Swamplandia! by Karen Russell

     Karen Russell's debut, Pulitzer Prize nominated novel takes us deep into the Florida marshes to Swamplandia!, which was once "the Number One Gator-Themed Park and Swamp Cafe in the area."  Swamplandia! featured all kinds of attractions, but their headliner was the famous Hilola Bigtree: wife, mother of three, and "world-famous alligator wrestler."  But in the prime of Swamplandia!, Hilola died suddenly of an extremely aggressive form of ovarian cancer.  Hilola's death is earth-shattering for the rest of the Bigtree family, but 13 year-old Ava Bigtree is determined to follow in her mother's footsteps and master the skill of gator wrestling.

     Unfortunately, the rest of the Bigtrees aren't as optimistic about the park's future.  Ava's older sister, Osceola, has retreated inside herself and claims to be both possessed by and engaged to a ghost.  Their older brother, Kiwi, decides to leave the swamp and find a job on the mainland, and their father, The Chief, is increasingly vague on the subject of their financial situation.  But Ava is determined to save the swamp and reunite her family - a job that turns out to be much more perilous than wrestling gators.

     Swamplandia! follows a variety of themes, but more than anything, it is a novel about loss and grief.  As Ava says in retrospect, "I didn't realize that one tragedy can beget another, and another - bright-eyed disasters flooding out of a death hole like bats out of a cave" (p. 9).  But Ava soon finds out that dying isn't the worst part of death.  Grief is much worse, especially the kind that tears your family apart, clouds your judgment, and challenges your sanity.  Osceola is metaphorically "possessed" by grief.  Ava's grief is suppressed by concern for her sister and the future of the park, but bubbling just below the murky surface in her desire to become a gator wrestler.  And Kiwi's grief is played out in his descent into The World of Darkness - a rival mainland theme park where he is employed.  The Bigtree family at first attempts an attitude of "the show must go on," but how can the show go on if the star is dead and the supporting cast is in mourning?

     The novel also explores the dichotomy of memory and reality.  Osceola stays as far away from reality as possible, but Ava and Kiwi must slowly face the towering facts.  While Hilola Bigtree is a superhero to her family, in reality, Swamplandia! was never much more than an obscure sideshow attraction.  In the cold light of maturity, their shimmering childhood is not quite as bright as they remember.

     For the quirky, eccentric characters of Swamplandia!, life is full of haunted little surprises.  This is especially true for Ava, whose narration serves to chronicle the end of her mother's story just as much as it charts the beginning of her own coming-of-age story.  And this idea of a blurry convergence is where Karen Russell really shines as a writer.  Whether it's the convergence of life and death, innocence and experience, or fear and courage, Swamplandia! couldn't be a more perfect locale for such a merging.  After all, there's no better place for redemption than a southern swampland, right?

     This book received tremendous praise after its Pulitzer Prize nomination, and while I agree that Russell's prose is spectacular, it's important to keep in mind that Swamplandia! is a very character-driven novel.  Compared to the level of character development, the plot may feel a bit lackluster, and even disjointed at times.  But even so, Karen Russell's poetic prose and stylistic subtleties are more than enough to engage readers.

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Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

     Mo LoBeau is not your average 11 year-old.  She was born "during one of the meanest hurricanes in history" and for some reason, her "upstream mother" placed her infant daughter on a makeshift raft and hoped that she would float to safety.  Luckily, Mo was rescued in Tupelo Landing, North Carolina by a man known as The Colonel, who had the good sense to place the infant girl into the loving arms of Miss Lana.  The Colonel and Miss Lana raised Mo as their own, but she's still awfully curious about her upstream mother, so she frequently sends out messages in bottles, hoping that she and her mother will someday be reunited by the very same water that separated them.

     Now 11 years old, Mo is an established detective in Tupelo Landing, solving minor mysteries, reuniting lost pets with owners, and still pursuing the case of her negligent birth mother.  But when the town's grumpiest, least favorite resident turns up dead under suspicious circumstances, Mo and her best friend, Dale, are hot on the case - much to the chagrin of the lead investigator, Mr. Joe Starr.  Pretty soon, Mo and Dale find themselves in deep and dangerous waters - both literally and figuratively.  The killer has set his sights on Mo's loved ones just as another hurricane bears down on the sleepy little town.  But our heroine isn't gonna let a tropical storm stop her from finding the murderer - especially when Miss Lana and The Colonel might be in danger.

     Three Times Lucky is full of colorful characters with dazzling personalities and heaps of southern charm.  Miss Lana, for instance, runs a local cafe which she often decorates in themes (French, Hollywood Stars, etc).  And don't worry, she has multiple wigs and costumes to match the various themes, not to mention a wide variety of culinary selections.  Mo prefers to serve up peanut butter and jelly with an ice cold Mountain Dew to customers, but she appreciates the cultural experience Miss Lana offers nonetheless.  When she's not researching her own autobiography, Mo also supports Dale's older (and quite handsome) brother, Lavender, in his dream to become a NASCAR driver.  It runs in the family. After all, Dale's full name is Dale Earnhardt Johnson III.

     Mo LoBeau is a loud-mouthed, nosy, preteen busybody and good for her - and the rest of Tupelo Landing.  She may not be gentle or ladylike, but she's just what the town needs to save them from a crazed killer.  And as a lover of southern literature, I can't help but appreciate the book's southern charm and firecracker plot.  Sheila Turnage's debut YA novel is a delight for teens and adults alike.  Mo LoBeau is a sassy, southern-bred heroine, and believe me, you do not want to miss her fast-paced and endearing story.

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Favorite Fiction: Contemporary Debut Novels

Contemporary authors like Jonathan Franzen, Suzanne Collins, Ann Patchett, and Margaret Atwood are now considered household names, but every writer has to start somewhere.  Some turn into literary "one hit wonders" while others go on to win all sorts of prizes, honors, and awards, but as the phrase goes...you gotta start somewhere.  This segment of Favorite Fiction is about literary beginnings of contemporary authors.  Some are still new to the publishing world, and others have produced bestsellers and masterpieces, but they all have one thing in common - notable and impressive debut novels.  So here are Hooked Bookworm's top ten debut novels of contemporary writers:

You Don't Sweat Much for a Fat Girl by Celia Rivenbark

     I've been a fan of Celia Rivenbark for many years now - how could I resist a southern humorist's "observations on life from the shallow end of the pool?'  With her latest collection of essays, she once again delivers delicious sarcasm, a shameless sense of humor, and of course, southern charm.  She even share a few recipes with readers between quick-witted jabs at just about every reality TV star, and hilarious sucker punches aimed at well-deserving politicians, such as former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford.  The bastard had it coming, bless his heart!

     I read most of this book aloud to my husband on a road trip this past weekend, and Ms. Rivenbark's hilarious book had us both practically in tears as we cruised along I-40.  Needless to say, our 3 hour road trip felt more like 30 minutes with the wonderful distractions this book offered.  My favorite chapter consists of Celia's musings on "Puppy Tweets," an electronic dog collar that generates tweets when activated by your dog's barking and movements.  Click that puppy tweets link if you don't believe me! That shit is real!  But what about social networking opportunities for cats, you ask?  Don't worry, Celia addresses those concerns as well.

     For Celia Rivenbark, no topic is off limits.  Whether it's politics, sex, menopause, or Snuggies, You Don't Sweat Much for a Fat Girl has something for everyone.  And if you're offended by any of Celia's remarks, rest assured that she does not care. At all.  But how could you be offended by such a sweet, trash-talking southern woman??  Native southerners have embraced Ms. Rivenbark for years, and if you're not from the south, first of all, I'm sorry....and second, Celia's little words of wisdom will give you the urge to mix up a pitcher of sweet tea and find a nice, breezy porch where you can experience the south according to Celia.  You Don't Sweat Much for a Fat Girl is not my favorite of her books (I'm partial to Belle Weather and Bless Your Heart, Tramp), but it still offers a great deal of entertainment and keeps me hoping that Celia Rivenbark will always remain one of the most opinionated women this side of the Mason Dixon line.

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Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross

     Julia Springer may not be the best feminist or the most socially conscious person, but she's doing alright considering the sheltered life she has led up to this point.  She never had to make many decisions - her husband, Wesley Lloyd, made sure of that - but with him recently dead and buried, Miss Julia is left to fend for herself.  Well, sort of.  As it turns out, Wesley Lloyd was a stingy, but incredibly wealthy man, and Julia is the sole beneficiary of his estate.  So with a newfound financial freedom, Julia and her maid/confidant, Lillian, are enjoying being able to finally relax.

   But soon enough, it seems like everybody in their small, southern town wants a piece of Julia's inheritance - especially the church.  And to further complicate matters, it seems that Mr. Springer was not such a faithful, loyal husband.  Julia finds this out when his mistress appears at the doorstep with Mr. Springer's illegitimate son in tow.  Wesley Lloyd Jr may be a skinny, 9 year-old child with a pale complexion and a nervous demeanor, but his arrival sets off a whole chain of events that Julia Springer was never prepared for.  But as any self-confident, determined southern woman would do, Miss Julia learns how to face her problems and takes care of business!

     Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind is a light, but entertaining read.  Julia may have once been sheltered and naive, but she quickly breaks out of her shell and emerges as a proud, sassy southern woman.  It's easy to sympathize with Julia and her small, personal triumphs, and we soon see that she is more courageous than anyone knew she could be.  Well, she never had the opportunity before, but now things have fundamentally changed for Julia, and with her newly-discovered bravery and a few very supportive friends, Miss Julia really does find her voice and speaks her mind.

     Ok, so this novel may be a little melodramatic at times, but Miss Julia's story is delightful and heartwarming, nonetheless.  With southern charm and a fast-paced plot, Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind evolved into an ongoing "Miss Julia" series, of which there are now 13 books in the collection.  The prose may not be poetic or groundbreaking, but as Ann B. Ross has said, she just wanted to tell a good, entertaining story, and that's exactly what she did.

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Favorite Fiction: Short Story Collections

Short stories can be just as powerful and effective as a novel, but they don't get as much recognition in the literary criticism world.  Even so, there are a lot of amazing short stories out there.  Some authors have even built careers on writing short fiction, such as Washington Irving ("The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"), Edgar Allan Poe (The Tell Tale Heart and Other Stories), and Guy de Maupassant ("The Necklace").  And you may remember that Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" is still one of the most well-known and studied pieces of literature throughout American high schools.  Even though short stories are often treated like the novel's annoying kid sister, there are some pretty spectacular short story collections out there.  Here are a few of Hooked Bookworm's favorites:

Favorite Fiction: Dysfunctional Families

   It can be quite comforting to read about dysfunctional families in literature.  We relate to the characters (some more than others) and they make us feel normal by comparison.  Our voyeuristic side reveals itself when we read about families with problems because, as readers, we are privy to the nature of their dysfunction - we become a sort of literary Peeping Tom.  All creepiness aside, here are a few of Hooked Bookworm's favorite depictions of dysfunctional families in literature:

NPR's controversial interview with Amy Greene

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Amy Greene last week, who is the author of Bloodroot.  Her writing is incredibly powerful, and if you have not had the chance to read Bloodroot yet I highly recommend that you make some time!  A couple of months ago I mentioned the debut novel in my Southern Lit Rant, and I still think it is one of the best books I have ever read.

Anyway, Amy Greene mentioned last week that in early 2010 she was interviewed on NPR, and that it ended up being a very controversial show. Jacki Lyden was the host, and though she may not have done this on purpose, she came across as very condescending, even going so far as to suggest that the south is not a part of the "real world."  Apparently this pissed off a lot of people (not just southerners) and NPR received many letters and calls of complaint.

I was very disappointed when I read the transcript of the interview.  I listen to NPR almost every day, and I was appalled at Lyden's ignorance and lack of respect for Amy Greene as a writer.  If you're a southerner, you have probably dealt this kind of stereotyping before, but seriously??? I expected more from NPR.

Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell

The Ozarks are scary!

My summer reading list (subject to change)

   Now that I have read Weetzie Bat, it is officially summer in my literary life.  About this time every year, I begin to set aside books that I want to read over the summer.  I may not actually get to them all, but like I said, my list is subject to change.  Here are some of the books I look forward to (probably?) reading over the summer...some are old...some are new.

Southern Lit Rant

Being from Tennessee, I have great affection for southern literature and southern authors. When people talk about southern authors, they almost always think of Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, Truman Capote, etc. Now I think these writers hold a well-deserved place in the literary canon, but lately I have been reading (and thoroughly enjoying) books from (shall we say) less recognized southern authors, such as: