What do you think?
Rate this book
A Southern Place
Mary Jane Hatcher-- everyone calls her Mojo-- is beat up bad. She’s in the ICU of Phoebe Putney, the largest hospital in South Georgia, barely able to talk. How Mojo goes from being that skinny little girl in Nolan, a small forgotten town along the Flint River, to the young woman now fighting for her life, is where this story begins and ends.
Mojo, her mama Delores and her Uncle Calvin Mullinax, like most folks in Nolan, have just tried to make the best of it. Of course, people aren’t always what they seem, and Phil Foster--the handsome, spoiled son of the richest man in the county--is no exception.
As the story of the Mullinax family unfolds, Mojo discovers a family’s legacy can be many things—a piece of earth, a familiar dwelling, a shared bond. And although she doesn’t know why she feels such a bond with Phil Foster, it is there all the same, family or not. And she likes to think we all have us a fresh start. Like her mama always said, the past is all just water under the bridge. Mojo, after going to hell and back, finally comes to understand what that means.
Mojo, her mama Delores and her Uncle Calvin Mullinax, like most folks in Nolan, have just tried to make the best of it. Of course, people aren’t always what they seem, and Phil Foster--the handsome, spoiled son of the richest man in the county--is no exception.
As the story of the Mullinax family unfolds, Mojo discovers a family’s legacy can be many things—a piece of earth, a familiar dwelling, a shared bond. And although she doesn’t know why she feels such a bond with Phil Foster, it is there all the same, family or not. And she likes to think we all have us a fresh start. Like her mama always said, the past is all just water under the bridge. Mojo, after going to hell and back, finally comes to understand what that means.
294 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 2013
36 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 21, 2013
Drawn to this book because of my southern roots, I felt myself gritting my teeth and standing taller to help Mary Jane Hatcher, better known as Mojo, fight the next battle. Not that Mojo didn't have enough spitfire in her to do it on her own because she did. I have friends from my days in the south who lived and survived the life that Elaine Drennon Little paints so well in A Southern Place.
Little opens the book with Mojo fighting for her life, and that is where the story ends some 24 chapters later. Mojo's story covers a mere six years, 1989-1995, but began long before the opening chapter. Her family before her had never had it easy -- always on the outside looking in, never having quite enough, always looking for acceptance.
Little has taken Mojo's story and expertly shares it with her readers in such a way that we know something good will come to Mojo. Yet each time a glint appears on the horizon of Mojo's existence someone or something comes along to destroy her hopes and often what she believes might be love.
Mojo's character, who grows from a skinny young girl to a woman standing on her own, is cleverly crafted with Little's unique ability to draw a visual on the page of an amazing and strong creation.
Then, as she transitions back in time to share Mojo's beginnings with us, we meet Mojo's mama, Delores, and Uncle Calvin. We are given the true picture of how family before her lived -- Delores working in a factory sewing women's underwear and Calvin working the land but not his own, someone else's. And their parents before them working hard and scrabbling for everything they had.
The tragedies in Delores and Calvin's lives shape the future for Mojo. Little's packing of Mojo's roots between the opening and closing chapters as she does provides a perfect story arc. We begin in tension, we level out as we learn the background for Mojo's existence and life, and we end in tension. I can't express strongly enough how well planned this book is. Swiftly moving, story to story, character to character, A Southern Place never leaves the reading wanting for more, because more waits on the next page.
Little has authentically and genuinely plucked the south of this time period accurately out and placed it in her debut novel. Her characters are also authentically created and developed, and Little's use of the dialect could not be more accurate. A joy to read!
Reading Mojo's story and then stepping out of her world and back into my own was somewhat like culture shock and awakening. Life between 1989 and 1995 in some parts of our country haven't changed that much. There are still Mojos fighting to survive and to live without enough to raise their families. Little's portrayal of Mojo, however, gives hope and encouragement to anyone who has had or is experiencing struggles in everyday life.
MY RECOMMENDATION: A Southern Place is an interesting look back at the South of the '80s and 90s from the perspective of a character who could be classified as a have-not in the purest sense of the term. Yet, Little uses that life to show the strength of character and what it can do for anyone who is willing to take a chance. This book is a quick read and perfect for a rainy day or a summer weekend, before they're all gone!
I received a free copy of A Southern Place from WOW! Women on Writing (http://wow-womenonwriting.com)in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Little opens the book with Mojo fighting for her life, and that is where the story ends some 24 chapters later. Mojo's story covers a mere six years, 1989-1995, but began long before the opening chapter. Her family before her had never had it easy -- always on the outside looking in, never having quite enough, always looking for acceptance.
Little has taken Mojo's story and expertly shares it with her readers in such a way that we know something good will come to Mojo. Yet each time a glint appears on the horizon of Mojo's existence someone or something comes along to destroy her hopes and often what she believes might be love.
Mojo's character, who grows from a skinny young girl to a woman standing on her own, is cleverly crafted with Little's unique ability to draw a visual on the page of an amazing and strong creation.
Then, as she transitions back in time to share Mojo's beginnings with us, we meet Mojo's mama, Delores, and Uncle Calvin. We are given the true picture of how family before her lived -- Delores working in a factory sewing women's underwear and Calvin working the land but not his own, someone else's. And their parents before them working hard and scrabbling for everything they had.
The tragedies in Delores and Calvin's lives shape the future for Mojo. Little's packing of Mojo's roots between the opening and closing chapters as she does provides a perfect story arc. We begin in tension, we level out as we learn the background for Mojo's existence and life, and we end in tension. I can't express strongly enough how well planned this book is. Swiftly moving, story to story, character to character, A Southern Place never leaves the reading wanting for more, because more waits on the next page.
Little has authentically and genuinely plucked the south of this time period accurately out and placed it in her debut novel. Her characters are also authentically created and developed, and Little's use of the dialect could not be more accurate. A joy to read!
Reading Mojo's story and then stepping out of her world and back into my own was somewhat like culture shock and awakening. Life between 1989 and 1995 in some parts of our country haven't changed that much. There are still Mojos fighting to survive and to live without enough to raise their families. Little's portrayal of Mojo, however, gives hope and encouragement to anyone who has had or is experiencing struggles in everyday life.
MY RECOMMENDATION: A Southern Place is an interesting look back at the South of the '80s and 90s from the perspective of a character who could be classified as a have-not in the purest sense of the term. Yet, Little uses that life to show the strength of character and what it can do for anyone who is willing to take a chance. This book is a quick read and perfect for a rainy day or a summer weekend, before they're all gone!
I received a free copy of A Southern Place from WOW! Women on Writing (http://wow-womenonwriting.com)in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 10, 2013
Book Review: A Southern Place by Elaine Drennon Little
By Crystal J. Casavant-Otto
A Southern Place begins as a beaten and battered young woman is fighting for her life in the ICU. Is that really where it all begins or is it where it ends? Does life begin and end in the same place? I started reading and didn’t want to stop until I had a better understanding of who this young woman was and how she had come to be in such a sad place. Sure, I knew her name was Mary Jane Mullinax and folks called her MoJo, but there had to be more to the story than that. Sherriff Purvis of Dumas County Georgia described Mo Jo and her family as good folds, quiet-like and said there was no one to call. Her mama had died years before and she had never known her daddy. As a reader, I immediately felt I didn’t want to leave her side until she was out of the ICU and on the road to recovery.
Little did I know that A Southern Place would take me back in time to the days when Mo Jo’s grandparents were working the land and the rich Georgia soil. Wherever this story was going, I was going with it. I wanted to know everything about this young girl, her parents, her grandparents, and especially her uncle Calvin (Cal for short). Cal had been important in Mo Jo’s upbringing and I was intrigued by a man who would selflessly sacrifice everything for the sake of his family. Cal had died years before Mo Jo found herself alone and near death in the ICU, but something tells me Mo Jo had the same love for her family that her uncle had. She managed to take quite a beating and somehow protect her unborn child and that just seems like the same sort of family value that Cal showed when he selflessly put everyone else before himself.
Mo Jo and her family hadn’t come from the best of backgrounds, but they were proud. As the story advanced in years, it became clear that the Mullinax family was deeply attached to the land; they worked the land and believed that hard work would win in the end. I found myself cheering them on and as things fell apart I slumped in my chair feeling the same defeat they must have felt as they took out another mortgage and sold off some of their precious land.
Little’s descriptions and understanding of everything from farming to history really made A Southern Place come to life for me. This may be Little’s first published novel, but I certainly hope it won’t be her last. She has a way of bringing her characters to life and her depictions of the south have me longing for a visit. I am curious about peanut plantations as well as intrigued by the author herself – a piano teacher with thirty years’ experience turned author, now that’s something I didn’t see coming! Thank you Elaine Drennon Little for this exceptional book and I do hope to read more from you in the future!
By Crystal J. Casavant-Otto
A Southern Place begins as a beaten and battered young woman is fighting for her life in the ICU. Is that really where it all begins or is it where it ends? Does life begin and end in the same place? I started reading and didn’t want to stop until I had a better understanding of who this young woman was and how she had come to be in such a sad place. Sure, I knew her name was Mary Jane Mullinax and folks called her MoJo, but there had to be more to the story than that. Sherriff Purvis of Dumas County Georgia described Mo Jo and her family as good folds, quiet-like and said there was no one to call. Her mama had died years before and she had never known her daddy. As a reader, I immediately felt I didn’t want to leave her side until she was out of the ICU and on the road to recovery.
Little did I know that A Southern Place would take me back in time to the days when Mo Jo’s grandparents were working the land and the rich Georgia soil. Wherever this story was going, I was going with it. I wanted to know everything about this young girl, her parents, her grandparents, and especially her uncle Calvin (Cal for short). Cal had been important in Mo Jo’s upbringing and I was intrigued by a man who would selflessly sacrifice everything for the sake of his family. Cal had died years before Mo Jo found herself alone and near death in the ICU, but something tells me Mo Jo had the same love for her family that her uncle had. She managed to take quite a beating and somehow protect her unborn child and that just seems like the same sort of family value that Cal showed when he selflessly put everyone else before himself.
Mo Jo and her family hadn’t come from the best of backgrounds, but they were proud. As the story advanced in years, it became clear that the Mullinax family was deeply attached to the land; they worked the land and believed that hard work would win in the end. I found myself cheering them on and as things fell apart I slumped in my chair feeling the same defeat they must have felt as they took out another mortgage and sold off some of their precious land.
Little’s descriptions and understanding of everything from farming to history really made A Southern Place come to life for me. This may be Little’s first published novel, but I certainly hope it won’t be her last. She has a way of bringing her characters to life and her depictions of the south have me longing for a visit. I am curious about peanut plantations as well as intrigued by the author herself – a piano teacher with thirty years’ experience turned author, now that’s something I didn’t see coming! Thank you Elaine Drennon Little for this exceptional book and I do hope to read more from you in the future!
October 4, 2013
Small towns in the South, much like small towns everywhere are full of a variety of people. Nolan is that sort of a place. The principle characters cover almost five generations of the Hatcher family, farmers, changing as circumstances befall them. Ms. Little brings this to life quite well in her debut novel.
Full review with minor spoilers at http://beaujohnson.us/review-southern...
Full review with minor spoilers at http://beaujohnson.us/review-southern...
August 22, 2013
Interesting book - it starts at the end and works it's way back to the beginning.
Full review up on Monday 8/26 at my book blog: http://booksithinkyoushouldread.blogs... - as well as a giveaway of 2 e-books!
Full review up on Monday 8/26 at my book blog: http://booksithinkyoushouldread.blogs... - as well as a giveaway of 2 e-books!
September 8, 2013
I really enjoyed this book.It spoke to me on several levels. The characters almost seemed to be ones I had met and knew, but then they presented themselves in a fresh role with slightly different twists. It brought back half forgotten thoughts and feelings. To me this was definitely a "Good Read".
Read
September 10, 2013Of course I want to say it's the greatest thing since sliced bread---I wrote it, so that's not exactly fair...
Want to read
July 7, 2015A Southern Place is the story of a farming family in the South. It starts out with Mojo, a young woman in the ICU, badly beaten, and takes us back to the past, telling the story of her mother and her uncle, and how they came to be. While the story starts with the mystery of Mojo, it quickly leaves you hanging as it immediately transports you back to the 50′s to discover the story of her family. A lot of tragedy and heartbreak was befallen upon her young mother, Delores, and her brother, Cal. It is interesting to see what they do with that tragedy and where life takes them because of and in spite of it.
I really love tales set in the South. I always felt that I should have been born there, so I truly love reading Southern fiction and this was no exception. I loved the setting, the landscape, the rich history. I enjoyed getting the whole story of Mojo and her family’s past. While the story was a bit slow moving at times, it revolved a lot around characterization, which I enjoy, and you really got a feel and a sense of who the characters in the story were. While I found myself wondering what happened to Mojo, who we saw at the beginning of the novel, I also found myself forgetting briefly, as I got lost in the story of her family’s past.
Little is a very strong writer with a lot of talent. I look forward to reading more from her in the future. I would definitely recommend this one if you’re also a fan of Southern fiction.
Note: I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I really love tales set in the South. I always felt that I should have been born there, so I truly love reading Southern fiction and this was no exception. I loved the setting, the landscape, the rich history. I enjoyed getting the whole story of Mojo and her family’s past. While the story was a bit slow moving at times, it revolved a lot around characterization, which I enjoy, and you really got a feel and a sense of who the characters in the story were. While I found myself wondering what happened to Mojo, who we saw at the beginning of the novel, I also found myself forgetting briefly, as I got lost in the story of her family’s past.
Little is a very strong writer with a lot of talent. I look forward to reading more from her in the future. I would definitely recommend this one if you’re also a fan of Southern fiction.
Note: I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2013
Really enjoyed this book and the characters were so real and believable. Love books set in the south, probably bc I haven't been there, and this book really takes you to the swamps and the small town life. I liked her the story kind of played out from present to past and back again. I would definitely read another book by this author,
April 12, 2016
Sad Story
Its actually a very well written book. An interesting story. I gave it 3 stars only because it was one of those stories that just depresses you. Every single character seemed to come to the end of their life totally beat down. I know life can be this way and maybe I was in the wrong frame of mind when I read this.
Its actually a very well written book. An interesting story. I gave it 3 stars only because it was one of those stories that just depresses you. Every single character seemed to come to the end of their life totally beat down. I know life can be this way and maybe I was in the wrong frame of mind when I read this.
October 8, 2013
I love a good Southern novel that evokes time and place of the South as written by a true Southerner. I also love a family saga I can really get my teeth in, and this book is both. Once begun A Southern Place is insanely difficult to put down.
September 13, 2013
Typical story of the poor and the privileged in South Georgia.
October 14, 2013
It was not as good as I had hoped. The book begins with the main character in the hospital and beat up. What follows is her story, the story of her life and how she ended up in the hospital.
October 24, 2013
Pretty good book. Liked the inneraction between the generations and how we all have parts of our past that effect us for many years afterward.
March 21, 2014
It was simply ok. The story had my interest and then suddenly I felt bored. But I liked it enough to gove it 3 stars. Or I'm being generous.
September 17, 2014
Great read
I liked this book very much. I enjoyed the way each character was given their own story from beginning to end.
I liked this book very much. I enjoyed the way each character was given their own story from beginning to end.
April 29, 2018
Unexpected Ending
Great characters, great stories, nostalgic and emotional with an unexpected ending that leaves you wanting more or maybe a different ending altogether. Very very well written.
Great characters, great stories, nostalgic and emotional with an unexpected ending that leaves you wanting more or maybe a different ending altogether. Very very well written.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews