..Review here at my blog.Now and then, I wish I weren’t restricted to five stars on my reviews. Sometimes I want to give so many stars they stretch across the page. An over-the-top reaction? Definitely. But this book is so worth it.One Mississippi is the story of Daniel Musgrove and his family who move to Mississippi from Indiana in the summer of 1973 when his father receives a transfer from the chemical company he sells products for. Daniel and his siblings, Janie and Bud, are against the move. They have good friends in Indiana; they’re tired of moving every few years; and besides, it’s Mississippi. They only know it to be hot, flat, and full of miserable racists. That’s really what the rest of the world thinks of Mississippi, right?But soon Daniel decides it’s not so bad for him after all. Despite having to mow the family’s huge yard almost daily, and despite being the awkward new kid starting his junior year in Minor, a fictional town just outside of Jackson – personally, I think it’s a mash-up of Byrum and Terry – Daniel finds his classes to be somewhat interesting. A few of his teachers are just quirky enough to keep him paying attention. And on his first day, Daniel meets Tim Cousins, a fellow outcast. They quickly become best friends, sharing a love of sarcasm, music, and Sonny & Cher.But Mark Childress doesn’t write straightforward, predictable novels. This one, for all its highly recognizable Mississippi traits, picked out easily by a native like me, is still a gothic novel. It’s dark, darkly funny, and hard to pin down. Daniel has an unlikely romance with an unlikely prom queen. Daniel and Tim are involved in a terrible accident that changes the prom queen’s life forever. Daniel and Tim get involved with a cheesy and fairly sacrilegious youth group musical called Christ! And it goes on and on, the story and characters building to an explosive ending.This is the kind of book that could only be written by a Southerner, and could only be set in the South. Nothing like this could happen anywhere else. It’s totally unique and utterly captivating. My book club did this for our August selection, and I was the only one who really seemed to love it. I connect with weird and wonderful books like this, and can’t wait to read Childress’ other work. Next time he comes to Lemuria, as he does with every new book he releases, I’ll be there, fangirling and asking for an autograph.
One Mississippi is about thirteen hours of listening, read by Jeff Woodman. It’s a coming of age tale. The reading by Woodman, albeit a heartfelt, creative effort, is very distracting … with singing throughout … ugh. The fact that the audiobook has an average rating of 4 stars has me puzzled … it’s not that good … plus, about twice as many audiobook reviews as the other formats. The story arc isn’t very well focused in that there are many side issues to the main thrust, which is a couple of guys romping through juvenile mechanicalness and angst as they squirm or lie their way around guilt. There are several reviews that rave, several that pan, several readers think the book is hilarious. Frankly, I don’t fit into any pigeon hole on this tale, unless there is a category for ‘indifference’. With One Mississippi I did learn something, though. If you are local to Mississippi, you call it: Missippi. Appears I’m not much help to potential readers, in that this review is very vague. So is the book. Not impressed.
What do You think about One Mississippi (2007)?
Now I know why Stephen King recommended this book: He has a long history of creating predatory, pathetic gay characters in his novels ("Needful Things" is the worst--couldn't finish it). This book has a record three sad, tortured, variously criminal gay characters. Oh, and a black girl who rejects her race. I realize Childress is trying to deal with the destructive impact of racism and homophobia in the Deep South in the 1970s, but in his effort to push readers' limits he just offends in his own pseudocomic fashion. Even the narrator is unlikeable, alternately paralyzed Into inaction, insensitive and exploitative to his loved ones, and a standard-issue liar and delinquent. The "comic" elements, such as making fun of white Baptists -- none of which was particularly funny -- clash harshly with the tragic touches, especially the dark, anachronistic surprise twist finale. As a result, the book is neither amusing nor touching.I'm giving it two stars instead of one for three reasons: I can tell Childress meant well, and that his tone and sense of humor simply don't resonate with me. Two, once it gets going, the plot line does draw you along, even if it is to a contrived apocalyptic finale that's either poignant or offensive, depending on your mood. And three, I loved the scene backstage at the Sonny and Cher concert. That at least made me smile.
—Bruce
I found this book on the "staff picks" shelf at my favorite library. I love love love coming-of-age novels like this book, especially if they're set in the south. (See also The Secret Life of Bees, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, Velva Jean Learns to Drive, Wish You Well). I also loved that I busted out laughing several times while reading this book. 16 yr old Daniel Musgrove is forced to move with his family in the 1970's to Mississippi. He befriends Tim and soon they are inseparable. They have a bond over Sonny and Cher and the tv show and think no one else will understand why they like the couple. Soon a school bully interferes and the lies begin and Daniel finds himself in some very unfamiliar territory. The ending completely took me by surprise, I'll be honest. I wanted to find someone who also read this and ask, "did YOU know about Tim too?! I didn't KNOW!"I'm excited to read more of Mark Childress' books, especially his upcoming release Georgia Bottoms. I learned in research that another novel of his was the basis for the major motion picture, "Crazy in Alabama," so its definitely on my list because I books into movies most of the time.
—Melissa
**SPOILER ALERT**I'm all for a book with a good twist, but when it feels like a novel should be broken in two, the twist is just too extreme. I was enjoying the novel for the first couple dozen pages, then struggled to get past the fact that Arnita got amnesia so bad she forgot that she was black. Once I suspended my disbelief long enough to accept this far-fetched element of "One Mississippi", I began once again to enjoy the novel and how it cast a light on racial discrimination, young love and
—Aaron
