Books by author Jo Taylor

STEPHEN DUDAS, PhD in Literature

REEDSY DISCOVERY

"Jo Taylor’s novel of a teenage summer bears all the qualities of the great literature of youth.

Jo Taylor’s Margaret of Thibodaux is a masterclass in quality fiction writing. At once humorous and deeply touching, elegantly plotted and rich in its construction of the characters, Taylor’s novel is a must-read.

A story of youth in summertime, family, friendship, faith, and spirits, Margaret of Thibodaux is everything that a novel of young adulthood should aspire to be. It is, quite simply, a stunning read by an author at the top of her craft.

Set in the Louisiana summer of 1974, several years after the death of her mother, the novel follows Margaret’s struggle to accept her father’s recent engagement to a woman loved by almost everyone else in town. At the same time, a mystery unfolding from the discovery of a poem left at her mother’s grave sets into motion a sequence of discovery, reflection, and growth. The plot is so artfully conceived that it calls into comparison some of the great coming-of-age novels of the twentieth century. Taylor’s chapters, short and built around singular scenes and conversations between the principal characters, are some of the most organic and realistic moments this reviewer has encountered in recent fiction.

The characters themselves are marvels. The novel is told from Margaret’s perspective. And she is everything one hopes for in a strong female protagonist—smart, witty, reluctant and resistant to accept what is expected of her, and determined in her pursuit of answers. She is simultaneously a quintessential literary teenager and a unique heroine at meeting of tragedy and growth. But Taylor’s gift for character extends to her treatment of every supporting character. Though we see them through Margaret’s eyes—her judgment, her love, her irritation, her loss—each is evidently complex. And even in moments when Margaret is not interested in sympathizing, the reader sees through her that each character is deeply sympathetic. Friends, family, townsfolk—everyone in this novel is clearly and carefully developed in terms of their identity, pains, and hopes.

Margaret of Thibodaux is first and foremost a moving and enjoyable story. But the reader will be conscious at all times that this is also an excellent example of contemporary fiction as art (and this reviewer advises aspiring writers to follow that example). Jo Taylor has delivered a very impressive book that will speak to an intergenerational desire to be understood, to love and be loved, and find oneself in the long aftermath of pain and loss.

PRAISE FOR POSTCARDS

"Immerse yourself in a captivating collection of observational poetry and slice-of-life stories with Postcards . . . one of those rare collections that will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers from pretty much any background. I recommend you not miss out on this one!"

PIKASHU DEKA

READERS' FAVORITE

"Read along and be enthralled . . . Postcards has a melodic ring as [Jo] lets us into her world. . . . Appreciating the beautiful things around us we take for granted is one theme that runs through the entire anthology . . . which showcases a lovely harmony between poetry and prose."

ESSIEN ASIAN

READERS' FAVORITE

"Poet and author Jo Taylor has a rare gift. . . . Equally adept at free verse, rhyming, and metered poetic forms, as well as the short story, Taylor moves seamlessly from one to the next in adroit and often surprising ways. . . . For a truly engaging and artfully diversified reading experience, Postcards is a sure winner."

GOLDER HAZELTON

READERS' FAVORITE

REVIEWS

"[Jo's] needle-art reflections mirror her thoughts on life, her perspective of all that matters, and thoughtful inspirational interpretation of everything that was, is, and perhaps will be. . . . a literary collage of thoughts and memories that will have readers thinking more deeply about their own postcard moments. . . . . a book that needs to be savored over time."

EMILY-JANE HILLS ORFORD

READERS' FAVORITE

"An amazing read that offers valuable life lessons and a deeper understanding of the human experience. . . . [Jo's] ability to craft a narrative that draws the reader in and keeps them captivated is a testament to her skill as a writer. . . . a must-read for anyone looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant literary experience."

DOREEN CHOMBU

READERS' FAVORITE

PRAISE FOR MARGARET OF THIBODAUX

". . . its blend of Southern Gothic elements and evocative prose makes for a haunting yet deeply human coming-of-age story. At its core, Taylor’s fiction debut is a story about true friendship, accepting cultural differences, and the unpredictable ways grief shapes—and ultimately frees—us."

“Author Jo Taylor has written a poignant coming-of-age story that combines elements of humor, sadness, and joy in relating the story of young Margaret Thibodeaux. . . . an intelligent and emotionally gratifying novel that explores the journey of Margaret from child to teenager, experiencing joy and tragedy along the way. [It] will tug at the heartstrings while also evoking smiles . . . a wonderful book with broad appeal.”"

—BOOKLIFE

—BOOK REVIEW DIRECTORY

"Jo Taylor’s Postcards: Collected Poems and Short Stories is a glowing example of a deeply underappreciated literary form—the single-author collection of both poetry and prose. Examples of such collections often feel as though one or both of the following objectives are at work: (1) to allow the author a fuller spectrum of intermingling lyrical and narrative gestures in the exploration of their subject matter and/or (2) to flaunt their skill across genres. Taylor’s writerly persona—accessible, honest, heartfelt, and unpretentious—suggests that she is not trying to show off in this collection. But the author assuredly puts a full range of talents on display in this deeply moving and complex book.

Taylor’s background in nursing permeates through the entire collection, not only as the subject of a particular poem or story, but also in the obvious empathy and compassion she exhibits for the human characters in her writing.There is a constant tenderness and care for the people populating the work. And this pervasive warmth tempts the reader to believe in a current of goodness running through human beings.

As a poet, Taylor has a sharp control of the lines. Each is a powerful increment in her narrative style, almost always breaking with enviable intention as the captured moment is rendered with emotional depth and sophisticated play. Taylor is particularly adept at inviting multiple resonances and surprise into a line through her enjambment. As these are also the poems of a master storyteller, the reader is consistently treated to a dynamic movement of the speaker-narrator’s perspective, scene and meditation unfold their layers of possibility together.

As a short story writer, Taylor operates with a brilliant and affecting attention to form and authenticity. In “Path Before Giants,” for example, a couple’s walk amongst sequoias is punctuated by the narrator-protagonist’s interjections about the temporality of their marriage. In “You May Die Tonight,” Taylor’s nursing background lends palpable verisimilitude to the intimate, emotional journey of a patient’s final moments. In all of Taylor’s prose, an unparalleled attention to organization and pacing creates a deeply-embodied experience of drama for the reader. The audience is there through Taylor’s calculated control of movement and timing.

In short, Jo Taylor’s Postcards: Collected Poems and Short Stories is a must-read collection. This is an author at the top of her craft, an author who imbues each piece of writing with precise use of technique and powerfully emotional narratives. As an example of the poetry-and-fiction collection, this book might very well stand as an exemplary text that would behoove students of both genres to read.

STEPHEN DUDAS, PhD in Literature

REEDSY DISCOVERY