Going Down South review by Thumper of AALBC

AALBC

Going Down South

Click to order via Amazon | by Bonnie J. Glover

Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: One World/Ballantine (July 29, 2008)
Language: English | ISBN-10: 0345480910

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.

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.

Read full review at: African American Literature Book Club

~ by notthead on October 27, 2008.