Going Down South by Bonnie J. Glover

Review by Gypsy Culp Houston--LOVED IT!!

Going Down South: A Novel by Bonnie Glover


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Going Down South is the story of three generations of women with three generations worth of secrets. Birdie the matriarch of the family is a blue-black woman with a questionable background. Birdie’s daughter Daisy, left Alabama at an early age never to return again, or so she thought. Olivia Jean, Daisy’s daughter changed that with the realization that she is pregnant at 15. Daisy decides that she and her husband, Turk will take Olivia Jean to live with Birdie, whom Olivia Jean has never met. Once they reach Alabama, the plan changes. Secrets are revealed, feelings explained and relationships recovered.

Bonnie J. Glover does an excellent job revealing the personality and history behind each of the three women. While men are very much present in this novel, the role they play is secondary at best. Men are discussed only in relation to one of the three lead characters. While Glover does not talk ad nauseum about the time period in which she is writing, she does a good job of conveying general feelings and social mores of the time.

Going Down South will leave you feeling hopeful. If these three Black Alabama women could overcome all that had to and still find some semblance of peace, then what’s stopping the next woman from doing it. Nothing.

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The Someday List-Review

The Someday List: A Novel by Stacy Hawkins Adams


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Nobody's perfect...this can be seen in Stacy Hawkins Adams' novel The Someday List. The main character Rachelle seems to have grown into a thirty-something year old spoiled brat, longing for her husband's attention. Her husband Gabe, a successful doctor is occupied with work and upcoming travels. When we meet them Rachelle is in the middle of an internal upheaval brought on by the impending death of her childhood best friend Jillian.

A series of events leads to a confrontation with her college sweetheart ex-husband regarding there unwanted breakup. Will she throw caution to the wind and try to turn back time or will she continue on with her life as she knows it?

While Rochelle is metamorphosing, Gabe is doing a little changing of his own. He connects with God while on a mission trip. Is is too late for him to save his marriage or will he and Rachelle give it another chance?

This is a story of love, heartache and growth. Readers of the Christian Fiction genre will enjoy it because it will challenge the reader to place herself in Rachelle's shoes.

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Changes in Multicultural Fiction

Due to a change in work - flow distribution, all Multicultural fiction requests should be directed to the Circulation staff. However, this blog will still serve as a spot for discussion, book reviews and information concerning Multicultural writings. Your input is very valued, so continue to post your reviews, comments and ideas.

The Book of Night Women by Marlon James

Gypsy's Review

rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

The Book of the Night Women is unlike any book I've ever read. Marlon James creates a seemingly tangible world with his use of dialect and the narrator's inside information. And what a cruel world it is. It makes me so sad to put myself in the place of any of the women in book, even the white women. While women appear to be the more cunning sex, their power is so limited that they are only allowed to move in a certain framework. The men are portrayed as easily manipulated, but with ultimate power, at least over the women.

James does an excellent job of exploring relationships including interracial, intra-racial, gender and class relationships. All of the slave relationships portrayed were rough. The slaves were very tough on one another and of course the masters and mistresses were hard on the slaves. The interaction between whites, while not examined in great detail, highlighted the class issues of the time.

Overall, I really liked the book, although, I found it difficult to read due to the strong dialect and harsh language. However, I think this adds to the authenticity of the the story. Marlon James did an excellent job and I will definitely read more of his work in the future.


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Sweet Georgia Brown -Book Review

Sweet Georgia Brown left me feeling both uplifted and sad. The dichotomy of emotion was brought on by the demise of a relationship and the personal growth of one of its participants.

In Sweet Georgia Brown, author Cheryl Robinson introduces us to Marvin and Georgia Brown, a down on their luck couple living with Marvin's parents. While Georgia works a 9-5 job, Marvin spends his days at home and works at night as a stand up comedian. Georgia seems to possess unwavering faith in her husband despite his father's warnings that she can do bad by herself.

The family's financial struggle pays off and they are rewarded with an extravagant lifestyle. Unfortunately, when the money came, it seems the happiness left and they are left with a lot of emotional baggage to deal with. Eventually, Georgia finds her own voice and moves from behind Marvin's shadow. While raising his teenage daughter (that she never knew about), Georgia realizes that the Marvin she married is not the silver tongued Marvin of today.

While this was an interesting story, I felt that the timing was a little off and the characters were not well defined. Emphasis was placed on the back story, but to me the story felt rushed towards the end and of course there was no real conclusion. Sweet Georgia Brown definitely leaves room for a sequel.

Please Utilize Your Library

In this time of budget cuts and layoffs, there are few certainties. If the library, including the Multicultural Collection is important to you, please continue to support it, by visiting, checking out materials and coming to programs.

The County is being forced to make difficult decisions this month that are sure to effect the library. It is our goal to maintain the quality services to which you have become accustomed. While the purchasing budget will probably be lowered, we still expect to receive new materials, even if on a smaller scale. This makes your suggestions and ideas more critical than ever. We need to know what you would like to see. Keep in mind that we will not be able to follow through with every suggestion, but we will try our best to honor as many requests as possible. Remember that the Union County Public Library does not actively pursue erotica or titles published by vanity presses (self published).

For your convenience there a couple of ways to make suggestions as to which books we buy. You can:
1. Fill out a Request/Reserve Card at the Reference or Circulation Desk.
2. Choose Suggestions on the Library Webpage (www.union.lib.nc.us)

We look forward to hearing your suggestions.

New Multicultural Nonfiction

• The Obamas: Portrait of America’s New First Family from the Editors of Essence. NEW 973.932 BASS
• Gabriel Garcia Marquez: A Life by Gerald Martin NEW 921 GARC
• Digging: The Afro-American Soul of American Classical Music by Amiri Baraka NEW 780.89 BARA
• In the Black: Live Faithfully, Prosper Financially by Aaron W. Smith NEW 232.024 SMIT
• Black Men Can’t Shoot by Scott N. Brooks NEW 796.323 BROO
• A More UnBending Battle: The Harlem Hellfighters struggle for Freedom in WWI and Equality at Home by Peter N. Nelson NEW 940.5412 NELS
• Writing the Future of Black America by Daniel Grassian NEW 810.9896 GRAS
• We Had Sneakers They Had Guns: the kids who fought for Civil Rights in Mississippi by Tracy Sugarman NEW 323.1196 SUGA
• Down Home With The Neelys: A Southern Family Cookbook by Patrick and Gina Neely NEW 641.5975
• The Romantic Dogs by Roberto Bolano NEW 861.64 BOLA

Recent Multicultural Purchases

Christian Fiction

• The Someday List by Stacy Hawkins Adams
• Before Redempton by Teresa McClain-Watson

Mystery

• In the Night of the Heat by Blair Underwood

Historical

• Swetsmoke by David Fuller

Romance

• Naughty by Rochell Alers

Street Lit

• The Dopeman's Wife by JaQuavis Coleman

General Fiction

• Beneath the Bruisis by Dywane D. Birch
• Kiss the Sky by Farai Chideya
• Taste of Lust by LeBlanc
• You Gotta Sin to Get Saved
• Before Redemption by Teresa McClain-Watson
• Sinfull Too by Victor McGlothin
• Girl Talk by Shereen McKellar
• Obsessed by Devon Scott
• The nature of a Woman through the eyes of a Man by Sylvester Stephens

Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins

Gypsy's review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book. For me the storyline carried the book. I recommend this book for anyone who aspires to leave a legacy by changing the world. If this doesn't describe you, I'm not sure you will appreciate Bring on the Blessings.

Except for Donna Hill and Brenda Jackson, I don't usually read romance novels, so Beverly Jenkins is a new author for me. I will most likely read her work again. As a Black History Buff, I love her inclusion of information about African Americans going West in the late 1800s. As a certified "do-gooder" the lofty goal of Bernadine Brown spoke to me on a very basic level.

I hope that Ms. Jenkins continues the story of Henry Adams and its residents, because the book left me wondering how everything would workout. After Reading the book, I also felt energized and ready to make a difference in my own little corner of the world.

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Books I've Read Recently

Deadly Charm by Claudia Mair Burney

My review

I have read all three of the Amanda Bell Brown books, and have enjoyed each one. This series has been my first introdution to Burney's work and the world of Christian mystery/detective/suspense novels. Burney does an excellent job of makeing her characters realistic, imperfect people. One of my pet peeves with Christian fiction is that characters are often portrayed as superhuman or fautless. The characters of this series show us that Christians make mistakes, but hopefully, we can all learn from them and try not to make the same mistakes over and over. On a more personal note, I hope Amanda and Jazz can finally get things right and stay together this time. I guess only time will tell. I can't wait for the next book. Hurry up Claudia!


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What Doesn't Kill You by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant

Review by Gypsy Culp Houston--LOVED IT!!

Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant have done it again! They have crafted a story that is worthwhile and indicative of economic situations of many folks today. Tee, the main character, could easily be someone I know or even one of my friends from college.

As the book opens we see Tee right after her daughter’s wedding. Through a series of flashbacks and forwards we get the story of her being “downsized,” waking up in bed with a handsome not-so-stranger, and other events of her life. DeBerry and Grant did a great job of giving Tee a real voice throughout the entire story. Her thoughts and actions seem to organically flow. There was never a time when I thought, “Would she really say or do that?”

What Doesn’t Kill You is the story of a woman coming into her own. Sure, there were setbacks, but Tee was able to push through and keep it moving. Of course, like many of us, she wallowed in self-pity and denial for quite a while before recognizing her potential, hopes and desires. Once she got out of the do nothing, self-pitying mode, Tee was able to leave the house, conquer her aversion to computers, get a new job and eventually start her own business. Thankfully, she had the support of a good friend, a good man and her daughter to help keep her motivated.

During the course of the book, Tee learns a lot about herself and the world she has created for herself to live in. The friends she thought she had really were not friends, the man she had wasn’t hers and the things she always thought important, were really not. She learned that friends will be with you not only for the fun things, but also for the hard times. This is evidenced by her growing friendship with Julie, whom she never really considered a friend before the layoff. It wasn’t until meeting her married man’s ex, and then his current, that Tee realized she was very low on his list of priorities and needed a man that she didn’t have to sneak around to see. The world she had created was a world of designer names, manicured lawns and name dropping. Once her world began to shake, she saw it break like glass and tumble around her feet. In her new world, Tee finds that life is too short for coulda, woulda shoulda and learns to live each day to the fullest.

I would recommend this book to anyone that knows the pain of loosing a job, or would like to gain a better understanding. As usual DeBerry and Grant did an excellent job of drawing you into the story and the main character. My only criticism is that I would have liked a little more character development from the supporting characters. I guess that’s what sequels are for.

The Black Woman's Guide to Healthy Living from the Editors of Essence

Taken from Amazon.com From the African-American community's trusted authority, "Essence Guide to Healthy Living", is an interactive manual designed to help black women care for their bodies, minds and spirits. Covering both major health issues such as diabetes and heart disease and tackling everyday concerns from weight loss to balancing work and life, this handy guide has a reader-friendly tone, actionable service and chapters packed with checklists, inspiring real-life examples, space for journal entries and worksheets for readers to execute their own personal wellness plans. Developed with expert advice from leading physicians, nutritionists, fitness instructors, psychologists, spiritual gurus and other healthcare experts, "Essence Guide to Healthy Living" is designed to help black women lead healthier and better lives.This guide includes: step-by-step exercise plans; guidance for achieving emotional balance; tips for enjoying a healthy sex life; listing and explanation of medical tests; and, inspiring real-life weight-loss success stories.

NEW MULTICULTURAL NONFICTION

1. Becoming King by Troy Jackson (921 KING)
2. Death of Liberty by Douglas R. Egerton (973.30896 EGER)
3. Sugar of the Crop:my journey to find the children of slaves by Sana Butler (305.896 BUTL)
4. Black Girl Next Door by Jennifer Baszile (921 BASZ)
5. Slavery By Another Nam: the re-enslavement of Black people in America from the Civil War to World War II by Douglas A. Blackmon (305.896 BLAC)
6. And Just for All by Mary Frances Berry (323.0973)
7. Jump for Joy: jazz, basketball, and Black culture in 1930s America by Gena Caponi-Tabery (305.896 CAPO)
8. Daughters of Men: portraits of African-American women and their fathers by Rachel Vassel (306.872 VASS)
9. In Search of Our Roots by Henry Louis Gates (973.049 GATE)
10. The Beautiful Struggle by Ta-Nehisi Coates (921 COAT)
11. Letters from Black America by Pamela Newkirk (305.896 NEWK)
12. The Mocha Manual to Turning Your Passion into Profit by Kimberly Seals-Allen (658.1441 ALLE)