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Playing the Bones
On Lacy Springs's list of One Hundred Things I Want Out of Life, the first slot is disconcertingly blank. Unfortunately, the second slot is filled - by her desire for a man who is wrong for her in every way.
Lacy Springs has a job she cares about, a fiance she loves, and a wedding she should be planning. But one night she meets a blues singer called Black Jesus, and all her well-laid plans are cast aside. Nothing Lacy says or does or tells herself can keep her from falling into an overwhelming affair with Black Jesus, one that threatens not just her nuptials, but also her most basic ideas about who she is.
Playing the Bones is Lacy's account of nights with Black Jesus and days trying to put her life back together. In her quest for balance, Lacy turns to some strange a celibacy program for her wedding night, healing rituals at the scenes of childhood traumas, going on the road with Black Jesus and his band, even a trip to Graceland. These actions take Lacy far beyond her familiar territory and help her begin to see that intimacy with someone else will only work once she's opened up to herself. As the story unfolds, Lacy sets out, undaunted - if not toward a happy ending, at least on a journey she knows is worth taking.
Lacy Springs has a job she cares about, a fiance she loves, and a wedding she should be planning. But one night she meets a blues singer called Black Jesus, and all her well-laid plans are cast aside. Nothing Lacy says or does or tells herself can keep her from falling into an overwhelming affair with Black Jesus, one that threatens not just her nuptials, but also her most basic ideas about who she is.
Playing the Bones is Lacy's account of nights with Black Jesus and days trying to put her life back together. In her quest for balance, Lacy turns to some strange a celibacy program for her wedding night, healing rituals at the scenes of childhood traumas, going on the road with Black Jesus and his band, even a trip to Graceland. These actions take Lacy far beyond her familiar territory and help her begin to see that intimacy with someone else will only work once she's opened up to herself. As the story unfolds, Lacy sets out, undaunted - if not toward a happy ending, at least on a journey she knows is worth taking.
- GenresFiction
262 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
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24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 6, 2015
I don't know how to review this book, it was both shallow, complex and annoying. It wasn't a bad read, but it was never an engrossing read-through-the-night one.
The story is about a flaky school teacher, a Southern belle, about to marry a complex, sensitive author who speaks beautifully and adores her. Naturally he's white. However, she herself is in love, or perhaps just lust, with the singer of a band. He speaks badly, is violent, abusive, has no respect for women and, along with his band members doesn't take guns and shooting at all seriously. Naturally he's black. Absolute stereotypes yes, well-rounded characters, haha, only in the author's mind.
Her best friend is also her therapist. An almost-qualified psychology student who practices weird rituals, speaks therapy-talk, wears a turban and 70s clothes and I was going to say was from New York, naturally, but she could have been from California.
The tension between our heroine and the other three people together with the secondary characters of wicked mother, in-denial sidekick, a paedophile babysitter and the father-figure gardener (black, naturally, we must have balance) is what forms the basis of this book.
I didn't find it "A delicious, warm, and sexy first novel about love, infidelity, and the blues" as the blurb says. It was nasty, racist and more truly about the distinct lack of love between the characters.
The book wasn't entirely unenjoyable as a piece of un-pc froth, but although there is implied depth in the heroine's journey into herself and healing, it doesn't actually materialise and she, like the other characters, remains more or less one dimensional.
It wasn't that bad, it wasn't that good. It was just one of those books you read and forget about quite quickly.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3, meaning it was all right.
The story is about a flaky school teacher, a Southern belle, about to marry a complex, sensitive author who speaks beautifully and adores her. Naturally he's white. However, she herself is in love, or perhaps just lust, with the singer of a band. He speaks badly, is violent, abusive, has no respect for women and, along with his band members doesn't take guns and shooting at all seriously. Naturally he's black. Absolute stereotypes yes, well-rounded characters, haha, only in the author's mind.
Her best friend is also her therapist. An almost-qualified psychology student who practices weird rituals, speaks therapy-talk, wears a turban and 70s clothes and I was going to say was from New York, naturally, but she could have been from California.
The tension between our heroine and the other three people together with the secondary characters of wicked mother, in-denial sidekick, a paedophile babysitter and the father-figure gardener (black, naturally, we must have balance) is what forms the basis of this book.
I didn't find it "A delicious, warm, and sexy first novel about love, infidelity, and the blues" as the blurb says. It was nasty, racist and more truly about the distinct lack of love between the characters.
The book wasn't entirely unenjoyable as a piece of un-pc froth, but although there is implied depth in the heroine's journey into herself and healing, it doesn't actually materialise and she, like the other characters, remains more or less one dimensional.
It wasn't that bad, it wasn't that good. It was just one of those books you read and forget about quite quickly.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3, meaning it was all right.
July 5, 2024
I love southern gothic novels for the details. The weird turns of phrase, the many quirky of each character, the horrific events that I can’t imagine how anyone thought up. I love this genre and I actually did love the protagonist, lacy. I love a story about a broken woman. It reminded me of otessa moshfegh. However, I definitely think parts of this book were racier, in a weird trying to be progressive way. Felt like it was trying to be flannery occonor, and reflect the ignorance of the society without damning the author, but I don’t think it hit the mark. Also there could have been a more sensitive handling of the sexual abuse. And those are major flaws but I did really really love her writing.
October 23, 2020
I’ve had this since it was new, and I have always enjoyed it. Probably read it four-ish times, re-discovering it every few years, rereading it and finding again how much I like it for multiple reasons. This last re-read, over a few days, didn’t disappoint and resonated even more deeply. Thanks, Louise Redd. 🙏🏼
December 27, 2015
In the boggy tale, Playing the Bones, a young woman’s abuse-filled upbringing wreaks havoc on her adult life.
Lacy, raised not to have any boundaries or believe she has agency over her own body, often finds herself haplessly swept along by events. Misfortunes befall her due to an undeveloped ability to say no and assert her personal choices.
Author Louise Redd’s novel has the air of a 1970s grad school creative writing project though the action happens current-day. The main characters are reasonably well-developed, however, and their behavior seems believable in context.
One major complaint: most of the Black characters use
AAVE and Redd’s depiction of it is mediocre at best--in this reader’s opinion anyway. The text contains some incorrect AAVE syntax and these moments occur enough to create a distraction. I generally think it’s risky for writers to attempt to pen dialects they don't speak naturally since the result can come off as cheap mimicry.
I consider Playing the Bones an offbeat example of neo-Southern Gothic, and deem Redd’s style compelling despite its regionally narrow appeal.
Lacy, raised not to have any boundaries or believe she has agency over her own body, often finds herself haplessly swept along by events. Misfortunes befall her due to an undeveloped ability to say no and assert her personal choices.
Author Louise Redd’s novel has the air of a 1970s grad school creative writing project though the action happens current-day. The main characters are reasonably well-developed, however, and their behavior seems believable in context.
One major complaint: most of the Black characters use
AAVE and Redd’s depiction of it is mediocre at best--in this reader’s opinion anyway. The text contains some incorrect AAVE syntax and these moments occur enough to create a distraction. I generally think it’s risky for writers to attempt to pen dialects they don't speak naturally since the result can come off as cheap mimicry.
I consider Playing the Bones an offbeat example of neo-Southern Gothic, and deem Redd’s style compelling despite its regionally narrow appeal.
July 11, 2013
I've never read a book describes things using the senses the way this book does. I finished it cover-to-cover in just over a day. Parts of it were fascinating to read, and other parts were very difficult to read because of the content. A few times I had to put it down, walk away and then come back to it later. I would have given it five stars, but I think parts of the book were so jarringly different from the description that I was caught way off-guard.
Currently reading
May 6, 2009I started this book, may have finished it, but like most books I get and read, I have several going at one time and some I finish and some I don't, I lose track, too many books to read, too little time, too many other distractions. But I'm eXcited to read this book again soon...it's southern writing, about "American Southern Womanhood."
January 17, 2012
I thought it was exceptionally well written, but such a heavy topic as sexual abuse needs more balance to it. There wasn't enough humour to offset the seriousness of it and I didn't like the character of Lacey and had no sympathy or empathy towards her and that's a major flaw for a novel dealing with this subject.
August 27, 2007
Quirky, creative, frank. If you love unpredictable and complex characters you'll find this book a rewarding read. Redd nails the oblivious, upper-crust, abusive, Dallas society matriarch. I didn't always agree with the direction Lacy, the narrator, was going, but found myself loving her anyway.
June 13, 2008
An unusual story. Complex characters in complex situations. I was horrified at how her mother treated. As an adult, how could she not see her mother was a mental case? But, being a Texas girl I liked reading the references to Dallas, Houston and Louisiana. It made me hungry for fried catfish!
June 17, 2010
Bought it for the cover and fell in love
Read
June 11, 2012ones of those books youo put down and then pick up later only to realize damn this is a good book !
October 11, 2014
Enjoyed the writing but felt no connection to the characters.
June 27, 2010
notes missing in older excel
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews