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The Opposite of Everyone
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 birthname 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 her own secrets, 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 cryptic letter. “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.
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 cryptic letter. “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.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 16, 2016
About the author
Joshilyn Jackson
28 books6,561 followersJackson's latest, WITH MY LITTLE EYE pubs April 25, 2023. Pre-order now!
New York Times and USA today bestselling novelist Joshilyn Jackson is the author of WITH MY LITTLE EYE and nine other books, including NEVER HAVE I EVER, MOTHER MAY I, and THE ALMOST SISTERS. Her work has been translated into more than a dozen languages, won SIBA’s novel of the year, three times been a #1 Book Sense Pick, been the Target Book Club Pick, a Barnes and Noble Pick of the Month, and the Sunday Times Thriller fo the Month. A former actor, Jackson reads the audio versions of her novels; her work in this field has been nominated for the Audie Award, was selected by AudioFile Magazine for their best of the year list, and garnered two Listen Up Awards from Publisher’s Weekly.
She lives in Decatur, Georgia with her family.
New York Times and USA today bestselling novelist Joshilyn Jackson is the author of WITH MY LITTLE EYE and nine other books, including NEVER HAVE I EVER, MOTHER MAY I, and THE ALMOST SISTERS. Her work has been translated into more than a dozen languages, won SIBA’s novel of the year, three times been a #1 Book Sense Pick, been the Target Book Club Pick, a Barnes and Noble Pick of the Month, and the Sunday Times Thriller fo the Month. A former actor, Jackson reads the audio versions of her novels; her work in this field has been nominated for the Audie Award, was selected by AudioFile Magazine for their best of the year list, and garnered two Listen Up Awards from Publisher’s Weekly.
She lives in Decatur, Georgia with her family.
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November 30, 2023
I was born blue.and so begins the story of Kali Jai, whose grandmother accidentally-on-purpose misheard the instructions KJ’s mother gave her before they locked her back up in juvie, and filled out a birth certificate with the name Paula Jane Vauss instead. Sounds the same, right?
If my mother hadn’t pushed me out quick as a cat, I would have been born dead and even bluer; her cord was wrapped tight around my neck. She looked at my little blue lips, my blue toes and baby fingers, and she named me after Kali, Kali Jai.
Joshilyn Jackson - from Booktrib.com
Turns out Paula Jane/ Kali Jai had things to be blue about. Life with Mom, for instance. While Kai (aka Karen Vauss) was a loving parent, she had a difficult time with sticking, meandering through serial relationships of varying intensity, Kali by her side. She may have been the inventor of the Go Bag, or at the very least a skilled expert in its use. And if Kali had grown attached to the man in their lives, so sorry, buh-bye, gotta go, see ya later. Off into the wild blue yonder until the next guy comes along. A tough situation for a kid.
Jackson writes of family and faith in her novels, and has a particular fondness for adolescent females.
What a gift, a character whose frontal lobe has not finished developing! Teenagers don’t fully see the consequences of their actions. That’s Christmas for a novelist who likes blowing things up—both relationships and buildings—as much as I do. - from the Writer Unboxed interviewWe meet Kali all grown up as she recalls her childhood. She is a fierce warrior of a divorce lawyer, who may seem, at times, to have more than two weapon-wielding arms, and a skirt made of human parts. Of course, Mom had described Kali in a more positive light. “Kali destroys only to renew, to restore justice. Kali brings fresh starts.” The fresh starts Paula/Kali seems most interested in bringing entail a divorce decree and a substantial fee. But there is a large gap in Kali’s life. She is doing well financially, so sends her mother money every month, but that is the extent of their relationship. What happened? The journey that follows is a fabulous story of a grown woman realizing, to her surprise, that she actually wants and needs family, and seeing hers come together, out of a clear blue sky, one orphan at a time.
I’m very interested in the concept of how you make home, how you get it, and how you fight for it, and how you keep it. - from Public Libraries on line interviewIn fact much of The Opposite of Everyone is about the coming together and breaking apart of families, about the yearning for home, whatever or wherever that may be, the lengths to which people might go to get that for themselves and how they cope with disappointment when the hope is unfulfilled.
The tale takes place in two time lines. The first is now, in which we see Paula as a professional, on occasion a basket case, unattached, and uninterested in becoming attached, content in her divorce gladiator life. But when her last check to Mom comes back, with a cryptic message attached, it is a bolt from the blue. Where is Kai? Why did she send back the check? What the hell does her message mean? Kali does a bit of digging, a fair bit of thinking, and opts to enlist the assistance of her usual PI, true-blue Zach Birdwine, erstwhile lover, and contributor of emotional complication to her life.
The other timeline is adolescent Kali. We get a look at her time in a group home, while mom was in jail again, showing how she survives, the friends and enemies she makes, the lessons she learns, and bits of the magic of her relationship with Kai. A third narrative thread concerns Paula’s work, dealing with divorce clients and nemeses.
The many-armed goddess - from FineArtAmerica.com
The conjoining of Southern storytelling and Indian culture is unusual and effective. It came from a very concrete place.
Three years ago, I started taking classes at Decatur Hot Yoga from the beautiful and excessively bendy Astrid Santana. She often begins class by telling a classic Hindu god pantheon story, but her sentence structure and word choices and even some images come out of the southern oral tradition. It is an odd and compelling blend. Because of Astrid I started dreaming the stories, and then I began reading them. Paula and Kali intersected in my head, and the novel took a sharp turn east.Jackson was asked once what genre the though her work fit into.”Weirdo Fiction with a Shot of Southern Gothic Influence for Smart People Who Can Catch the Nuances but Who Like Narrative Drive, and Who Have a Sense of Humor but Who Are Willing to Go Down to Dark Places. Upside: Accurate. Downsides: Long. Hard to market,” she said. That sounds about right.
Kali Jai first appeared, as Paula, in Jackson’s prior novel, Someone Else's Love Story, but there is no plot-line linkage between the books to keep one from reading them independently. She is a wonderful character. Jackson shows how she came to be the person she is without making the faux pas of telling. While a somewhat feral divorce attorney might not sound like someone you would want to want to spend time with, don’t be fooled. There is a heart there, damaged, scarred, protected, but with chinks, openings, vulnerabilities. You will care about Paula/Kali, and be moved by her life and circumstances. Jackson’s weaving in of Kai’s story-telling and iconography is nothing less than magical. The Opposite of Everything is everything you could want in a book, engaging characters, who grow with time and experience, conflicts with resolutions that make sense (and don’t arrive out of a sapphire sky), concern over this peril and that, thematic substance, and some insight into elements of real life that are probably outside your experience. This is a read that may cause you to reach for the tissues by the end, but will leave you feeling anything but blue.
Review Posted – 11/20/15 and November 2019
Publication
- 2/16/16 - Hard cover
- 10/11/16 - Trade Paper
=============================EXTRA STUFF
Note: The original title of the book was Nobody’s Nothing and that title still remains in some of the linked pages, as of the day this review was posted.
Links to the author’s personal, Twitter, FB and PInterest pages
Interviews
----- Writer Unboxed
-----Public Libraries Online
-----MyShelf.Com
My reviews of other books by Joshilyn Jackson
-----2023 - With My Little Eye
-----2021 - Mother May I
-----2019 - Never Have I Ever
-----2017 - The Almost Sisters
-----2013 - Someone Else’s Love Story
March 5, 2016
I have read my share of books about dysfunctional families and this is right up there with the best (or worst) of them depending on the perspective you take. I've also felt that lump in my throat and knot in my gut when reading a particularly tough and gritty story involving children and this one of those stories too .
From the beginning I liked Paula Vauss , a smart , tough, divorce lawyer. Early on as is revealed by the experiences of her past , it was hard to imagine how she made it. She did not have an ideal childhood, living an unstable life with her storytelling, vagabond mom Kai, who moves from man to man, carting her daughter from place to place . Eventually, Paula ends up in a group home , carrying with her the burden of how she got there .
Paula believes she owes a big debt to her mother for what she did . As a preteen trying to create some stability and happiness in her life , Paula does something that she only remembers and sees as a betrayal of her mother. In Paula's mind this becomes a bigger debt when Julian appears in her life and together they discover more about Kai . This is the story of a family separated by miles and years but brought together by a mother's stories and by love which didn't seem to be there at times . But it was and in spite of everything, a mother's love provides what is necessary to move forward . I'm finding it difficult to write much more than this without giving away more of the story so I'll stop here and only add that I was definitely not disappointed with my second book by Jackson . I give it 4 solid stars and certainly recommend it .
Thanks you William Morrow/Harper Collins and Edelweiss.
December 5, 2015
I'll be honest, it took me a little to warm up to this book. Paula is a kick ass lawyer, she takes no prisoners and wins huge settlements for her clients. Yet, she was not always so successful. When she was younger, she and her hippie style mother traveled, usually from one man to the next. Her mother was a great storyteller, mixing tales filled with Southern folklore mixed with Hindu beliefs. She always believed in her Mother's love though until she makes a serious mistake and it costs them both dearly.
By books end I loved these characters, an investigator with a drinking problem, Birdwine, my favorite character in the beginning. A harsh look at time spent in a group home where some of the characters will resurface from the past and into Paula's present.. Also from past will come two secrets that will send Paula's world spiraling. How this all comes together is how awesome plots are executed.
A very special knack of characterization this author certainly displays. Her characters are all identifiable and assessable, slices out of real life. So from a lukewarm beginning to a wonderful finish, such are the things good journeys and reading experiences contain. Easy to see why she has become a favorite of so many readers.
ARC from publisher.
By books end I loved these characters, an investigator with a drinking problem, Birdwine, my favorite character in the beginning. A harsh look at time spent in a group home where some of the characters will resurface from the past and into Paula's present.. Also from past will come two secrets that will send Paula's world spiraling. How this all comes together is how awesome plots are executed.
A very special knack of characterization this author certainly displays. Her characters are all identifiable and assessable, slices out of real life. So from a lukewarm beginning to a wonderful finish, such are the things good journeys and reading experiences contain. Easy to see why she has become a favorite of so many readers.
ARC from publisher.
February 16, 2015
COMING IN JANUARY 2016
The Opposite of Everyone
Paula Vauss grew up close to homeless, on the road with her free-wheeling, hippie mother. Kai was a roving storyteller who blended Hindu mythology with Southern Oral Tradition to re-invent their history every year. When she was eleven, Paula told the wrong truth at the wrong time, sending her mother to prison and landing herself in foster care. Paula hasn’t seen her mother for fifteen years, but this is a Karmic debt; she’s still making all kinds of payments on it.
In her current incarnation, she’s a tough-as-nails Atlanta attorney with an impressive string of wins. She lives alone and likes it that way, happy with her career, her few close friends, and a string of casual lovers. But when her estranged mother goes missing out in Texas, a secret from the ever-mutable past lands on Paula’s doorstep, literally, and Paula learns she’s not an only child. It’s the worst possible time; she’s embroiled in a divorce case that will make or break her at her firm, and her client’s husband has moved two steps past crazy into dangerous.
She enlists the help of Zach Birdwine, an ex-cop and Paula’s ex-lover. He hasn’t spoken to her since she broke his heart, but with the case heating up, Kai in the wind, and ghosts of her past selves and her past decisions rising, Paula needs his skill set. 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 or make us whole.
The Opposite of Everyone
Paula Vauss grew up close to homeless, on the road with her free-wheeling, hippie mother. Kai was a roving storyteller who blended Hindu mythology with Southern Oral Tradition to re-invent their history every year. When she was eleven, Paula told the wrong truth at the wrong time, sending her mother to prison and landing herself in foster care. Paula hasn’t seen her mother for fifteen years, but this is a Karmic debt; she’s still making all kinds of payments on it.
In her current incarnation, she’s a tough-as-nails Atlanta attorney with an impressive string of wins. She lives alone and likes it that way, happy with her career, her few close friends, and a string of casual lovers. But when her estranged mother goes missing out in Texas, a secret from the ever-mutable past lands on Paula’s doorstep, literally, and Paula learns she’s not an only child. It’s the worst possible time; she’s embroiled in a divorce case that will make or break her at her firm, and her client’s husband has moved two steps past crazy into dangerous.
She enlists the help of Zach Birdwine, an ex-cop and Paula’s ex-lover. He hasn’t spoken to her since she broke his heart, but with the case heating up, Kai in the wind, and ghosts of her past selves and her past decisions rising, Paula needs his skill set. 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 or make us whole.
October 14, 2016
This was my first Joshilyn Jackson novel and while I was fairly well entertained, I didn’t fall head over heels with this one. It’s a story about a dysfunctional family with a cast of interesting characters and a dash of Hindu mythology. Paula Vauss is a high-powered divorce attorney living in Atlanta. She has commitment issues and a heap of guilt about a many-years rift in her relationship with her mother. This split between mother and daughter wasn’t always there. Paula, named Kali Jai at birth for the Hindu goddess of renewal, hope and springtime, has fond memories of a mother’s love. Paula and her mother, Kai, lived an itinerant lifestyle, moving from town to town and Kai from one boyfriend to the next. Still, Paula felt a strong bond with her mother. "Boyfriend love is the light on a bug’s back end, flicking on and off across a lawn. It begins with lies and kissing. It devolves into fighting and boredom. It ends with hasty packing and sometimes robbery. It is easily replaced by fresher love. Me and Kai were always more than that. Me and Kai have been a single unit, made out of only us." Then one day Paula will make a choice that will forever alter the course of their lives and their relationship. But this was a young Paula, one who did not necessarily understand the full consequences of her actions. Was she really completely responsible for the aftermath? After all, Paula was still a child and a mother has her own measure of culpability as well, does she not? "Her whole life was like a loaded gun, left cocked with the safety off in the middle of the table. As a child I had picked it up, and played with it…"
The novel shifts back and forth over time between Paula’s adult life and her childhood. While working a very messy and lucrative divorce case, Paula receives a mysterious and cryptic letter from her estranged mother. She enlists the services of private investigator and former lover, Birdwine, to begin a search for her mother’s current whereabouts. Paula also relates her childhood story in a series of flashbacks and thus more secrets are revealed. The search for Kai also leads to some discoveries that will rock Paula’s life even more. I found her story to be pretty compelling – although it took me some time to really engage with the narrative. The current story hooked me more than did the flashbacks to Paula’s youth. I did find that at times the actions of certain characters didn’t quite make sense with how they were initially portrayed. Some secrets I felt were not ones that would necessarily have been kept. There were a lot of serious issues examined within the novel, including the foster care system, alcoholism, betrayal, guilt, alienation and forgiveness. I did admire the way Jackson tied everything up at the end and found the conclusion to be quite heart-warming. 3.5 stars rounded down.
The novel shifts back and forth over time between Paula’s adult life and her childhood. While working a very messy and lucrative divorce case, Paula receives a mysterious and cryptic letter from her estranged mother. She enlists the services of private investigator and former lover, Birdwine, to begin a search for her mother’s current whereabouts. Paula also relates her childhood story in a series of flashbacks and thus more secrets are revealed. The search for Kai also leads to some discoveries that will rock Paula’s life even more. I found her story to be pretty compelling – although it took me some time to really engage with the narrative. The current story hooked me more than did the flashbacks to Paula’s youth. I did find that at times the actions of certain characters didn’t quite make sense with how they were initially portrayed. Some secrets I felt were not ones that would necessarily have been kept. There were a lot of serious issues examined within the novel, including the foster care system, alcoholism, betrayal, guilt, alienation and forgiveness. I did admire the way Jackson tied everything up at the end and found the conclusion to be quite heart-warming. 3.5 stars rounded down.
September 22, 2016
UPDATE....
And FIRST REVIEW.... anything that was here before has been erased ....I had only mentioned the $1.99 special - which is over
The following members are part of the Monthly discussion group beginning Oct.1st:
Candi, Sara, Susan, Karen, Dorie, Cheri, Melissa, Tracy, Marie, SenoraG, Terry, and myself.
It's not too late to join. Love to have anyone else who wants to participate in this books discussion.
As for my review... 3 stars
I never felt a strong connection to the story. I read it closely. I have lots of notes, and things to talk about for our group discussion.
I felt there were too many side distractions from the plot itself ( one was too sugary cute that I found it annoying) It was about a woman letting kittens run through her husband's freshly cleaned clothes from the dry cleaners. Needless to say this women, is pissed off at her husband. They are in the middle of a divorce.
Paula is the woman's lawyer and says:
"People in contentious divorces blame their spouses for rain and hangnails and chlamydia they know damn well they've gone and outsourced all their own. But they don't lay elaborate kitten traps for the ex if they are the one doing the sabotage".
I was anxious to get to the end of the book. Often, the 'cuteness' felt jarring - smack in the middle of a deeper concerns. I just didn't think the humor and complexity of the issues-at-hand we're working well together. Nor did I feel the flashbacks flowed well with the present day story.
The best part of the book is Paula's character. For a young girl to feel guilty that her mother is in prison… believing it was her fault, is a heavy burden. Living in a Foster Care home is no picnic either. She didn't have an easy start in life - that's for sure...
Yet... somehow she put herself through College, Law School, is financially secure, sent her estranged mother money for years.
We take a journey with Paula. We watched her grow as a lawyer and as a person. The book 'does' get stronger towards the end. ( more emotional heart)
Yet ...overall...this novel was just *OK* for me ... but that's about it.
I absolutely LOVED her novel called "Someone Else's Love Story".
....more chatter about details in the Oct. discussion. Don't be shy to join! Great group of people!
And FIRST REVIEW.... anything that was here before has been erased ....I had only mentioned the $1.99 special - which is over
The following members are part of the Monthly discussion group beginning Oct.1st:
Candi, Sara, Susan, Karen, Dorie, Cheri, Melissa, Tracy, Marie, SenoraG, Terry, and myself.
It's not too late to join. Love to have anyone else who wants to participate in this books discussion.
As for my review... 3 stars
I never felt a strong connection to the story. I read it closely. I have lots of notes, and things to talk about for our group discussion.
I felt there were too many side distractions from the plot itself ( one was too sugary cute that I found it annoying) It was about a woman letting kittens run through her husband's freshly cleaned clothes from the dry cleaners. Needless to say this women, is pissed off at her husband. They are in the middle of a divorce.
Paula is the woman's lawyer and says:
"People in contentious divorces blame their spouses for rain and hangnails and chlamydia they know damn well they've gone and outsourced all their own. But they don't lay elaborate kitten traps for the ex if they are the one doing the sabotage".
I was anxious to get to the end of the book. Often, the 'cuteness' felt jarring - smack in the middle of a deeper concerns. I just didn't think the humor and complexity of the issues-at-hand we're working well together. Nor did I feel the flashbacks flowed well with the present day story.
The best part of the book is Paula's character. For a young girl to feel guilty that her mother is in prison… believing it was her fault, is a heavy burden. Living in a Foster Care home is no picnic either. She didn't have an easy start in life - that's for sure...
Yet... somehow she put herself through College, Law School, is financially secure, sent her estranged mother money for years.
We take a journey with Paula. We watched her grow as a lawyer and as a person. The book 'does' get stronger towards the end. ( more emotional heart)
Yet ...overall...this novel was just *OK* for me ... but that's about it.
I absolutely LOVED her novel called "Someone Else's Love Story".
....more chatter about details in the Oct. discussion. Don't be shy to join! Great group of people!
February 21, 2016
I would happily plagiarize Diane S's review of The Opposite of Everyone. She pretty much summed up my reaction. When I first started reading The Opposite of Everyone, I had a wavering feeling -- I didn't quite feel engaged and I had a sense that I was embarking on something a bit formulaic. But somewhere in the middle, the characters and story really hooked me and my gut got engaged -- big time. And by the end, I had tears streaming down my cheeks, and I wasn't ready for the book to end. I don't want to say too much to avoid spoilers -- this isn't a mystery, but experiencing the story as it unfolds without knowing where it's going worked really well for me. Very briefly, the story focuses on Paula Vauss. Paula had an unconventional childhood, living with her mother and a string of her mother's boyfriends. They traveled from one place to another without planting roots. It wasn't all bad, but it led to some pretty nasty circumstances for Paula and her mother. As an adult, Paula is a tough and very self protected family lawyer. From the beginning, we know that Paula and her mother are estranged. The story moves back and forth in time. From the early timeline, we get insight into Paula's childhood and what led to the estrangement with her mother. In the contemporary part of the story, Paula discovers some things about her mother's past that require her to recalibrate her understanding of her past and who she wants to be as an adult. The end comes together perfectly, without being overly sentimental. What I loved about this story is that it explores the far ends of relationships -- what people can do out of love, hatred, jealousy and desperation. No one is all evil -- but people do pretty nasty things to each other in bad situations. And people who do terrible things are not all evil -- there's room for change, for building families in odd or adverse circumstances. I should add that, at times Jackson writes beautifully, really capturing the nuances of people's emotional reactions and circumstances. I really can't say more, but there's a lot to mull over. Read it! See what you think! Maybe I'm feeling a bit overly sentimental on this unseasonably mild February morning. But what my gut tells me today is that I would love to read more books by Joshilyn Jackson. Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for give me access to a copy.
September 6, 2016
Before reading this, I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the twist in Joshilyn Jackson’s “change” from her usual fare to this seemingly different story. I put off reading it for most of this year. I’ve been trying to find time to catch up and finally read some of these actual books lying around, and I’m so glad I did in this case.
The story alternates timeframes, from Kali Jai’s days of childhood, to her years as a Divorce Attorney who goes by Paula Vauss. Her grandmother claimed she misheard the name Kali Jai’s mother gave her as they dragged her back to juvie lock-up, thus her birth certificate bears the name of Paula Jane Vauss. Mother, Kai, serves her time, and the two are reunited, and their bond grows over time. There is a time when Kali is closely bonded with her mother.
“Odd to think of myself that way, small and blind and tethered to her. In that time before memory, everything I touched was hers. I heard her voice from the inside, with no idea that she was a separate person. Back then, she had simply been the world.”
Things change, people change, and the two girls bouncing around the country, following boyfriend after boyfriend of Mama Kai (whose birth certificate bears the name of Karen Vauss.) A little like the cartoons and songs of old, just follow the bouncing ball, or, in this case, boyfriend.
“Boyfriend love is the light on a bug’s back end, flicking on and off across a lawn. It begins with lies and kissing. It devolves into fighting and boredom. It ends with hasty packing and sometimes robbery. It is easily replaced by fresher love.”
What I loved about this story was how wrong I was about the story not sounding like a Joshilyn Jackson story. It is still completely her, albeit JJ with a dash of spices. There’s an edgier spin, perhaps, but there’s that signature voice that is still within hearing. What I loved about this story was the blending of the Hindu stories within, the tales upon tales. What I loved about this story was how easily the transitions were between times, how her characters, as ruthless, as broken and dysfunctional as some were, are still worthy of love, and that there is a healing, of sorts. It’s not a Disney healing, and everyone doesn’t get a trophy for participating but healing does occur.
The story alternates timeframes, from Kali Jai’s days of childhood, to her years as a Divorce Attorney who goes by Paula Vauss. Her grandmother claimed she misheard the name Kali Jai’s mother gave her as they dragged her back to juvie lock-up, thus her birth certificate bears the name of Paula Jane Vauss. Mother, Kai, serves her time, and the two are reunited, and their bond grows over time. There is a time when Kali is closely bonded with her mother.
“Odd to think of myself that way, small and blind and tethered to her. In that time before memory, everything I touched was hers. I heard her voice from the inside, with no idea that she was a separate person. Back then, she had simply been the world.”
Things change, people change, and the two girls bouncing around the country, following boyfriend after boyfriend of Mama Kai (whose birth certificate bears the name of Karen Vauss.) A little like the cartoons and songs of old, just follow the bouncing ball, or, in this case, boyfriend.
“Boyfriend love is the light on a bug’s back end, flicking on and off across a lawn. It begins with lies and kissing. It devolves into fighting and boredom. It ends with hasty packing and sometimes robbery. It is easily replaced by fresher love.”
What I loved about this story was how wrong I was about the story not sounding like a Joshilyn Jackson story. It is still completely her, albeit JJ with a dash of spices. There’s an edgier spin, perhaps, but there’s that signature voice that is still within hearing. What I loved about this story was the blending of the Hindu stories within, the tales upon tales. What I loved about this story was how easily the transitions were between times, how her characters, as ruthless, as broken and dysfunctional as some were, are still worthy of love, and that there is a healing, of sorts. It’s not a Disney healing, and everyone doesn’t get a trophy for participating but healing does occur.
March 8, 2016
I absolutely, positively, without a doubt, loved this book!
April 8, 2016
THE OPPOSITE OF EVERYONE is a nice beach read for those who love southern chick-lit. Author Joshilyn Jackson has written another character-driven novel, where the main character is plucky and has overcome adversity with humor.
In this novel, the main character Paula Vauss is a successful Atlanta GA divorce attorney who is happily (or as happy as she can get) leading a life of professional success as a gritty divorce attorney. She attributes much of her success to her struggles as a youth. Born to a woman who just can’t keep herself out of jail, which leaves Paula in “the system” most of her young life has fostered a toughness in Paula that comes in handy in ugly divorce negotiations and court trials. She turned her dysfunctional childhood into divorce lawyer strength.
Paula begrudgingly sends her mother a check every month out of some guilt she has, which is initially unknown to the reader. At the beginning of the novel, her check is returned with a cryptic note about her mother taking a journey. The note foreshadows a crazy turn Paula’s life is about to take.
This novel is like all Jackson’s previous novel. The characters are quirky and humanly flawed. There’s enough humor sprinkled in the story that the dysfunctional parts are bearable to read. The main character is likable despite flaws. And the female characters are strong. Great beach read. Special thanks to GR friend Esil who recommended this novel.
In this novel, the main character Paula Vauss is a successful Atlanta GA divorce attorney who is happily (or as happy as she can get) leading a life of professional success as a gritty divorce attorney. She attributes much of her success to her struggles as a youth. Born to a woman who just can’t keep herself out of jail, which leaves Paula in “the system” most of her young life has fostered a toughness in Paula that comes in handy in ugly divorce negotiations and court trials. She turned her dysfunctional childhood into divorce lawyer strength.
Paula begrudgingly sends her mother a check every month out of some guilt she has, which is initially unknown to the reader. At the beginning of the novel, her check is returned with a cryptic note about her mother taking a journey. The note foreshadows a crazy turn Paula’s life is about to take.
This novel is like all Jackson’s previous novel. The characters are quirky and humanly flawed. There’s enough humor sprinkled in the story that the dysfunctional parts are bearable to read. The main character is likable despite flaws. And the female characters are strong. Great beach read. Special thanks to GR friend Esil who recommended this novel.
April 2, 2016
I really liked this story of Paula (Kali). She is a tough lawyer who started off with a hard life born to a woman who was quite eccentric.
Many happenings in this book of a dysfunctional family..
My favorite character was Zach Birdwine!!!
Many happenings in this book of a dysfunctional family..
My favorite character was Zach Birdwine!!!
February 14, 2016
This novel grabbed me in the first few pages and I had trouble putting it down. Not only is Joshilyn Jackson an accomplished writer, she is entertaining and imaginative.
Written in first person, Attorney Paula Vauss, aka Kali Jai, leads us down a winding lane of chaos, intermingling sadness, happiness, loss, redemption, love and family transformation along the way. From the days of traveling with her wild eccentric Mother to the lonely days of state placement to the "love 'um and leave 'um" lifestyle she maintains as an adult, we meet the people who hold her interest and influence her along the way. Continually paying off her "debt" to her Mother, Paula suddenly finds herself a sibling. Not once, but twice.
"You know how Karma works", is the final piece of the puzzle her dying Hindu-mythology-loving Mother leaves for her, as it changes her life forever.
Written in first person, Attorney Paula Vauss, aka Kali Jai, leads us down a winding lane of chaos, intermingling sadness, happiness, loss, redemption, love and family transformation along the way. From the days of traveling with her wild eccentric Mother to the lonely days of state placement to the "love 'um and leave 'um" lifestyle she maintains as an adult, we meet the people who hold her interest and influence her along the way. Continually paying off her "debt" to her Mother, Paula suddenly finds herself a sibling. Not once, but twice.
"You know how Karma works", is the final piece of the puzzle her dying Hindu-mythology-loving Mother leaves for her, as it changes her life forever.
September 5, 2016
I loved this story, full of imperfect and damaged characters. The story was beautiful and heartbreaking and underneath the surface, full of hope. Such a great read!
September 18, 2017
4.5 stars
The Opposite of Everyone engrossed me more and more as I got deeper into the story. I wasn't sure what to expect, as I didn't bother to read the blurb before I got stuck into it.
Our narrator is Paula Vauss, a mid-thirties, successful, divorce lawyer. She is the stereotypical successful lawyer: cut-throat, manipulative, determined. She's got a softer side to her, but she's good at hiding it, even from herself. Also, Paula has a big aversion to commitment, not hard to grasp why, as Paula had had a very unusual childhood, raised by her city and men hoping mother, Kai, who's also very fond of Hindy stories. When Kai went to jail, Paula spent some time in a group home. Needless to say, that was not a pleasant experience.
One day, Paula's predictable life begins to unravel. First, she hears about her mum's imminent death. Then new people come into her life. Before it's too late, Paula has to find her mother. To do that, she hires Birdwire, a very good private eye, but who's a bit messed up, not to mention that he's got a thing for Paula. I'll leave it at that.
This novel is not a what I'd call a light read, due to the issues it addresses: unfit mother, abandonment, regrets. The thing that it impressed me was the light tone of this novel. The mix of irreverent and serious worked its magic on me. The characters were very well drawn.
My review is not doing justice to this novel. I will say that it's deceptively light and serious at the same time, but it left me very satisfied.
I'll make sure to read more books by Joshilyn Jackson.
I've received this novel via Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publishers, William Morrow, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
The Opposite of Everyone engrossed me more and more as I got deeper into the story. I wasn't sure what to expect, as I didn't bother to read the blurb before I got stuck into it.
Our narrator is Paula Vauss, a mid-thirties, successful, divorce lawyer. She is the stereotypical successful lawyer: cut-throat, manipulative, determined. She's got a softer side to her, but she's good at hiding it, even from herself. Also, Paula has a big aversion to commitment, not hard to grasp why, as Paula had had a very unusual childhood, raised by her city and men hoping mother, Kai, who's also very fond of Hindy stories. When Kai went to jail, Paula spent some time in a group home. Needless to say, that was not a pleasant experience.
One day, Paula's predictable life begins to unravel. First, she hears about her mum's imminent death. Then new people come into her life. Before it's too late, Paula has to find her mother. To do that, she hires Birdwire, a very good private eye, but who's a bit messed up, not to mention that he's got a thing for Paula. I'll leave it at that.
This novel is not a what I'd call a light read, due to the issues it addresses: unfit mother, abandonment, regrets. The thing that it impressed me was the light tone of this novel. The mix of irreverent and serious worked its magic on me. The characters were very well drawn.
My review is not doing justice to this novel. I will say that it's deceptively light and serious at the same time, but it left me very satisfied.
I'll make sure to read more books by Joshilyn Jackson.
I've received this novel via Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publishers, William Morrow, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
April 12, 2016
This novel took me by surprise. I was looking for a lighter read, as I've been reading some heavier ones, and this delivered. However, I wouldn't consider this 'light' by any means - serious themes of abandonment, dysfunctional families, dishonesty. Jackson lured me in with her Hindu stories within the story - how the protagonist got her name, Kai, for the blue skinned goddess of destruction and also because the umbilical cord had been wrapped around her neck at birth. We learn of her upbringing with her gypsy mother and later in the group home. Her Hindu name signifies who she is and although as an adult she goes by her birth name, Paula Vauss, she is a power divorce lawyer whose sole purpose is to divide spouses and inadvertently, destroy families. Ruthless, emotionally unavailable and alone, she is the opposite of everyone. Until an unknown brother appears searching for answers and the pandora box her mother kept tightly shut, opens, revealing more secrets.
Writing flowed well; good characters and development. Was an enjoyable 4★ read...
Writing flowed well; good characters and development. Was an enjoyable 4★ read...
November 26, 2016
Paula Vauss is an ass kicking attorney. She takes no prisoners and has a Southern accent to boot. She was raised with a crazy mother, one filled with stories of Hindu Mythology and a laundry list of boyfriends. Paula aka Kali Jai ended up in foster care, learning how to take care of herself. Suddenly, a surprise sibling shows up on her doorstep and her monthly check to her mother gets returned-- this starts out the personal investigation that will change Paula's life as she "thought" she knew it. She has to track down her mother, Kai and find out what happened since she left prison. What she finds changes everything.
I had no idea how much I would enjoy this book. I listened on audio, which was narrated by the author (who also happens to be a former actress!). This was absolutely delightful to listen to- may be my favorite audiobook I've listened to. She portrays these characters exactly how she intended them to be. I loved all the side storylines with Paula's cases, and the parts with the foster home reminded me of White Oleander. It was the ending that brought a slow smile across my face, as I drove, that did me in with this book. This was my first book by Ms. Jackson, but will not be my last. Looking forward to reading and listening to more from her.
I had no idea how much I would enjoy this book. I listened on audio, which was narrated by the author (who also happens to be a former actress!). This was absolutely delightful to listen to- may be my favorite audiobook I've listened to. She portrays these characters exactly how she intended them to be. I loved all the side storylines with Paula's cases, and the parts with the foster home reminded me of White Oleander. It was the ending that brought a slow smile across my face, as I drove, that did me in with this book. This was my first book by Ms. Jackson, but will not be my last. Looking forward to reading and listening to more from her.
November 11, 2022
A unique and enjoyable tale was told on the pages of "The Opposite of Everyone" by Joshilyn Jackson.
This book was on track to receive 5 stars from me in the beginning to midway point. The main character and narrator, Paula Vauss (AKA Kali), was vividly written. It was effortless to picture her telling me this story. I liked her style; ruthless, ever-ready, and real.
Joshilyn Jackson did a fantastic job weaving Paula's past into the present. The parallels of the timelines bled together, again, effortlessly. It was some really excellent writing and storytelling that made Paula and her mother, Kai, feel all the more dimensional. The ever lasting complexity of their relationship was also incredibly tangible.
There were three areas that worked against this book for me. (Two are more mechanical and knit-picky):
1) All chapters, save the final one, were 20-25+ pages and there were almost no page breaks incorporated into the chapters. In terms of just practical readability, nothing annoys me as much as only ever having extremely long chunks to read, forcing me to stop in the middle of a page.
2) The phrase(s) "All ye gods"/"all ye gods and little fishes" were way, way, way over used. It became almost painful for me to read it by the end.
3) The final item was that I was a bit uncomfortable with how much a white author talks about race in this book. I am of the belief that anyone can write a multitude of characters across races, sexualities, genders, etc. But there is a line for how much fiction can account for a white author talking about the living implications of being a person of color. I felt the line was crossed a few times. Granted, this book was written in 2016 and we are ever-evolving on social stances. So perhaps this aspect deserves some grace.
Those items aside, this was an excellent book! Great dialogue, great characters, extremely interesting topics, and easy to get swept up in emotion while reading. The writing was immersive and the ending was also about as good as it gets. I really enjoyed "The Opposite of Everyone" a lot!
This book was on track to receive 5 stars from me in the beginning to midway point. The main character and narrator, Paula Vauss (AKA Kali), was vividly written. It was effortless to picture her telling me this story. I liked her style; ruthless, ever-ready, and real.
Joshilyn Jackson did a fantastic job weaving Paula's past into the present. The parallels of the timelines bled together, again, effortlessly. It was some really excellent writing and storytelling that made Paula and her mother, Kai, feel all the more dimensional. The ever lasting complexity of their relationship was also incredibly tangible.
There were three areas that worked against this book for me. (Two are more mechanical and knit-picky):
1) All chapters, save the final one, were 20-25+ pages and there were almost no page breaks incorporated into the chapters. In terms of just practical readability, nothing annoys me as much as only ever having extremely long chunks to read, forcing me to stop in the middle of a page.
2) The phrase(s) "All ye gods"/"all ye gods and little fishes" were way, way, way over used. It became almost painful for me to read it by the end.
3) The final item was that I was a bit uncomfortable with how much a white author talks about race in this book. I am of the belief that anyone can write a multitude of characters across races, sexualities, genders, etc. But there is a line for how much fiction can account for a white author talking about the living implications of being a person of color. I felt the line was crossed a few times. Granted, this book was written in 2016 and we are ever-evolving on social stances. So perhaps this aspect deserves some grace.
Those items aside, this was an excellent book! Great dialogue, great characters, extremely interesting topics, and easy to get swept up in emotion while reading. The writing was immersive and the ending was also about as good as it gets. I really enjoyed "The Opposite of Everyone" a lot!
June 21, 2017
Life is full of surprises, some good some bad. Paula Vauss has had her share of both, now working as a very successful Atlanta attorney. More surprises, two in particular, are brought to fore and Paula has some life choices to make.
The characters are vibrant and the dialogue funny, honest, and three-dimensional. Paula, like most of this author's female protagonists, is determined and strong -- "kick-ass" describes her perfectly. The flashbacks to her very unconventional, free-spirited mother were my least favorite parts. That could have been partly due to the annoyingly high, sing-songy voice that the author gave her in her reading. Otherwise, Ms. Jackson's narration is wonderful. I loved the man in Paula's life, who helped her keep her s**t together even while his own seemed in need of serious reorganizing.
The characters are vibrant and the dialogue funny, honest, and three-dimensional. Paula, like most of this author's female protagonists, is determined and strong -- "kick-ass" describes her perfectly. The flashbacks to her very unconventional, free-spirited mother were my least favorite parts. That could have been partly due to the annoyingly high, sing-songy voice that the author gave her in her reading. Otherwise, Ms. Jackson's narration is wonderful. I loved the man in Paula's life, who helped her keep her s**t together even while his own seemed in need of serious reorganizing.
June 24, 2016
The Opposite of Everyone is a Southern-based story with a mix of Hindu mythology brilliantly written and read by author Joshilyn Jackson (audio version). It’s a story of love, loyalty, forgiveness and hope.
I loved these broken, dysfunctional characters. I laughed and cried and didn’t want the book to end. It is my first Joshilyn Jackson book, but won’t be my last! She is a wonderful storyteller and narrator.
4.5 ★
I loved these broken, dysfunctional characters. I laughed and cried and didn’t want the book to end. It is my first Joshilyn Jackson book, but won’t be my last! She is a wonderful storyteller and narrator.
4.5 ★
August 16, 2016
This was an interesting read, I thought it was going to be a bit lighter fare and was surprised to find depth within its pages. The author has created vivid characters with damaged, yet lovable personalities. The main character, Paula, is my kind of gal, whip smart and sarcastic. And in the supporting cast, the grizzled, substantially flawed private investigator, Birdwine, proves a perfect counterpart to her polish, a standout in this cast of many. These characters and the story immediately pulled me in, but then I lost the plot, only to find it again. Back and forth went the reading, I never quite settled into the story.
The most interesting parts to me were Paula’s recollections of her time in the foster system. I was reminded of White Oleander in these feelings and that’s when I think the author’s writing really excelled. At other times it dragged and while I appreciated the humor to lighten the load, the dialogue often felt forced, the banter not quite witty.
Overall this was a good read with an optimistic message that tackled some serious subjects--estrangement, abandonment, alcoholism and childhood trauma--with emotion, heart and well-placed humor and it never became maudlin. I would give it four stars were it not for the fact that I found it didn’t flow and thus continually took me out of the story.
The most interesting parts to me were Paula’s recollections of her time in the foster system. I was reminded of White Oleander in these feelings and that’s when I think the author’s writing really excelled. At other times it dragged and while I appreciated the humor to lighten the load, the dialogue often felt forced, the banter not quite witty.
Overall this was a good read with an optimistic message that tackled some serious subjects--estrangement, abandonment, alcoholism and childhood trauma--with emotion, heart and well-placed humor and it never became maudlin. I would give it four stars were it not for the fact that I found it didn’t flow and thus continually took me out of the story.
August 29, 2016
3.5 stars. I have pretty much absolutely loved everything written by Joshilyn Jackson. She has created some strong, difficult and, for me, deeply relatable characters in her novels about the complicated, yet familiar lives of Southern women.
The Opposite of Everyone has her characteristically well drawn plot, peopled with individuals whose lives have taken unexpected turns. It's a good story, neatly resolved and had me comparing her to Heather Gudenkauf whose newest books I've enjoyed with an interest level, but which haven't especially grabbed my heart.
Somehow I was unable to find believability in Kali, the tough as nails attorney whose shell had remained hardened in spite of years of therapy, and the rapid transformation which Jackson wrote for her. The detached story told by Kali of her rootless mother, the foster system and defeated guilt, though interesting, held me at arm's length and I felt oddly uninvolved.
But that's me. Jackson is a storyteller, and some stories will always have a more unique appeal than others. I just couldn't warm up to this one, sadly. 3.5 stars.
The Opposite of Everyone has her characteristically well drawn plot, peopled with individuals whose lives have taken unexpected turns. It's a good story, neatly resolved and had me comparing her to Heather Gudenkauf whose newest books I've enjoyed with an interest level, but which haven't especially grabbed my heart.
Somehow I was unable to find believability in Kali, the tough as nails attorney whose shell had remained hardened in spite of years of therapy, and the rapid transformation which Jackson wrote for her. The detached story told by Kali of her rootless mother, the foster system and defeated guilt, though interesting, held me at arm's length and I felt oddly uninvolved.
But that's me. Jackson is a storyteller, and some stories will always have a more unique appeal than others. I just couldn't warm up to this one, sadly. 3.5 stars.
March 6, 2016
4.5 Stars ----Whether you are a first timer or an avid fan of sassy, Joshilyn Jackson (I happen to be the latter, having read all her books), you can expect several things:
Southern, witty, dysfunctional, emotional, out-of-the box, strong characterization and an unstoppable female main character. Jackson never fails to tackle and deliver highly-charged topics, infused with enough wit, sarcasm, and humor, to balance the dark heavy themes.
"No one does Southern better."
THE OPPOSITE OF EVERYONE, Jackson’s seventh novel--delves into the life of Paula Vauss, the gal we met in Someone Else’s Love Story (highly recommend).
Jackson crosses from Southern Gothic into Hindu mythology-- life of a hippie, going inside foster care, and the prison system—strong emotions, and Jackson’s own unique trademark style. Where one woman finds the "opposite of everyone" may not be the way to live, after all.
As Jackson mentions in an online interview… A Conversation with Joshilyn Jackson Art Atlanta, Paula deserved a story of her own. Readers, here you have it -- and hopefully more to come from Paula!
Paula is now a successful divorce attorney living in a posh midtown condo in Atlanta. She is ruthless, smart, and witty. She has an ex-boyfriend and former lover (now a PI)— alcoholic Zach Birdwine; she likes to stalk and flirt with him as much as possible. He is best at what he does and she needs him to work a case for her. However, with the hundreds of emails she sends him, it is difficult for him to wade through them to realize she needs him for a case—not for something more. When she offers to pay him more for a case, he agrees.
Paula has not had an easy life. Her childhood was rocky. She tries to put it out of her mind, most of the time until she writes her monthly check. She grew up with a woman, her mother, Kai; a free-spirited hippie type, quirky, a non-conformist, liberal counterculture -- from one man to another, one town to another---telling all sorts of stories. (foreign to Kai’s parents). Kai wound up in prison, and each time she was released, Paula would fit her personality to revolve around her mothers. Re-invention time.
Since many hippies of this time rejected mainstream organized religion in favor of a more personal spiritual experience, often drawing on indigenous and folk beliefs. If they adhered to mainstream faiths, hippies were likely to embrace Buddhism, Unitarian, Hinduism or Christianity - the Jesus Movement. As well as free love, and drugs. Kai followed the path, and Paula along for the ride.
When Paula was eleven, something happened which would change the course of their lives—landing her mother, Kai in prison, and herself in foster care and group homes for years to come. Readers hear about the intense life and challenges inside the foster system, as well as prison.
As the story opens, Paula is finally connecting with Zach. (this part is hilarious). She needs his help with a case (plus wants more). Each year, Paul writes a check to her estranged mother, to ease her guilt. Paula hasn’t seen her mother for fifteen years. Her mom always cashes it and life moves on to the next month.
This time, it is returned with a note. The red flag goes up and Paula knows something is not right. Shortly thereafter, Julian shows up and knows about her mom. What do they have in common? Her past life comes to the surface, and readers learn the secrets, fears, horrors of the past.
What is going on with her mother? Karma. She has to crack the clues of the mystery. From her divorce cases, to her half sibling, and the mysteries of her mom---an intense emotional journey.
The Opposite of Everyone is about family--they are fragile. How they fall apart, memories, stories, and how they connect, shape and define our lives. You are going to love Paula—she is flawed and fascinating with some great one liners!
Even though we hear from Kai, Paula carries the story—it is her story to tell. Paula fights for the underdog and even takes on pro bona cases to help other women. She is loyal. She has baggage. Those flaws provide her with plenty of insight to help others who cannot help themselves.
First time or long time fans, you are going to love this one. Sometimes one mistake can alter our lives in so many ways with consequences. The ghosts of the past can define us---they can pull you down, destroy, or make us stronger. Powerful!
A Southerner myself, living in Atlanta (Midtown & Buckhead) throughout my media career, enjoy revisiting the area through Jackson’s storytelling. As always, I choose to listen via audio, since Jackson narrates her own work, which is quite powerful ---as mentioned in my other reviews.
Who else can deliver a performance better than the own author? Especially Jackson-- she has the "Southern thing" down.
JDCMustReadBooks
Southern, witty, dysfunctional, emotional, out-of-the box, strong characterization and an unstoppable female main character. Jackson never fails to tackle and deliver highly-charged topics, infused with enough wit, sarcasm, and humor, to balance the dark heavy themes.
"No one does Southern better."
THE OPPOSITE OF EVERYONE, Jackson’s seventh novel--delves into the life of Paula Vauss, the gal we met in Someone Else’s Love Story (highly recommend).
Jackson crosses from Southern Gothic into Hindu mythology-- life of a hippie, going inside foster care, and the prison system—strong emotions, and Jackson’s own unique trademark style. Where one woman finds the "opposite of everyone" may not be the way to live, after all.
As Jackson mentions in an online interview… A Conversation with Joshilyn Jackson Art Atlanta, Paula deserved a story of her own. Readers, here you have it -- and hopefully more to come from Paula!
Paula is now a successful divorce attorney living in a posh midtown condo in Atlanta. She is ruthless, smart, and witty. She has an ex-boyfriend and former lover (now a PI)— alcoholic Zach Birdwine; she likes to stalk and flirt with him as much as possible. He is best at what he does and she needs him to work a case for her. However, with the hundreds of emails she sends him, it is difficult for him to wade through them to realize she needs him for a case—not for something more. When she offers to pay him more for a case, he agrees.
Paula has not had an easy life. Her childhood was rocky. She tries to put it out of her mind, most of the time until she writes her monthly check. She grew up with a woman, her mother, Kai; a free-spirited hippie type, quirky, a non-conformist, liberal counterculture -- from one man to another, one town to another---telling all sorts of stories. (foreign to Kai’s parents). Kai wound up in prison, and each time she was released, Paula would fit her personality to revolve around her mothers. Re-invention time.
Since many hippies of this time rejected mainstream organized religion in favor of a more personal spiritual experience, often drawing on indigenous and folk beliefs. If they adhered to mainstream faiths, hippies were likely to embrace Buddhism, Unitarian, Hinduism or Christianity - the Jesus Movement. As well as free love, and drugs. Kai followed the path, and Paula along for the ride.
When Paula was eleven, something happened which would change the course of their lives—landing her mother, Kai in prison, and herself in foster care and group homes for years to come. Readers hear about the intense life and challenges inside the foster system, as well as prison.
As the story opens, Paula is finally connecting with Zach. (this part is hilarious). She needs his help with a case (plus wants more). Each year, Paul writes a check to her estranged mother, to ease her guilt. Paula hasn’t seen her mother for fifteen years. Her mom always cashes it and life moves on to the next month.
This time, it is returned with a note. The red flag goes up and Paula knows something is not right. Shortly thereafter, Julian shows up and knows about her mom. What do they have in common? Her past life comes to the surface, and readers learn the secrets, fears, horrors of the past.
What is going on with her mother? Karma. She has to crack the clues of the mystery. From her divorce cases, to her half sibling, and the mysteries of her mom---an intense emotional journey.
The Opposite of Everyone is about family--they are fragile. How they fall apart, memories, stories, and how they connect, shape and define our lives. You are going to love Paula—she is flawed and fascinating with some great one liners!
Even though we hear from Kai, Paula carries the story—it is her story to tell. Paula fights for the underdog and even takes on pro bona cases to help other women. She is loyal. She has baggage. Those flaws provide her with plenty of insight to help others who cannot help themselves.
First time or long time fans, you are going to love this one. Sometimes one mistake can alter our lives in so many ways with consequences. The ghosts of the past can define us---they can pull you down, destroy, or make us stronger. Powerful!
A Southerner myself, living in Atlanta (Midtown & Buckhead) throughout my media career, enjoy revisiting the area through Jackson’s storytelling. As always, I choose to listen via audio, since Jackson narrates her own work, which is quite powerful ---as mentioned in my other reviews.
Who else can deliver a performance better than the own author? Especially Jackson-- she has the "Southern thing" down.
JDCMustReadBooks
November 8, 2015
Rarely does Joshilyn Jackson do anything wrong. (I forgive her for her last book, which I really didn't care for.) Loved this story line, loved the characters, loved that the main character is of color & not in some pandering way. She knocks it out of the ballpark again.
March 16, 2016
What a great story. I was engaged the whole time and although some parts were predictable, there were also parts that were surprising. I absolutely loved the end, meaning how it ended, but also the way it was written. The last 2 pages or so tipped this book into 5 star territory for me.
September 30, 2018
[3+] I needed an involving novel with a happy ending and this novel delivered. I liked the gritty heroine and didn't mind that it was a bit formulaic.
February 6, 2017
Gosh, this was so good! And to think that in the beginning I even thought of giving up the book, because I didn't like Kali/Paula, the protagonist. She was such a sharp-edged bitch. But we get to know her better, see that there are layers to her character, and midway through the story we even start to care about her.
Every chapter begins with an episode from Kali/Paula’s childhood, followed by the present, somehow resonating with the past. I noticed this pattern only about halfway through the book, and then consciously payed attention to it. This gave an added layer to the story.
I will be on the lookout for more books by Joshilyn Jackson.
“I had spent my whole life hungry for forgiveness. It had not come, so I didn’t know firsthand what he was feeling. But I had imagined it, over and over. I’d wanted it so bad. I’d wanted Kai—or anyone, anyone who knew the worst in me—to say that I was still dear, and good, and worthy.”
Every chapter begins with an episode from Kali/Paula’s childhood, followed by the present, somehow resonating with the past. I noticed this pattern only about halfway through the book, and then consciously payed attention to it. This gave an added layer to the story.
I will be on the lookout for more books by Joshilyn Jackson.
April 25, 2019
Another really good book by this author. I always enjoy her books. This was a different kind of story about 3 siblings who never knew each other until their mother died. This is how they found each other and were connected and became a family. They all had different fathers that they never knew and were in their mother's live at different times. But they still found a way to be together and always had a connection. A wonderful story.
September 12, 2017
It may be that my favorite Joshlyn Jackson novel is always the one I just finished. I hesitated to start this one for some reason. The description set me back a bit, but I found this one as satisfyingly and well executed as any of her novels and maybe a little more.
October 10, 2016
I liked this book. This is the fifth one I've read by this author. I enjoy her writing. I think what I like most about her books is how she peels the layers off of her characters to reveal the underside and sometimes that isn't pretty, but it has impact. I didn't particularly like Paula, the MC in this book, but she eventually grew on me and I felt I understood her and where she came from.
I also liked the depth of this author's stories. Just when I think this is a nice story, she takes it one step further and that happened a few times. I also enjoy her descriptive strokes. Her books are character driven and I love the way she details them, both inside and out. She doesn't get especially wordy, but everything she puts on a page feels purposeful. As the reader, I felt I was always gleaning something new.
This book had flashbacks. I don't mind this when it is seamless. I did the audio on this book and there were no verbal indications that a switch to a different time period was taking place. It was determined eventually with dialogue and character names .... a little annoying. So 4 stars.
I also liked the depth of this author's stories. Just when I think this is a nice story, she takes it one step further and that happened a few times. I also enjoy her descriptive strokes. Her books are character driven and I love the way she details them, both inside and out. She doesn't get especially wordy, but everything she puts on a page feels purposeful. As the reader, I felt I was always gleaning something new.
This book had flashbacks. I don't mind this when it is seamless. I did the audio on this book and there were no verbal indications that a switch to a different time period was taking place. It was determined eventually with dialogue and character names .... a little annoying. So 4 stars.
October 23, 2016
Not great, but not bad. Quick and easy read.
Review to follow.
The longer I thought about this book, the less I liked it. It was a book that I wouldn't have given that second thought to, but I was discussing it in a buddy read...so, it got that extra reflection. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't bother.
Review to follow.
The longer I thought about this book, the less I liked it. It was a book that I wouldn't have given that second thought to, but I was discussing it in a buddy read...so, it got that extra reflection. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't bother.
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