Book Club members give their reviews and ratings.
A Book Review is a brief overview that includes the reader’s interpretation of the piece of work. Although it is opinion, the reviewer should support her views by giving specific examples and/or evidence from the text.
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A Child of God
Child of God is strong tale of the Boten family and a dramatic
story of lives full of secrets, lies, and fear. Lolita Files
uncovers issues of dysfunction within this family such as incest,
murder, voodoo and rape permeating through three generations.
Child of God is motivated by Hamlet in that several characters
have Shakespearean names. I found the novel to overflow with
strong family ties, sexuality, illicit love, and an overwhelming
struggle for truth. Each page beckoned for the next to unravel the
tangled web of the past and present. The saga begins in 1966 with
the death of Ophelia’s baby. It then teeters back and forth through
the family’s past uncovering the forbidden love of siblings Grace
and Walter and their child Ophelia. Walter runs off and marries
the evil Sukie. Grace marries Big Daddy who raises Ophelia as his
own. Big Daddy and Grace also have two sons, good Polo and bad Lay
(Laertes). Lay, who is Sukie’s student in the art of destroying
others for selfish gain, gets Ophelia pregnant and leaves for
Detroit, where he becomes a drug-dealer builds an empire based on
violence and deception, not caring who is hurt in the process. By
the end, the saga strips the family of eve1n more tragedy,
destruction, pain and redemption. Although predicable and
inconceivable at times, Child of God is entertaining and packed
full of drama.
Review written by Member Rita Patton
Average Member Rating:
Soul Mates Dissipate
My Interest Dissipated! This novel was a disappointment. I read it because it was a book club selection. The characters were shallow, at best, and the plot was often confusing and extremely unrealistic. Jada Diamond Tanner comes across as a savvy, intelligent young woman who knows what she wants in life and in a mate. Her actions were totally opposite of this. The same can be said for her "soul mate" Wellington. Despite being so in love with Jada he is lured away by a childhood family friend, Melanie. As the plot thickened, the storyline became less and less plausible. The love scenes, though a little risque...No, they were HOT!!... held my attention more effectively than the pretentious, unrealistic, way too perfect characters. Finally, I could have done without the Soul Mate Guide at the end of
the book. This one is not high on my list of recommendations.
Review written by Member Avis Williams
Average Member Rating:
This Bitter Earth
This Bitter Earth is the continuing story of "Sugar". It is
haunting and riveting from the first page. Sugar returns home to Short
Junction to find closure, but she finds so much more. Bernice McFadden pours so much soul into this book until it runs from the pages and onto
The Bitter Earth. If you have read "Sugar", you must read
this book as well. If you want to experience how the roads of life intersect in places that you never dreamed, then you must read The Bitter Earth.
Review written by Member Daphne Ewing
Average Member Rating:
Fearless Jones
To truly appreciate this mystery novel, you must be a Walter Mosley fan and/or enjoy crime
fiction and mysteries! The main character, Paris Minton, is a successful bookstore owner who is thrust into a life-threatening whirlwind, seemingly because of his contact with the beautiful and mysterious Elana Love. Out of desperation, he enlists the help of his best friend Fearless Jones, and from that point the plot twists and turns and ultimately confused and frustrated this reader. Set in the 1950s, this novel contained too many characters that were
never truly developed, a weak plot and a rushed ending. Mosley is known for his series mysteries so perhaps the next Fearless Jones saga will compensate for what this one lacked.
Review written by Member Avis Williams
Average Member Rating:
Promises Beyond Jordan
Have you ever loved someone you never had? This profound question permeates this powerful novel. It is a question that George Landris posed to his wife-to-be, Theresa Jordan, just nine days before their scheduled wedding. Needless to say, this question did not sit well with Theresa and to make matters worse, George, spirited pastor of an Atlanta church, rushes to aid of another woman, Johnnie Mae Taylor. Confused, disappointed and just plain mad, Theresa struggles to put the pieces of her life back together. However, unforeseen tragedy, secrets from the past and a scandalous affair further complicate matters for all. This novel will keep you on the edge of your seat! Vanessa Davis Griggs scored big on this one and the only question remaining is when do we get a sequel!
Review written by Avis Williams
Average Member Rating:
Someone to Catch My Drift
Someone to Catch My Drift is the ultimate relationship novel. First-time novelist, Jacqueline Powell spins an unpredictable and engaging tale. The plot focuses on the relationship battles of Nikai Parker and Robert Hayes. This couple’s disposition was dysfunctional, at best! Nikai, an aspiring singer, has a tremendous amount of personal baggage, including a jail-bird ex-boyfriend who she feels is stalking her and a family life that is just plain weird. Robert has his own set of issues. He’s a firefighter who, despite his relationship with Nikai, cannot seem to extinguish the sparks that fly between he and Karen. This book is packed with drama and issues that hit home. Each chapter alternates between Nikai and Robert’s perspectives, creating a spicy, well-balanced read. Don’t let the
length deter you, because it is a definite page-turner and ideal for group discussion.
Review written by Member Avis Williams
Average Member Rating:
Prodigal Husband
The Prodigal Husband by Jacqueline Thomas has a wonderfully, refreshing Christian theme. The plot and dialogue, however, are unrealistic and become quite predictable as the story progresses. The focus of this novel is the distraught marriage of Jake and Tori Madison. Jake is caught cheating on Tori with his business partner Sheila and shortly thereafter their daughter dies in tragic car accident. Jake leaves and is not heard from for over a year. The drama that ensues when he returns is totally unrealistic to this reader and made for a difficult and at times frustrating read. Even when reading fiction, it is always nice to read about characters that reflect a part of ourselves or of people we know. This book was not effective at doing this.
Review written by Member Avis Williams
Average Member Rating:
A Love of My Own
Member:
Average Member Rating: 
When Twilight Comes
When Twilight Comes by Gwynne Forster is a well-spun family drama. Marge Hariston, widowed matriarch and owner of North Carolina’s most influential black-owned newspaper, has a difficult decision to make. Upon becoming ill, she must choose her successor. Her options include Drogan and Cassie, her self-centered oldest children and the quiet, unassuming Sharon, her youngest child. Drogan and Cassie immediately become jealous and vindictive as Sharon is chosen to follow in their mother’s footsteps. Sharon is then forced to make some serious choices of her own, including where to go with her new love interest. This novel was refreshing and well written and Forster does a good job of depicting the crisis that can ensue when siblings are pit against one another.
Review written by Member Avis Williams
Average Member Rating:
Gonna Lay Down My Burdens
What an imagination! Mary Monroe really outdid herself with Gonna Lay Down My Burdens. The story opens with Carmen Taylor rushing to rescue her friend Desiree who is in a violent argument with her boyfriend Chester. The young ladies go on the run after critically injuring Chester and then the author takes us on a trip down memory lane. The tale is creative and heartfelt and this book is a definite page turner.
Review written by Member Avis Williams
Average Member Rating:
Autumn Leaves
An editorial review from Publisher’s Weekly described Autumn Leaves as “a dull, cluttered drama”. This is a bit harsh, however, this novel was a little difficult to follow at times and the connection between the characters was made a little late in the story. The main characters are Marshall, Rorey, Kennedy and Jasmine and the ultimate connection that these young people have is the deadly four-letter disease, AIDS. Marshall and Rorey and best friends and stars of their college football team until Rorey reveals that he has AIDS and later commits suicide. Marshall is left to deal with this harsh reality while pursuing his dream as a professional athlete and managing his relationship with long-time girlfriend, Jasmine. Kennedy, an attractive art dealer, is in a demeaning relationship with the arrogant, low down, drug-dealing Simpson. Four (or more, depending on how you read it) main characters does create a bit of clutter and there was some excess baggage that if eliminated would have created a more intriguing, free-flowing read.
Review written by Member Avis Williams
Average Member Rating:
Leaving Atlanta
Told from the perspective of three fifth graders, Leaving Atlanta centers on the terrifying year of The Atlanta Child Murders (1979-1980). LaTasha, Rodney and Octavia are classmates living in fear each day as they watch the 6:00 news and wonder if they, or one of their peers, will be the next missing child. Each of the narrators has their own set of problems in addition to the obvious. LaTasha wants so badly to be popular, but is just not accepted by the group girls with whom she considers to be the “in” crowd. Rodney is shy and sweet which causes him to be picked on by the other children. He has a dreadful home life where he is misunderstood and verbally abused. Octavia is an outcast and is teased because of her dark skin. Jones was a child in Atlanta during this dreadful time in history and she does an excellent job of giving a voice to these true-to-life young people.
Review written by Member Avis Williams
Average Member Rating: