LOST SAINTS OF TENNESSEE by Amy Franklin-Willis

Lost Saints of Tennessee
Amy Franklin-Willis

Rating: C-


Won from Good Reads' First Reads Giveaway


Synopsis from goodreads.com:

With enormous heart and dazzling agility, Amy Franklin-Willis expertly mines the fault lines in one Southern working-class family. Driven by the soulful voices of forty-two-year-old Ezekiel Cooper and his mother, Lillian, The Lost Saints of Tennessee journeys from the 1940s to 1980s as it follows Zeke’s evolution from anointed son, to honorable sibling, to unhinged middle-aged man.

After Zeke loses his twin brother in a mysterious drowning and his wife to divorce, only ghosts remain in his hometown of Clayton, Tennessee. Zeke makes the decision to leave town in a final attempt to escape his pain, throwing his two treasured possessions—a copy of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and his dead brother’s ancient dog—into his truck, and heads east. He leaves behind two young daughters and his estranged mother, who reveals her own conflicting view of the Cooper family story in a vulnerable but spirited voice stricken by guilt over old sins and clinging to the hope that her family isn’t beyond repair.

When Zeke finds refuge with cousins in Virginia horse country, divine acts in the form of severe weather, illness, and a new romance collide, leading Zeke to a crossroads where he must decide the fate of his family.

My thoughts on the book:

I entered to win this book because I was born and raised in Tennessee and because I thought the premise sounded interesting. I'm aware that it's not my normal Paranormal fare, but sometimes different is good, and overall, different was good in this book. The plot, though predictable, was emotional. I felt sympathy for each of the characters. The idea of switching between the 1940s and 1980s is pure genius, and the fact that Franklin-Willis switched tenses with it was even better. She also switched narrators mid-stream in order to give the mother, Lillian a chance to tell her story. For the rest of the story, the narrator was Zeke. 

One would think that when using that many literary tricks to make the book unpredictable that it would have been, well, unpredictable. Instead, I could predict every single situation's outcome before it happened. Many of the secondary characters were also stock/cookie-cutter characters. We had the typical jealous, whiny wife and the bratty teenage daughter. The only two characters who seemed to have any depth were Lillian and Zeke. It seemed like Franklin-Willis wasn't sure how to develop a character who wasn't a narrator.

Another problem with the book is that the situations were resolved too easily. None of the characters had to struggle that much in order to resolve their problems. That means that none of the characters really grew throughout the novel. I don't see the point in a book when the characters don't grow over the course of the novel. That's the entire point of reading a work of fiction, to watch the characters grow. Of course we all like  the romance, suspense, etc., involved in works of fiction as well, but all of those plot devices serve to make the characters grow. In this book, I didn't feel like the characters grew that much. 

Another thing that annoyed me, though this was just a personal preference, was the use of religion throughout the book. I really don't like to feel like a book is preaching to me, and at times, I did feel that way. I realize the southeast is the Bible Belt, and I know that Christianity plays a big part of their lives, but really it just got on my nerves. I mean I'm living back in the south now, and it still annoys me when people start preaching. I just don't like the preachy thing. I don't think it was intended this way in the book, but I felt that the whole God-fearing/loving thing was a bit too aggressive.It reminded me of some of my least favorite relatives.

The pacing of this book is pretty spot on. Even though I knew what was happening for most of the novel, I didn't get that bored. Franklin-Willis kept things interesting by exploring different aspects of the characters'lives and by switching from past to present. 

Overall, I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought it would. For some reason, I was expecting a unique bildungsroman, or at the very least, a story in which the characters grew. However, for those who enjoy Southern Literature and the writing style associated with it, you will probably love this book. The writing itself is well-done, and I truly believe that once Franklin-Willis gets a few more books under her belt and works through her problem areas, she will be an unstoppable force in Southern Literature. 

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THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Sherman Alexie

Grade: A+


Description from goodreads.com:
In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by acclaimed artist Ellen Forney, that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.


My thoughts on the book:
Sherman Alexie is one of the greatest authors of all time. Let me explain this. He has the ability to speak TO YOU through his words. Every time I read one of his books, I feel like he's talking to me and telling me his life story. His writing always sucks me in from the first page. I always laugh and cry, because let's face it, he's funny, but the stories themselves are heartbreaking, and there is no doubt in my mind that the stories he tells are at least inspired by true events, and that breaks my heart even more. Alexie's unique voice, sarcastic sense of humor, and well-developed, unique cast of characters add to his engrossing plots to make unforgettable books. True Diary is no exception to that. 


True Diary is told from Junior's POV, and you can't help but feel sympathy for Junior right away. He was born with water on the brain, after all, and that's enough to make anyone feel bad for you... or call you names, depending on if you're in high school or not. Ahh the best years of your life, high school is not. Junior tells a story of poverty, heartbreak, love, and loss. He explains life on the reservation and lets people know that it's not anything like most people would expect. Junior's story is an inspiration to all of us, regardless of our backgrounds, because he never lets anything get him down. He fights for himself, for an education, and for a life. That sets him apart from the others on the reservation, and they judge him even more because he has ambitions. But Junior doesn't give up... he never gives up. 


Junior gets angry because his reservation school textbook is over 30 years old. He throws the book and gets suspended. The teacher isn't mad at him, however, and after giving Junior a pep talk, Junior decides to go to an all white high school so that he can actually get a good education. Junior's parents are too poor to get him there on most days, though, and he ends up walking over 20 miles there and 20 miles back just to get an education. His best friend from the reservation, Rowdy, hates him for leaving, and Junior feels all alone in this new world. 


At the white high school, Junior experiences blatant racism from the students, but he quickly shows them that he won't take their crap, and he actually makes some really good friends. He tries to hide how poor he is, but they find out. Instead of judging him, they try to help him. Throughout the novel Junior evolves, and the reader goes on this emotional journey of growing up with him. You can't help but root for Junior, and when things go wrong, you cry for him. The book isn't too serious, though, because Alexie is wonderfully sarcastic. I was torn between laughing and crying throughout the whole novel. 


Every single character in the book is well-developed. There are no cookie-cutter types... at least not from my perspective. Everyone is dynamic and unpredictable. Alexie does a terrific job of showing that no one's life is what it seems. There are many surprises, both good and bad in this novel. Nothing is straight-forward because people's lives aren't straight-forward. We're all complicated, and it's clear that Alexie understands that. 


The pacing of the book is excellent, and there isn't a single dull moment. There are a lot of events that happen throughout the novel to keep the reader engaged, and when something tragic or hilarious isn't happening, then Junior is drawing cartoons of how he sees things, which is pretty funny. I really loved the addition of the drawings to the text. It made the book that much richer. 


The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a book that you do not want to miss. If you haven't read the novel yet, then you are missing out. If you've never read anything by Sherman Alexie before, then I am sad for you. You  must get this book. You must read it now. 


What are you waiting for? Buy the book!