The characters, the
story, and Glover’s fine, concrete, yet elegant touch provide a
honey of a book. I did not know how much I missed reading family
dramas like Going Down South until I finished reading it. I
highly recommend Going Down South and look forward to reading
Glover again in the future.