Between, Georgia ***** by Joshilyn Jackson
I’m joining Jain in her bi-monthly edible book review at Food for Thought, where in her words, pages from your book magically mix with the kitchen and your camera. Books, Food & Photos, my three favorite things all in one place!
This is my favorite book of Joshilyn Jackson’s. (Her fourth book is due out in June, which I am anxiously awaiting!) In addition to reading it, I have also listened to the audio version. The audio version is EXCELLENT, and read by the author herself. Her characters’ accents as well as antics, are laugh-out-loud funny.
The title of the book refers to the name of the town in Georgia, population 90, where this Southern drama takes place. ‘Between’ also refers to the character, Nonny Frett’s state…she is caught between her biological mother’s family, the Crabtrees, and the family that raised her, the Fretts. This sums up the difference between the families:
The Fretts are ‘meticulous, order incarnate’. If they ever cuss, they use only cuss-words that appear in the Bible. No Frett lips ever touched liquor. The Crabtrees, meanwhile, live in squalor. “They spread like kudzu, generating more chaos and more Crabtrees, generally without the benefit of marriage.”
Noteworthy Characters
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Stacia Frett, born with Usher Syndrome, which causes deafness and progressive vision loss. A doll-maker-artist and Nonny’s Mother by adoption
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Genny Frett, twin to Stacia, highly nervous, but functions as Stacia’s interpreter
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Bernese, sister to Stacia & Genny. The town Matriarch who wields her opinions with the subtlety of a club. Typical Bernese remark: ” Well, the Methodists believe something stupid or else they’d be Baptists.”
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Fisher, five years old and living with her grandmother, Bernese
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Ona Crabtree, Nonny’s birth grandmother, “half crazy, all mean, perpetually drunk, but she had a junkyard dog’s sharp memory for injuries against her person. She hated all things Frett.”
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Jonno, Nonny’s philandering soon to be ex-husband
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Henry Crabtree, Nonny’s friend, and very Un-Crabtree-like
This cast of characters is a combustible combination.
Bernese runs a Doll House and Butterfly Museum…
“It seems obvious to her, like basic math. She enjoys raising moths and butterflies, she’s built her life on doll houses, so obviously she ought to be able to put them together somehow.”
Some of the funniest moments are Bernese’s struggles with Fisher, especially hilarious when read with the authors’ accents in the audio version. Her misplaced aggressive behavior and feelings for her daughter, has her restricting five-year old granddaughter, Fisher’s diet. Poor Fisher’s food is weighed and measured; to be eaten in specific combinations… a boiled egg with carrot sticks, egg salad with green beans.
With these as the only food vignettes mentioned, Bernese ‘forced me’ to prepare a Fisher-Friendly-Food. Below is a Southern favorite, Deviled Eggs, but jazzed up with some Bacon and Chives. I’m sure Bernese would SERIOUSLY frown on the bacon!
Bacon-Chive Deviled Eggs
recipe here
If you like a Southern Drama, rife with conflict and humor, you’re in for a treat!
Be sure to stop by http://foodforthoughtediblebooks.blogspot.com/ for more edible reviews…
oh you are sooooooooooooooo good at this! i am lapping up every single pic! i read this book and dang you did a super job sharing the feel of this! i can’t get over how fun this is for me, and your pics are FANTASTIC!
i think we have the same tastes in books so this is double the fun for me to see life thru your lens and tummy!
thank you for the huge smiles you are slapping on my face tonight, who knew food for thought could this much fun! well, i did, but i was so afraid i was the only one that would enjoy this and too so many others shining like this is a blast!
Jain is right on about your reviews. Both photos and text are enticing. I’m going to listen to this on audio while traveling. Sounds like the perfect choice! Oh, and those deviled eggs – I’ll take a dozen!
lovely review! it sounds like a wonderful book to read! those devilled eggs are fantastic and what beautiful photos you took! Love the colours!!!
Well done! A perfect review and great format. The deviled eggs look yummy-especially with addition of bacon and chives.
Mega ditto what Jain said! This book has to be a hoot, given the way you’ve described it.
I think I would love the audio version. I can listen while I sew.
♥ your photos of the eggs on your pretty egg plate. I have a collection of egg plates but seldom make deviled eggs. ??? Don’t know why but you’ve tempted me to try your recipe next time we have company. Hubby shouldn’t eat too many so that will be a good time to share them with others.
Really great post and loved those deviled eggs… they are my fella’s favorite!
Another terrific review, and devilishly good looking eggs to boot!