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There are currently 26 member reviews
for The Almost Sisters
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Deborah C. (Seattle, WA)
This book has it all!
I am a huge Joshilyn Jackson fan and was prepared to love this book--I was not disappointed. As usual, the author does a wonderful job of creating believable and relatable characters who are faced with everyday situations. Because she is such a good storyteller, these situations are both realistic and fascinating--I had a hard time putting the book down. I think this would be a great book for book clubs because there are so many important issues ranging from dementia, to marital problems, to unplanned pregnancies. Highly recommend!
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Mary S. (Hilton Head Island, SC)
Another "To Kill A Mockingbird"
When I first started to read this book I thought it was another chick lit, beach read book-- how wrong I was!! Read past the first 50 pages and you find yourself in the world of Southern culture, family secrets, and a cast of characters who keep surprising you at every turn. Having lived in the South for 14 years, I can identify with the mores and habits of a small town with a lot of history to be proud of and much to hide. Don't put the book down until the very end or you will miss the entire story and all of its twists and turns. The ending was truly unexpected!
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Priscilla M. (Houston, TX)
Outstanding read!
Life can be complicated, messy, and amazing. Add that to life in a small Southern town, and you have all the ingredients for a riveting story. The social hierarchies, the thinly veiled prejudice, and the clan-like family loyalties are revealed with humor and love. The main character, Leia, rushes to the aid of her beloved grandmother, who has exhibited signs of dementia in a most embarrassing social setting. Leia arrives in Birchfield with her own burdens of deadlines and an unplanned pregnancy from a one night stand. Dealing with race relations, family secrets, and internal struggles may not sound uplifting, but the story is richly told, and you find yourself rooting for all the family members and the town citizens as they come to grips with new realities. The author created fully fleshed out characters and a sturdy storyline. I found myself cheering them on as they try to find the real meaning of family and what it means to truly love someone.
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Ann L. (Park City, UT)
Delightful read
I was not familiar with this author; will be reading her other books. Pleasant read, well-developed characters. Great handling of an intricate plot. Doesn't over-emphasize the "deeper" aspects (cartoon characters and plot). And a fair realistic treatment of politically charged issues - race and crimes. Feels agenda-free.
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Joan P. (Owego, NY)
Almost Sisters
No Gimmicks! No changing narrators! No flashbacks! "Almost Sisters" is a good story beautifully written. Leia Birch is confronted with two problems to begin the book. She finds herself pregnant as a result of a one time encounter with a man she met at a conference and her beloved grandmother has been acting strangely and decisions have to be made for her future. Add in the marital problems of her step sister with whom she has a bumpy relationship since childhood. If that seems like enough, it isn't. You're in for many surprises. She explores the relationships between fathers and daughters and how the future is affected by them. Another theme becomes evident as the book is ending. It confronts race relations in what Jackson calls " the second south". Of course the main theme is how " almost sisters" have bonds that can't be broken. I will be putting this author's novels on my must read list.
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lani
Your mouth will be stretched wide with smiles..
I had not read her previous book ,The Gods of Alabama, but that is a case that will soon be rectified. What a beautiful voice Jackson gives to her characters, each with their clearly distinct personalities,which made me smile the whole way through. Quirky humor lends itself to every page, which belie the seriousness of some of the issues raised. Leia, a highly regarded comic artist has a one night stand leading to a pregnancy with a biracial child. Just as she discovers this, her step-sister's marriage unravels. To complicate matters further, her deeply adored grandmother,Birchie,begins a downward spiral of dementia.As she travels south to help her Grandmother, a new mystery unfolds that threatens the families stature in town. With abundant humor, all issues are tackled but underneath the carpet is the seriousness of privilege, racial bias, rules of the old South, and small town politics. Although I loved this book I would have given this a 4.5 star rating as the ending fell flat for me and felt somewhat abrupt. Otherwise, this is guaranteed enjoyment!
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Rosanne S. (Franklin Square, NY)
Another Incredible One
I have read everything Joshilyn Jackson has written and I cannot find one that I favor; I love them all. The Almost Sisters is as good if not better than all others. I inhaled it.
This time she has done a very good job at incorporating present day racial tensions into her story by creating a story that incorporates family values, regional values and contemporary ills. Of course, she is always the voice of the "Second South" as she calls it.
It is extremely interesting that a lot of her message was delivered via the comic book heroes she creates. This is certainly a different approach for her and frankly one that I wasn't too excited about. I think the story was powerful enough without this added measure.
All in all, I loved the book and highly recommend it to everyone.
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