Lovesick

by James Driggers

Spanning the 1930s to the present day, James Driggers' evocative Southern Gothic collection introduces the intriguing inhabitants of Morris, South Carolina--a small town where a mix of rich, poor, and in-between co-exist, grappling with desire, ambition, hope, and loneliness. . .

Amid a landscaped dotted with farms, trailers, and genteel homes, there lives a talented baker who desperately needs to win a cooking contest but must team up with a down-on-her-heels society matron to do it. . .the Bramble sisters, whose husbands tend to be short-lived and wealthy, but whose latest prospect arrives with complications. . .a widow who becomes dangerously obsessed with a snake-charming televangelist. . .and a lonely florist who will do anything for the sake of a ruthless local mechanic.

With wit and insight lurking beneath a palpable air of menace, James Driggers' debut is a tautly plotted, evocative exploration of love--and all that we do in its name. . .

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2015

About the author

James Driggers is a native of North Carolina and a graduate of the University of Georgia; he received his MFA in creative writing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. After working as a film reviewer for the Santa Barbara Independent and as a food and travel writer for Santa Barbara Magazine, he returned to the mountains of North Carolina—teaching writing at UNC Asheville from 2001-2012; he also served as director of creative writing before retiring from the university. He is now teaching writing at Rollins College in Florida. He has also authored two plays, many short stories, some of which have appeared in The Greensboro Review, Rapid River Review, and in the 2010 Saints and Sinners Festival Anthology of new fiction. He currently lives in central Florida, where he is writing a novel set in the world of televangelism and faith healers.

Reviews

[Lolly K Dandeneau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovesick somehow manages to show a dark undercurrent between the rich and the poor in this southern gothic. Some characters have no choice but to reinventd themselves to ease into society. Manipulation for some is the only way to make it in this small town. Driggers nails the attitudes of the elite and the resentment for those whose talents mean nothing, because of their circumstance of birth and skin color. I love the character Butcher and the hunger he has to thrive in a time that doesn't allow his talents their own platform. Hunger forces him to scheme with someone who may not be trustworthy herself, yet both recognize themselves in each other.
Sibling love can be toxic, and in some families what one sister wants she will get, even if it means blood on her hands. Tragedy causes one woman to lose her faith and uncover her true erotic nature in Sandra and the Snakehandlers. An erotic obsession overtakes her thinking, leading her deeply into temptation and great sin. These are dark, mean tales but wickedly entertaining. Look forward to more from this talented author.

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I imagine I came across this book because it was Lambda nominee - though I have a huge distrust for literary awards in general and 'gay' ones in particular? Why in particular? Because why certain books are nominated, never mind win, is never explained or justified and their record is woeful though occasionally they do highlight and draw attention to worthy works. 'Lovesick' is one and if it was as a Lambda nominee that it caught my attention I am very grateful.

Aside from hating the 'Southern Gothic' tag which so many reviewers trot out (is there, aside from 'magic realism', a more over used or meaningless description?) this collection of four novellas has received more than adequate descriptive reviews here on GR and I have no intention of repeating again what others have said when describing the plot lines of some of the stories (I notice none of the fine GR reviewers drew attention or liked the best, but very queer, final story 'M.R. Vale'). I will repeat some have said - this 'novel' is a surprise in how good it is and James Driggers is a fine writer.

I can't help that I read this collection as I was once more reading some Truman Capote and once again I am amazed that Capote's meretricious tripe has a place in the canons of American literature when writers like Driggers aren't even also-rans. Without turning this into another diatribe against Capote what Diggers has that Capote lacks is honesty and truth. 'Lovesick' is a brilliant portrait of the South and its changing ways over decades, but also subtle and deeply real. Everything that Capote and his ilk aren't. I highly recommend this fine book which while probably not of the very first rank is extremely good and very readable.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crimes of the heart. Sins of the flesh. The four novellas collected in James Driggers' evocative Lovesick (Kensington, review copy) are linked by the fictional South Carolina town of Morris, located somewhere near Florence, an hour or so north of Myrtle Beach, and firmly in the territory of Southern Gothic. Sure, it's the land of Faulkner, O'Conner and Crews, as well as a host of younger writers. Driggers is right at home.

"Butcher, the Baker,'' set in the 1930s, features a black ex-con whose extraordinary baking talents have society ladies passing off his treats as their own. When war widow Virginia Yeager offers to give him credit for a cake, Butcher proposes they secretly partner to enter the Mystic White Flour baking contest in Atlanta. Wearing a big white hat and armed with Butcher's recipe for Angel Biscuits, Virginia makes quite an impression on the racist company owner, but another competitor's threat to expose her leads to blood and betrayal. "The Brambles,'' set in the 1950s, puts a dark and unexpected spin on Arsenic and Old Lace as two middle-aged sisters marry for money and murder. "Sandra and the Snake Handlers'' focuses on a recent widow whose obsession with a television evangelist has tragic consequences. Then there's the contemporary tabloid tale, "M.R. Vale,'' in which a gay florist confesses how he wound up in motel room with a dead body and a brutish mechanic. Driggers' small-town South of secret scandals, stained-glass windows and judgmental neighbors proves both familiar and strange.

from On a Clear Day I Can Read Forever 4/01/15

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure what this says about me, but I thoroughly enjoyed Lovesick. Each story was better than the one before. The character development was smart and each character reached beyond the page into your mind. The writing is well done and pulls you into their story. I enjoyed the string of references that connected each tale and lead you down a very dark and disturbing path.

Once I started I could not put down the book. It was perfect weekend read. I have recommended to many and can hardly wait for the follow-up. Keep writing Mr. Driggers, your new audience awaits the next.

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each of the four novellas that make up this book take place in the lowlands of South Carolina around the fictitious town of Morris. Within each story is an unholy pact, drawn up in the name of love but with greed at its heart. Beginning in the 1930's with Butcher the Baker, each story advances about two decades with sly references to those preceding, revealing small town life in all its secrecy. Lovely writing, fine characterizations.

[Jill Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was different from any I've ever read. I generally don't like short stories, but the way all of the tales in this book tie together makes it a much more cohesive volume than the usual collection of shorts. Having all of the stories based in the same small town was a great concept, and I truly enjoyed getting to "know" this town a little bit through the book's various characters. Another very interesting thing about the book is how all of the stories tie in to the title of the book: Lovesick. Sometimes I felt the stories went a bit overboard in this respect (don't want to spoil anything!), but that's a personal opinion. The first story in the book was by far my favorite -- it hooked me almost instantly and kept me quickly flipping pages until its conclusion. I really would have enjoyed an entire volume based only on this story, and yet I didn't feel that the story lacked for background, detail, or anything. Very interesting. I truly enjoyed Mr. Driggers' writing style and look forward to reading more from him in the future.

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Butcher the baker, the brambles, Sandra & the snake handlers, & my favorite M.R. Vale.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written 4-interrelated novellas book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great down home Southern style mystery movie, or mini TV series). I can’t say enough about this book. Top of my 2015 book list. A very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free Goodreads; Kensington books; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Becky Motew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lowland Southern Gothic with a cutting noir edge.

I don't always like short story collections but these are compelling reading with a down home realism that makes you turn the page.

I'm not sure the first one is the best and that is too bad because it is the lead-in. I will remember this book for the third one, about the widow and the snake. I found it brilliant, tragic, and howlingly funny. She stands in the motel room pointing a gun at the preacher, saying, “I need you to take off your pants.”

Can't argue with that.

[Thing Two · Rating 4 out of 5]

The four stories in this collection from James Driggers are very dark, very morbid, and very well crafted. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two stories—one about a baker needing money, the second about two widowed sisters. If you like southern gothic, you will like this book. Cr-eeepy!

[Katrina Fraser]

Did not care for this

[Mommy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!!!
It draws you right in and you just can’t stop!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely not my normal reading. I liked how you would often know what was supposed to happen within the story and then see how the story actually progressed. Very different for me.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. This book kept me reading, but the first story was definitely my favorite. It is an easy read, and easy to get into.........doesn't take 20 pages before you're interested. I like that.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on a review I read, I expected the stories to be more interconnected then they are. I liked the historical detail in the first two stories. I find myself thinking about the characters and the choices they made.

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lovesick or sick love?! Excellent writing style, but wow was this book ever disturbing! Definitely not my cup of tea.

This was a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how he tied each of the stories into one another with small details. Anyone from the South will enjoy this book.

[Barbie Simmonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schooled me on Southern Gothic. Not for the faint of heart!

[Camille Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well-written but just too disturbing for my taste.

[Deedee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I quit. Not my type book.