Customer Reviews

Going Down South: A Novel

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When I received the Advanced Uncorrected Proof of Going Down South, I had no clue as what the book was about; I knew I had enjoyed Bonnie Glover's debut, The Middle Sister, and eagerly wanted to read her sophomore release. Having grown up in the Mid-West, I incorrectly thought the title referred to the annual treks to various parts of the South that I and other children with Southern roots routinely took every summer to visit grandparents and other relatives. However, I quickly realized that the title references an alternative connotation of the phrase -- it is/was often the excuse given to school administrators, church members, and neighbors to explain the une xpected and lengthy disappearance of their daughters. Going Down South was literally the scuttling of unwed (usually teen) mothers to relatives in the South to have their babies away from condemning eyes, scornful stares, and gossiping neighbors.

Olivia Jean Stone is a homely, bookish fifteen year-old Brooklynite who lives with her beautiful, emotionally-distant mother, Daisy, and her philandering, drunkard father, Turk. As with most of the girls in school, she has a crush on an older popular (skirt-chasing) upperclassman, Preston Douglass, who for the most part does not know she exists. One fateful day, his attentions turn to Olivia Jean and the inevitable happens -- she ends up pregnant as a result of raging, uncontrollable hormones, no protection, and an overeager desire to please and (in her mind) keep Preston. Quite naturally, Preston balks at the notion of fatherhood and marriage. The news turns fun-loving Turk into a cold, mean-spirited man who shuts out Olivia Jean and breaks her heart even more by refusing to talk to her or even look in her direction. Her parents make arrangements for Olivia Jean to stay with her maternal grandmother, Birdie, in Alabama after she refuses to reveal the name of the child's father and an abortion. Neighbors are told that Olivia Jean is going South to tend to an ailing grandmother. Daisy and Turk's plan is to drive down to Alabama over th e weekend, leave Olivia Jean with Birdie until the child is born, and immediately drive all night to arrive back in New York in time for work Monday morning. Unbeknownst to them, Birdie has changed the original agreement -- she intentionally waits until they arrive in Alabama to state her terms. She will now accept the deal on the condition that one of the parents stay with Olivia Jean throughout the pregnancy. Daisy is livid at Birdie's ninth hour demand; a controlling tactic which will jeopardize her job, but relents and reluctantly sends her wayward husband back home to Brooklyn alone.

As Olivia Jean's belly grows, so does the tension between all three women. The author craftily interweaves a series of flashbacks that provide the missing pieces of how these women came to be complete with colorful characters, nuggets of wisdom, and unconditional love. The result is a sometimes funny, sometimes sad page-turner of a novel which I read in one sitting. I had to keep reading for the revelation of decades-long kept secr ets: Birdie's secret regarding her eccentric employer, Daisy's source of anger and apathy toward Birdie and Olivia Jean, Daisy's unending love for Turk and her long-standing tolerance of his infidelity, Daisy's refusal to visit Birdie for 15 years, and Daisy's secret that shakes Olivia Jean's world. Granted, the author gives enough clues for the reader to deduce the secrets before they are revealed by the characters, but that does not detract from the story.

Going Down South is worth a chance as it will fit nicely on the shelf along side similarly themed Mother/Daughter relationship novels like Nowhere Is A Place by Bernice McFadden, Orange Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice, and daughter by asha bandele. I think that book clubs will find this novel appealing as it deals with issues and themes (racism, colorism, sexism, parental sacrifices, etc. ) that will provide fodder for great discussions.

Reviewed by Phyllis
June 20, 2008
APOOO BookClub

I just finished Going Down South: This book was the most "feel good" read I've experienced in a long time. From the first quirky and highly visual scene, the characters came alive and took me with them. Rich descriptions ("stained glassed windows, but when you got up close you saw that some were only drawings of stained glass taped on top of windows held open by iron bars,") poignant similes ("Charm oozed out of him like Karo syrup, heavy, smooth and sweet," ) and real life metaphors ("They were night and day, one a piece of bread, the other a thick pork chop with dripping gravy) make every page a sensory experience.
Ms. Glover grounds the reader in familiar objects, ("She'd heard the poetry of Langston Hughes, stretched to Zora Neale Hurston, twisted to her mother's laughter,") oftentimes delivering the essence of a whole lifetime in one sentence ("...Daisy became Batman and Olivia Jean imagined herself as the old butler, Alfred Pennyworth.")
Actually my favorite thing about this book is that it's a plethora of show-don't-tell. Though all a part of the story, the focus is not on race relations, spousal abuse, teenage pregnancy or abortion, it's on life lessons, relationships, and how we all learn and grow. It exudes a philosophy that we all learn from our mistakes, and oftentimes there is no one person or group to blame. This universal idea relates to all colors, ages, and socioeconomic groups. Going Down South is endearing coming-of-age novel that brings hope to women of all generations.

"Going Down South" is a wonderful story about motherhood, love, disappointment and redemption. Three generations of women are forced to confront their past and find a way to both heal and accept one another. At 15, Olivia Jean finds herself pregnant and alone. Her mother, Daisy, tries to convince her to have an abortion and when that does not work, Daisy decides that they must take Olivia Jean to have the child down south - a decision made by many parents during the 50's and 60's.

To Daisy going back home means facing her mother, Birdie, and the small town and small life she had left behind long ago and had hoped were behind her for good. Daisy hopes to make her trip "home" a brief one until her mother, Birdie, insist that Olivia Jean can stay only if one of her parents stays behind until the child is born.

The book also explores the dysfunctional male relationships selected by each of these women. Olivia Jean, who must face the prospect of motherhood alone; Daisy whose husband, Turk, has an eye for other women; and Birdie who longs for a relationship with a man from the distant past. In each case, these women sacrifice themselves in some way for the sake of a man who doesn't meet all of their needs.

Glover's mouthwatering descriptions of catfish meals, makes me reminisce about my own Sunday Dinner's with my grandmother.

This book would be an excellent selection for book clubs because it explores what it means to be a woman from a multi-generational perspective and takes an empathetic look at the flaws and insecurities in each of us. This is a must read that will make you want to rediscover your own roots.

RATING: 4.5 out of 5

Reading Going Down South, was like going back in time in more ways than one. There was a period of time in my reading life when I became quite immersed in the reading of African American women authors. It seemed like the more I read, the more I wanted to read. One author led to another as I would read interviews or reviews as well as books. Alice Walker and Toni Morrison novels, J. California Cooper novels and short story collections. Tina McElroy Ansa, and of course, Zora Neale Hurston. And then I had finished the collections, and I sat waiting for the next books. Others came along over time as well as women of color from other countries.

So when I read a brief snippet of Bonnie J. Glover's new book on Shelf Awareness, I knew I wanted to read the book.

Going Down South takes you back to a time, the 1960's, when various parts of this country were very different from others depending on your race. The beginning of this book starts out with a very common occurrence, a young 15 year old girl who becomes pregnant the first time she has sex. However, what follows is not common. Olivia Jean is pregnant and her mother, Daisy is as unhappy as any mother for her only child, however, Daisy's solution to the problem is to take her back to her hometown, down South, to her mother, Birdie, to hide the problem from the neighborhood. Daisy hasn't seen her mother, since she left home with her now husband, Turk, 16 years ago, and she was secretly pregnant at the time. Daisy has many unresolved issues with Cold Water Springs, Alabama, but she doesn't plan on addressing any of them. Her plan is to leave her daughter with her mother, and return to New York with Turk to revive their marriage. Birdie also has many unresolved and secret issues and she has no intention of letting Turk and Daisy leave their daughter with her alone. She knows there is only one way to deal with her daughter, her granddaughter and this new to-arrive member of their unique family.
The story of these three women is powerful, touching, tough, and memorable. The characters quickly become three dimensional people you may have known and come across in your life. Birdie quickly became my favorite character. She made me laugh with her brutal honesty, and tough, tough demeanor, and also brought me to tears with the injustices that she endured and swallowed throughout her life.

There is inspiration and strength to be gained by any young woman that reads this book and feelings to be affirmed by any older woman that has experienced injustice for just being a woman.

Thank you, Bonnie J. Glover, you have given us such a touching, heart-warming portrait of three generations of strong women.

GOING DOWN SOUTH is a wonderful novel about the connection between mothers and daughters and one that every woman will connect to in some way. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and had trouble putting it down. From the start, when I was drawn to the cover of the little girls innocent hands melted my heart! Every time I picked up the book, it reminded me of the innocence of children and childhood and how quickly that innocence can be lost. This is a story about three generations of women who are all strong, feisty and driven. Through lifes circumstances, they are forced to confront their pasts and to make peace and accept one another.

I adored the three women in the story for many different reasons. I liked how the author showed how Olivia Jean, Daisy and Birdie grew and matured as women and how their lives came back full circle to reunite them in the end. There was a wonderful sense of humor and southern style that I enjoyed. I adored Olivia Jean's innocence and wisdom for a young girl. Daisy hadn't realized that the past was holding on to her so tight that to grow she had to release it. Birdie had a bright and vivacious tenacity about her which touched those around her. She was the magnet that drew the women together and helped them to grow as women/mothers. All of the women had a life lesson to learn. I found myself laughing out loud in some parts and then teary-eyed at others. The author wrote the story from the perspectives of these three women and was able to go back and forth between them with great ease. It was an easy story to follow even though there were no paragraphs but just 3 sections from each characters perspective. This worked very well and the story flowed smoothly and effortlessly.

The male characters were mainly in the background which made the book quite interesting. The women were the main focus and the men that were in the story showed a full range of character. You had the despicable/evil men and the selfish/dishonest men but there were also several men of strong character and strength who showed great love for these women. I believe that this was done to focus on the women and their stories and their own self discovery about how the men that they have chosen effect their lives.

The time period of the book was based in the 50's and 60's and it shared the challenges of the times for black women in New York and in the Deep South of Alabama, a time of segregation. The story was told with great respect of this time period. This is the kind of book that stays with you. After finishing the book I found myself thinking of the characters and smiling as they touched my life by reading their story. I felt a connection to them as a mother and daughter myself. I look forward to reading more books by Bonnie Glover.

No one can love you like family and no one can hurt you like family. I found this to ring true while reading GOING DOWN SOUTH. Olivia Jean has an unstable relationship with her mother, Daisy, which is exasperated by her close
relationship with her father, Turk, a man her mother is struggling to hold onto. Daisy is jealous of the time and attention he gives Olivia Jean and doesn't have for her. When Olivia Jean tells her parents she is pregnant at
fifteen, for fear of what the neighbors will think, the only option is to send her to stay with her grandmother. Daisy's relationship with her mother, Birdie is also fragile, so she is surprised when Birdie agrees to take Olivia Jean in on the condition Daisy stay as well.

After settling in with Birdie, Daisy and Olivia Jean are shocked to discover Turk is not keeping in contact with them. This really affects Olivia Jean as she blames her pregnancy on the distance she's now feeling from her father. As her pregnancy progresses, so does the bond between the three women. Old secrets are revealed and past pain and disappointments are explained. Each of them learn things about each other and themselves that helps to bridge the gaps in their current relationships.

GOING DOWN SOUTH is told from the viewpoint of each of the main characters. Glover incorporates the use of flashbacks to provide the history of how each character came to be the person she is. The strong characterization
and plot detail allowed me to become engaged in her fluid and graceful style of writing.

Reviewed by Paula Henderson
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I happened to come across this book one day in the book store and decided that I had to read it, although I wasn't familiar with the author. I enjoyed the book immensely! I started reading it while waiting to get my hair done, and couldn't put it down. I go to the salon every week and I am usually the most talkative person there - but not this week. Everybody kept asking what I was reading, because they were so surprised that I was so into it. Even after I got home, I just had to keep reading until I got to the end. If you are looking for a good story with interesting characters, then this is the book for you. Glad I stumbled on it!

For those who enjoy Southern Literature, add Going Down South to your list of must reads. That said, people who tend to avoid this genre might end up enchantment by this story. I was. Bonnie J. Glover, the book's author, brought together three African American characters: fifteen year old Olivia Jean, her mother, Daisy, and her grandmother, Birdie. Each had their very own story to tell.

It's the early 1960s when Olivia Jean discovers she is pregnant out of wedlock. Her father and mother pack her up and head down south to Birdie's. Old wounds are reopened and secrets revealed as these three come to terms with their own obstacles.

When fifteen-year-old Oliva Jean becomes pregnant. Her mother Daisy sends Down South to her Grandmother Birdie. But Birdie has other plans that include Daisy, she insists that Daisy stay right along with Olivia Jean. This was a heartfelt novel about three generations of women.Healing the past and paving a new future. I can't say enough how much I enjoyed this novel.

Reviewed by
Alyssa
Mahogany Book Club
http://mahoganybookclub.ning.com

Despite all of your intentions on escaping who or what you are, there comes a time when you HAVE to come home again. Three generation of women,Birdie, Daisy, and Olivia Jean both come to that in their own way. Olivia Jean is 15, who out of curiosity and happy to have the most popular boy in school look her way, agrees to meet him in the closet, where he gets her pregnant. her mother, Daisy, an overworked yet non demonstrative to her daughter first takes her to an abortionist, who wisely asks Olivia Jean how she wanted this to turn out. Despite her age, she states that she wanted the baby, and the lady told her mother thanks but no thanks, returns all but a portion of the money given and sends them on their way. Only then did Daisy think to send her to her mother,Birdie in Alabama. Well, off they go and once they get there, Birdie is ok to the idea, but also states that one of the parents HAVE to stay with Olivia Jean. Since Turk doesn't feel comfortable with Birdie, it is Daisy, who stays and together, they set out to confront the things not faced in the past as well as forge together for a better future. I really love this novel because it's the second novel I've read for the summer(Trading Dreams at Midnight is the other)that has a strong mother daughter generational theme whereas the first generation has dreams but doesn't get it, the second gets it or perhaps not but doesn't know how to keep it, but the third generation gets blessed and move forward to it. What a sweet yet empowering novel. Now the men in this book may seem weak, unbending, stubborn and all the like, but the main thing here is, This novel simply wasn't about them. Just on how they interacted with the women. I believe Birdie and Daisy could have resolved their issues perhaps she didn't get to the big house but that's how it goes. Check it out for yourselves and feel blessed.