The Opposite of Everyone Lib/E
Description
A fiercely independent divorce lawyer learns the power of family and connection when she receives a cryptic message from her estranged mother in this bittersweet, witty novel from the nationally bestselling author of Someone Else's Love Story and gods in Alabama--an emotionally resonant tale about the endurance of love and the power of stories to shape and transform our lives.
Born in Alabama, Paula Vauss spent the first decade of her life on the road with her free-spirited young mother, Kai, an itinerant storyteller who blended Hindu mythology with southern oral tradition to re-invent their history as they roved. But everything, including Paula's birth name Kali Jai, changed when she told a story of her own--one that landed Kai in prison and Paula in foster care. Separated, each holding secrets of her own, the intense bond they once shared was fractured.
These days, Paula has reincarnated herself as a tough-as-nails divorce attorney with a successful practice in Atlanta. While she hasn't seen Kai in fifteen years, she's still making payments on that Karmic debt--until the day her last check is returned in the mail, along with a mysterious note: "I am going on a journey, Kali. I am going back to my beginning; death is not the end. You will be the end. We will meet again, and there will be new stories. You know how Karma works."
Then Kai's most treasured secret literally lands on Paula's doorstep, throwing her life into chaos and transforming her from only child to older sister. Desperate to find her mother before it's too late, Paula sets off on a journey of discovery that will take her back to the past and into the deepest recesses of her heart. With the help of her ex-lover Birdwine, an intrepid and emotionally volatile private eye who still carries a torch for her, this brilliant woman, an expert at wrecking families, now has to figure out how to put one back together--her own.
The Opposite of Everyone is a story about story itself, how the tales we tell connect us, break us, and define us, and how the endings and beginnings we choose can destroy us . . . and make us whole. Laced with sharp humor and poignant insight, it is beloved New York Times bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson at her very best.
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About the Author
JOSHILYN JACKSON is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of ten other novels, including gods in Alabama and Never Have I Ever. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages. A former actor, Jackson is also an award-winning audiobook narrator. She lives in Decatur, Georgia, with her husband and their two children.
Reviews
Inevitable, surprising, and beautifully true in every sense of the word. I loved this book, and you will too.
-- "Sara Gruen, New York Times bestselling author"The unconventional characters in Jackson's books often provide thought-provoking studies of love and loyalty; this must-read also contemplates the transformative power of storytelling.
-- "New York Times Book Review"Beautifully written, fascinating, and deep, The Opposite of Everyone is another must-read novel by Jackson. From the first page, readers are drawn into the story...Jackson has done a phenomenal job of weaving the past with the present and unfolding the story layer after layer. This is a masterfully written tale that readers cannot put down.
-- "RT Book Reviews (4 1/2 stars, Top Pick!)"The smart-ass, no holds-barred narration by whip-smart Paula/Kali... should please the many fans of Jackson's snappy writing style.
-- "Library Journal (starred review)"Jackson delivers another quirky, Southern-based, character-driven novel that combines exquisite writing, vivid personalities, and imaginative story lines while subtly contemplating race, romance, family, and self. A searing yet ultimately uplifting look at broken people who heal themselves and each other through forgiveness, love, and the power of stories.
-- "Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"Joshilyn Jackson's abilities extend beyond her writing-insightful, funny, and poignant-to her narration. She breathes fiery life into Paula, exposing the vulnerability that gives context to the character's self-protective sarcasm. Entertaining on every level, Jackson portrays a variety of original, flawed characters-including Paula's ex-love, Birdwine, who is a private eye, and mystical Kai, a storyteller. In addition, she creates touching scenes and builds suspenseful twists, capturing the listener's complete attention and admiration. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.
-- "AudioFile"The voice is hard-boiled and the plot engrossing in Jackson's new novel, a realistic, contemporary story with a mystery driving it...Although Paula is rough and reckless, Jackson makes her an easy character to root for by vividly depicting her inner struggle and past. This is an excellent read with a fresh take on the detective genre.
-- "Publishers Weekly"Jackson excels at weaving a wholly absorbing story with vivid characters...[and] some affecting points about the importance of the stories we tell to each other and to ourselves.
-- "Booklist"
