The Biblio File

Great Sky Woman

2009-10-01T18:03:00.000-07:00

Title: Great Sky Woman
Author: Steven Barnes
2009
Began Reading: 09/10/2009
Ended Reading:

Format: CD

Now Listening

Fortunate Son

2009-08-31T15:54:00.001-07:00

Title: Fortunate Son
Author: Walter Mosley
2006
Began Reading: 8/29/2009
Ended Reading: 9/10/2009

Format:

Review Coming Soon

The Ascent of Money

2009-08-17T15:52:00.000-07:00

Title: The Ascent of Money
Author: Niall Ferguson
2008
Began Reading: 08/18/2009
Ended Reading: 08/29/2009

Format: CD

Review Coming Soon

Because They Hate

2009-08-14T14:52:00.001-07:00

Title: Because They Hate
Author: Brigitte Gabriel
2006
Began Reading: 8/10/2009
Ended Reading: 8/16/2009

Format: CD

Review Coming Soon

The Constant Princess

2009-08-08T18:10:00.000-07:00

Title: The Constant Princess
Author: Philippa Gregory
2006
Began Reading: 8/3/2009
Ended Reading:

Format: CD

Review Coming Soon

Don't Ever Tell

2009-08-04T19:57:00.001-07:00

Title: Don't Ever Tell
Author: Brandon Massey
2008
Began Reading: 8/2/2009
Ended Reading:

Format: CD

Now Listening

Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea

2009-07-29T21:41:00.001-07:00

Title: Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea 3.5 / 5
Author: Chelsea Handler
2008
Began Reading: 7/29/2009
Ended Reading: 8/2/2009

Format: CD

I have a hard times reading humorous books. The jokes fall flat or they do not translate to the written word well. A good example of that would Stephen Colbert’s. I am America and So Can You. The book, at least in audio format was horrible. The subject matter had the potential to be through the roof funny. Stephen’s alter ego is a Bill O’Reilly of sorts, right down to the way BO holds his pen and gets that serious I’m looking out for you impression. The look that makes me turn the channel everytime he comes on because he seems so insincere.

Chelsea Handler, unlike Colbert was through the roof funny. I know, I know. You can’t compare a quasi political book and a comedic memoir. But it is just the handling of the story. I thought Handler was funny because her stories were so outrageously stupid. The time she told classmates she was going to be in a Goldie Hawn movie, or when she did time in a women’s jail for drunk driving. Her boyfriends alleged affair with a cockapoo. This girl is hilarious. She can’t make this stuff up. Then again, she probably did.

Then there’s her voice. Most comedians with dry humor, witty humor win me over almost immediately. Her voice was so dry and sarcastic it made the book that much more funny. Her voice was part valley, part liar, part asshole.

Now for the social commentary part of this book. Handler is Jewish and there seems to be a dearth of funny Jews right now. Old School would be the perv Woody Allen. Middle School would be Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld. New School would be Adam Sandler, Director Judd Apatow and actor Seth Rogan. Handler has the tradition of being a neurotic Jew. The kind Woody Allen made famous and Larry David does so well. It must be something in the water because most Jewish comedians are laugh out loud funny to me.

I enjoyed Chelsea Handler’s little silly book. I understand she has at least one other book out there. It is called My Horizontal Life. I am hoping HL is as funny as Vodka.

American Wife

2009-07-21T20:08:00.001-07:00

Title: American Wife 2.75 / 5
Author: Curtis Sittenfeld
2008
Began Reading: 7/22/2009
Ended Reading: 7/29/2009

Format: CD

What do we know about our First Ladies? Are they fashion icons read, Jackie Kennedy, Nancy Reagan and Michelle Obama? Are they feminists, Eleanor Roosevelt, Hillary Clinton? Are they dowdy, silver haired matrons? Sorry, Barbara Bush. Apparently, we know nothing.

Did you know one of our FL actually had a sex life prior to being married? {giggling}

American Wife is the fictionalized account of one of our more recent First Ladies. I really don’t want to spoil who she is, but we all believed she was a Stepford Wife. She looked to husband almost robotically. She adored him and yet seemed so bored with him. He seemed on every level to be her intellectual inferior, yet they meshed like glue.

Alice Lindgren was a good girl, with a rather ordinary life. She grew into a woman who was bound to be only average, until she met Charlie. Charlie Blackwell. The trust fund son of meat manufacturers. Charlie, as in good time; was the dashing debonair love of Alice’s life. She sort of met him on a humble and he kind of stuck.

American Wife could have easily turned into a fairy tale. Boy meets girl. Pretty, yet ordinary girl is swept off her feet by her dashing charismatic prince. However, Curtis Sittenfeld did not do that. She let us meet and like Alice. She also introduced us to Charlie Blackwell a President most Americans almost hated. She showed us the human side of the man before he became the President. The American Wife also showed the evolution of a marriage. From young and fresh love. To mature, staid, comfortable love. This was by far no fairy tale. Sittenfeld let us endure the pain of heartache and betrayal of trust.

After reading this book I have to look at our FL differently. We put them on an unattainable pedestal. As if these women are saints. We also believe their lives really began on the first Tuesday in November. I know these women are mere mortals like the rest of us, but I can’t help but feel sorry their own lives seem to end when their husbands become Presidents.

Gorilla Black

2009-07-21T20:03:00.001-07:00

Title: Gorilla Black 3.5 / 5
Author: Seven
2008
Began Reading: 7/11/2009
Ended Reading: 7/21/2009

Format: CD

Bilal Cunningham became Gorilla Black by the time he was 10. After moving to the projects in Richmond, Va this impressionable little boy was thrust into a world where his mother didn’t care about him, his little brother looked up to him and his mother’s boyfriends just despised him. Sounds like the typical life of a young ghetto child.

Bilal was thrust into “hood manhood” at the age of ten. His mother taught him how to take care of himself by shoplifting and trickery. Bilal had to learn to fight in order to protect himself in the jungle. After one savage beating he bestowed upon another hood dweller, he became forever known as Gorilla Black.

This book is very much in the vein of Triple Crown Publications. It has all the requisite themes: murder, drugs, rape, abuse and sex. These books remind me of a song I really like by an upcoming young artist, Deemi. Part of her chorus goes: jus drugs and violence, sex and cryin' in the soundtrack of my life…

All of these urban fiction books have the same plots. The same flat characters and generally the same outcomes. They try to be cautionary tales, but they are to me, selling the good life a little too much. In each of these stories the man is usually the kingpin. He’s always has redeeming qualities. In GB he had a heart of gold for his drug addict girlfriend, Star. Oh, and we know how Star looks even without hearing her description. Just to humor you, here goes: She’s light skinned, with naturally curly hair and light brown eyes. That description is so played out. From what I understand the author is a woman. Go figure. I am so tired or this description being the depiction of all main character BW. The supporting characters are usually the run of the mill Black girl. Her story isn’t even worth telling. When can we ever have a heroine that is brown with typical African American features? Why is Black femininity judged by these elusive standards? Why do we as BW always support these authors? As soon as I see that description, I tend to lose a little patience with the book.

Then there’s the other stereotype. The learned gangster. He’s read everything from the dictionary to the entire Encyclopedia (though in the technological age, it may be every entry on Wikipedia). Why is he so learned, yet won’t parlay that intelligence into doing something more with his life. After Malcolm X said that he had read the dictionary and others books, which are now the gold standard learning for every gangster. The difference with Brother Malcolm and these clowns, Malcolm actually learned his lessons.

This book was also strange on a few other levels too. The incest part left me scratching my head. I thought it was weird and the way the author tried to make this a Biblical story, even weirder. Sometimes, I think as writers, they just try too hard to be different, and they end up absurd.

The only part I truly took away from this book was the end, when GB explains to his mother about her hatred of him. Why she hated him for his color. It is something Black folk do every day. The very word black can connote so many negative things to Black folk in general. You can refer to some Black People in even the seemingly, most derogatory ways and that means nothing. Use black as the identifier or adjective and a full on fight may ensue. Go figure.

Hot, Flat and Crowded

2009-07-01T19:10:00.001-07:00

Title: Hot, Flat and Crowded 3.5 / 5
Author: Thomas L Friedman
2008
Began Reading: 7/1/2009
Ended Reading: 7/16/2009

Format: CD

Hot, Flat and Crowded. To some this book may be a Green Bible or for others like me, it is a wakeup call. No kidding.

I am not, nor will I ever be a Green Lunatic. I do not care that you have plastic water bottles. I do not care that you have not upgraded to energy efficient light bulbs, I do not care that you don’t drive a Prius. That will never be me. I am not a Green Nazi; and I do not fully understand what carbon credits are. From what I can tell, they seem to be a way to make money from folk with guilty conscience. I don’t shop at Whole Foods, I think vegans and Co – Op shoppers are weird, pretentious, poseurs and I leave the water running when I brush my teeth, take that.
What I did take away from Friedman’s book, is that if America is to survive we have to downgrade somewhat because we are not the only one’s able to purchase scarce resources. There are other developing nations that want what America has and they are competing with us to get them.

China is a country that has over a billion people. Thankfully, those people are rural dwellers, but their cities are growing at alarming rates and they want to have homes that have all the bells and whistles just like Americans. Friedman is telling everyone in no uncertain terms that everyone can not have everything, at least not how we have it now.

Our power grids and infrastructure are old and over tasked. Friedman proposes that we invest in a new power grid that does things during off peak hours. I immediately thought of how I use my DVR. I know that if I want to TiVo Real Housewives of Atlanta (no redeeming value) and Penn and Teller Bullshit (one of the smartest shows on television) I record them in the middle of the night. That way I can watch other idiotic TV shows and these two will record while I sleep. You see, those two shows conflict with each other. If I wanted to watch say, Mad Men (one of the best dramas of all time) I couldn’t because the system is overloaded and can only handle so much at one time.

Friedman posits that if we had a smart grid the electrical load will be distributed more evenly. We would use less energy and our bills should reflect this.

Friedman thankfully, was not about being trendy with going green, a term he disdains. For that matter, me too. He did not give us 200 ways to go green. He gave real life examples of how we could change our lives for the better by changing the old consumptive way of thinking.

Not only is China under fire, but he brings up India as well as the Middle East. He gives clear succinct reasoning for why we must abandon that hellacious region. Not only is the way petrol is taken from the Earth a horrible experience, but that resource is obviously funding terrorist activities around the world.

Then there is the problem of water conservation. I was just watching Penn and Teller; they did a show on lawns. In a gated community in Florida the home owners’ association requires a variety of grass that needs 4000 / gal of water per week to maintain. What a waste. This type of consumption must be checked. The average person in the Third World, according to National Geographic “Lacks access to adequate sanitation, one person in six lives without regular access to safe drinking water." How can we justify wasting the precious resource of water, on grass? This is a kind of wasteful action must be stopped.

If Americans can all be attuned to change, we can, as Friedman says "Have a green revolution. The kind of change revolution like the world has never seen before.

Oh, and BTW, that means me too. I will start doing things like turning off the water when I brush. But I still will believe vegans and Whole Food shoppers are weirdos.

The Tempest Tales

2009-06-29T19:32:00.001-07:00

Title: The Tempest Tales 3.5 / 5
Author: Walter Mosley
2008
Began Reading: 6/29/2009
Ended Reading: 7/1/2009

Format: CD

Walter Mosley writes another thought provoking book. This time the protagonist is a man who dies goes for judgment and turns heaven, hell and Earth upside down.

Tempest Landry is a man of indeterminate moral fortitude, but when he decides to tell the Angels no, I don’t want to leave Earth being judged by your standards; there’s a rhyme and reason for everything I’ve done. It is almost as if the world stops spinning. Literally.

Tempest was shot dead by the NYPD, by mistake. When he was brought before St Peter for judging, he decided to speak up and tell them why he believed their ruling to damn him to hell for eternity was not just. St Peter recalls that Tempest has been a con man, a cheater, a scoundrel and a man of all around ill repute. However, Tempest had an answer for each of the charges. When St Peter surprisingly, could not with all certainty convict Tempest he decided to send Tempest back to Earth to prove his mettle.

St Peter sent an angel to accompany and account for Tempest’s probable transgressions as a mortal. Joshua Angel kept a distant eye on Tempest always waiting for him to say he was wrong to be sent to the fiery depths. However, Joshua’s time here on Earth was spent pursuing earthly fulfillments, such as love, work and fun.

Joshua came to Earth and found the love of a woman, whom surprisingly, he never made his wife. They had the relations of a mortal couple, yet the joining in matrimony was never broached. I wonder if this was a commentary from Mr. Mosley. I wonder if he was saying marriage is an act of man, not of God.

Tempest had been on Earth in his new body for over a year. He had fallen back into his old ways, yet Angel could not make him pronounce his own guilt. This is when he meets the other side of the coin, Bob. Basil Bob, or to the trained ear Beelzebub. Believe it or not, Mr. Bob had something to do with the failures of heaven to convict. If all of the souls decided to not accept their sentences, what would happen to hell’s numbers, or heaven’s numbers? What about Earth? This would mean the universe’s finely tuned balancing act, would be no more.

The relationship of Tempest to Basil Bob and Joshua Angel were strange to me. Tempest seemed to treat Angel almost as an equal, but there seemed to be an underlying fear of BB. Tempest would do things to get the ire of BB, but he never seemed to totally cross that line. Whereas, with Angel he would give him at times, no respect. This shows the dichotomy of good and evil. This shows what people value more immorality, decadence and sin.

Walter Mosley also tackled another one of the issues he does best, race. He does not allow Tempest to wallow in Black self pity. He achieves this by the actions of others in the story, as well as the dialog between Angel and Tempest. Tempest wanted to blame his unjust death on the racist cops, but Angel made him see that his death had little to do with race and more to do with coincidence or circumstance. In every Mosley book I’ve read, he always had characters that would dispel many untruths about racism. Mosley always turns the issue on its head and makes sure the reader looks at it from all angles.

A new theme, for me in this book deals with religion. As a recovering Muslim, I would have either never read this book; or felt total disdain for the author. Mosley subtly tries to tell his readers to think more broadly. Don’t just take what is given to you; or for that matter believe the judgment handed down should be the final decision. Question everything. Had Tempest not had the temerity to questions his judge he would have been sent directly to Basil Bob.

Another point on the religious aspect of this tiny book was Mosley never spoke of God. He never gave God a name, nor for that matter did he make him that important. I believe he did that because the African American readership would have had their panties in a bunch, had he said a mere mortal questioned God and won. I believe Mosley wanted to take all the ammunition from the religious bunch. He did not want them to turn his story into an anti God rant. He wanted them to think critically about many situations. However, there is also the chance he did not want to alienate Black folk with their superstitious, religious sensibilities.

The word tempest is a noun. It means a violent commotion, disturbance, or tumult. That is what Tempest did. He caused a commotion and made us think. He made us challenge racism, love, hate, fear, respect and religion.

The word tempest is a noun. It means a violent commotion, disturbance, or tumult. That is what Tempest did. He caused a commotion and made us think. He made us challenge racism, love, hate, fear, respect and religion.

The Million Dollar Deception

2009-06-28T22:01:00.001-07:00

Title: The Million Dollar Deception 3 / 5
Author: RM Johnson
2008
Began Reading: 6/22/2009
Ended Reading: 6/29/2009

Format: CD

In RM Johnson’s latest installment of divorce chronicles, he resurrects Nate, Monica and Louis. Remember Nate was the millionaire who paid a man to become his wife’s lover. Nate wanted to catch Monica in the bad girl clause of the prenup. He then couldn’t handle the fact Monica and Louis began to fall in love. Since Nate was such an alpha male, he had to win, by getting Monica back.

What a silly premise, but I guess it makes for a very dramatic book. The wife was so delusional and silly I had a hard time in being sympathetic to her character. I kept wondering what woman could be this clueless? Who would not know she is being played like a fiddle by both men in her life. Nate was so disingenuous and Louis was just so stereotypically stupid.

While in the middle of reading this book I kept thinking about what fiction is there that is written about Black women that shows us in a better light. Fiction that does not down play our intelligence and shows that Black women are capable of being loved by a man on our level.

The heroine was a millionaire that owned her own business her lover was a ne’er do well that had a child by a drug addict. The silly woman even paid for her own engagement ring. The boyfriend, Louis, did not a have job. Home boy was like a lot of Black men who have grandiose dreams, but no way of achieving them. The boyfriend owned part of a business that was not well thought out and could not be able to bring in the kind of income she would be used to.

Then there was the ex husband Nate, who was such a miserable; human being that he would resort to adopting a child to manipulate Monica back into his life, you know, only to ruin her because the one time she had a stroke of genius was to take money during their divorce. He could not stand the thought of being bested, thus the hare brained scheme was hatched to ruin her.

Louis, the boyfriend was nowhere on her financial level, but I believe mentally his little girl Laila was far and ahead both of them.

It is true BW’s fiction can be a mental drain. In Million Dollar Deception the characters were wealthy, however it still did not stem the fact that Black behavior is still dysfunctional. It seems in most BW fiction on every strata of income the people are still dysfunctional. It makes me wonder how they can even become wealthy. They may as well be in the lowliest ghetto. I do like to read stories that have a redeeming value to Black life. I believe that is why just about every book Beverly Jenkins, superstar historical writer extraordinaire, writes, I read.

However, that is not to say that sometimes I really don’t mind reading stories like Gorilla Black, the next book on the blog to be reviewed. I am an adult and can tell the difference between reality and fiction. But as a former librarian I can tell you many BW cannot discern the difference. They believe Triple Crown stories are rooted in fact. They believe this is what a real relationship can be like. Many BW do not travel. Or see enough positive relationships to know things can be better. They don’t understand there is a bigger world outside their little patch of earth.

Stupid Black Men

2009-06-20T19:25:00.000-07:00

Title: Stupid Black Men 3.5 / 5
Author: Larry Elder
2008
Began Reding: 06/15/2009
Ended Reading: 06/22/2009

Format: CD

Larry Elder is one of the best conservative writers out there. I have read all of his books and enjoy his thought process. He never pulls any punches. He gives Black people a much needed wake up call. The old adage of pulling oneself up by their boot strap is his basic premise.

My wakeup call happened years ago with Jesse Lee Peterson, the incendiary preacher. I read his book Scam and agreed with about 95% of that book. He touched on the hallmarks of Black conservatism. His books covered politics. Democrats versus Republican. He explained what the platforms were really about. I am in no way a religious conservative as Peterson is, nor am I enamored with any one party. I think both parties are licentious and corrupt to the inth degree. However, as stated in a previous post, ideally I do lean more Republican. In the last Presidential election you could not tell, though. I voted for Obama. I know, I know. How can I say I lean Republican, but voted for Obama? Well, I voted for him because I could not stand Sarah Plain and believed John McCain should have chosen a better prepared running mate. I did like John McCain in 2000, but in 2008 the thrill was gone.

Jesse Lee Peterson also talked about so called Black Leadership. You know, the ones I call the usual suspects. Jesse the baby daddy Jackson, Al the perm Sharpton and Louis Farrakhan, who strangely, I have not found a negative appellation for. He talked about how these people run our communities and how they became our unelected, yet appointed leaders. Now how did that happen? These men have a kind of control over us and want to guide us, but I don’t know where they are taking us. Larry Elder also brought up these characters to make similar points about leadership in the Black Community (BC).

Personally, I don’t believe there is any leadership in the BC. If there were the majority of our homes would not be headed by single women. These leaders would not allow men to walk away from their responsibilities. Nor would they allow women to be brood mares for these men. Then you think about why the last time I saw JJ on TV, he was again shedding crocodile tears for the casket of slain teenager Emmitt Till. They gave this idiot TV time to express his anger that Till’s casket was being allowed to rot and was not being preserved and placed in a Civil Rights Museum. Is he kidding? Why is JJ allowing the BC to rot? Why is he contributing to the moral decay? Why is he not out here trying to make positive change in the BC? Instead Jackson is just like every other no good Black preacher; he’s trying to make a dollar.

Then there is Al Sharpton. Rev. Al’s latest donation to the BC was helping to plan Michael Jackson’s memorial service. I loved MJ’s music. Some would have thought I was borderline insane when it came to him, but this was not something AS should have been involved in. How could AS’s speaking after the death of MJ help the BC? It couldn’t. He immediately took the public stage and began to extol the wonderful virtues of Michael Jackson.

Then there was the Jena Six fiasco of a few years prior that really cemented by dislike of the Civil Rights Fools. They, AS and others took to the streets to fight for the rights of “wrongly jailed” Michael Bell and his friends. While in Cleveland on the same weekend AS had Negroes fired up to go on a march to freedom, a little girl was being buried because she was shot by criminals who decided to have a shoot out on a city street during daylight. That was a big story here, but we had fools and followers who left Cleveland on a bus to set Michael Bell et.al. free, while little Astevia was being buried.

Louis Farrakhan. I believe the reason I have not come up with a name for him is because he is a little more palatable than the others, but not by much. Farrakhan will always have my respect for demanding that Blacks get up and do something. Get married, create a business, employee others, create a better community. But he lost cool points when he went to New Orleans and said Whites blew up the lower Ninth Ward. He went to NO with some tomfoolery that he knew the people would eagerly gobble up. Instead of him saying to the victims this too shall pass, then give them lessons on how to make it pass; he went down there and decided to stir up ish. That storm, no matter how you look at it was not White or Black. It was tragic.

Larry Elder has never said that racism is dead or that it every going to be 100% eradicated. What he has said is that it is not hiding behind every rock, nor is everything a White person says a code for racist behavior. We, as African Americans must stop believing that everything done by a White person is racist. This is the lesson Larry Elder is trying to teach.

It is about time we have heard a new message. A message that has not been tainted by the liberals and other people who don’t have our best interests in mind. It seems most people have a problem in telling Black people their behavior is unacceptable. There are the Civil Rights crew, the Intellectual Gaggles, the Green Flight Brigade and the everyday Hood Dweller. No one seems to be speaking up to let them know their behavior leaves much to be desired. Along comes the Sage from South Central, Thomas Sowell and even Internet bloggers I follow they have no problem in letting us know what’s wrong and how to prevent it. Elder always says the way to not become impoverished is to finish high school, get married, delay having babies until after 21 and you are almost guaranteed a life of being middle class. What is so hard about following that advice? It is very sage advice. It makes sense and it works. I know because I did two out of three of his admonitions.

While this was not the best book by Elder, nor was the message as fresh; it still deserves a mention because everything he says is always on the money.

My Grandfather's Son

2009-06-07T15:53:00.000-07:00

Title: My Grandfather's Son 4/5
Author: Associate Justice Clarence Thomas
2007
Began Reading: 6/7/2009
Ended Reading: 6/15/2009

Format: CD

Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, the bane of Black America. They hate this man for what he stands for - his conservative principles. They also hate him because they believe he is an opportunistic sellout. They hate him because they believe he sexually harassed Anita Hill. They hate him because some Whites love him. The women hate him because he married a White woman. The men hate him because his name has Tom in it.Yes, I used the word hate. Black Americans love to hate this man. I had just graduated high school when he was appointed a seat on the Supreme Court. So, for the past 15 years I heard this man called an Uncle Tom, a sellout, a boot licker and the more generous someone who is just not that intellectual. As with everything else I wanted to understand for myself. I wanted to know who Clarence Thomas is and what made him the way he is.

I, like most Black folk am conservative. We just don't recognize we are because the majority of us are politically immature. We equate governmental handouts from the Democrats as the party having our best interests at heart. We all know that anything that is not worked for is not valued.

I have at times, flirted with the Republican party because I could not find my way in the Democratic party. They seemed to be pandering profligates that can only feel my pain when they ran for election. I especially cannot stand to hear White Democrats talk about how they are going to save us. Save us from what? We all know the only thing that can save us is ourselves. We don’t need a political party, nor do we need a symbolic presidential candidate, although I did support him, more as a fan than someone I share political ideologies with. I do, however believe Mr. Obama will be a great president.

In knowing all of this, I knew I had to read about Clarence Thomas for myself. I sort of knew going in that we would not be kindred political spirits. Instead, perhaps I could understand how he came to his ideologies. I know how I came to mine.

Clarence Thomas was raised by his grandfather, Anderson Myers. His mother's father. He was a man of principle, albeit latent principles. Myers was not married to Thomas' grandmother. It seems she was yet another Black woman left alone to raise children. However, after reading how Thomas was raised by Myers, I might be apt to change my opinion of him as being quite possibly a young man who sired a child out of wedlock, grew to regret it; and to make amends, raised his grandchildren with the veracity of a loving parent. He seemed to have raised them with integrity and an intense work ethic.

Thomas takes us on a tour of his childhood home in rural Pinpoint, Georgia. His grandfather's heavy handedness often made him chafe, but years later he would look back lovingly on the man who shaped him.

Thomas prior to him becoming a Yale Law School grad, studied briefly to become a Priest. After failing at that task his grandfather in effect disowned him. He spent many years trying to make it up to Myers, but once again failed. Even after graduating from Holy Cross College, then Yale Law School, where by his own tale, was granted admission via Affirmative Action. Anderson Myers would still see him as a failure. He never completed what he said he would, becoming a priest. In my estimation, I don't believe Myers necessarily wanted Thomas to become a priest; he just wanted him to finish what he started. I believe Myers was from the old school and his word was his bond. If a man said he going to do it, he saw it through to the end.

Prior to law school graduation he met and married Katherine Ambush. They later had a son Jamal. This is where I start to lose my allegiance to Thomas. He tells a sketchy story of the breakup of his marriage. He almost explains it as one day he walked in the door and it was over. I understand this may be a private part to one's life, however it is a biography. Almost nothing should be off limits; therefore, it should have been explained more convincingly. He spoke about how hard it was for them to be financially stable. How many times they were so broke he could not pay everyday bills. Then he decides it would easier to walk away from his wife and child and live in a squalid apartment? That does not make sense to me. He did not seem to want to work things out with his wife so he walks away. He walks away? What could he possibly accomplish by leaving another Black woman alone to raise his male son? Thomas alluded to his son having adjustment issues and eventually had to repeat a grade. He was very cavalier in his explanation of it. Almost like it was something most people make their adolescent sons do.

He later meets and marries Virginia Lamp. Oh, but along the way he dates other women casually. He swears these women were Black. I can only take him at his word. But it still makes little sense to me that he would leave a wife then date. When he marries Lamp he is just as broke with her as he was with Ambush, but with Lamp he sticks it out and makes a go of things.
I am not totally convinced Thomas did not marry her for her white skin. His Black wife was just as accomplished as his White wife. There had to have been more to the story.

As for the Anita Hill controversy, Thomas convinced me that nothing, quite possibly happened between the two of them. Then he slips into the narrative that she passed her polygraph exam. He could not explain how that happened. This put me back on the side that he did do something inappropriate to her. I know a few years back Hill wrote her own biography. It would be interesting to read how the accounts differed. Then there is the question of motive what did she have to gain to set him up? This was a complex story that I will leave for the ages to sort out, I know I couldn’t.

After reading this story, I still don’t hate Thomas. There are many things to admire about the man: his self reliance and conservatism that Black people can do for themselves. Don’t ask for any hand outs and we can take care of our own, just the way other groups have done and how we did prior to desegregation.

What I have questionable thoughts about, are how Thomas could so easily cast wife number one out when there were problems and replace her with another woman who could no more solve the problems he brought with him.

Thomas is a complicated man, perhaps too complicated for me to solve. For now I sit on the fence neither loving him nor hating him. I’m just sitting.

One Fifth Avenue

2009-06-06T22:05:00.000-07:00

Title: One Fifth Avenue 2 / 5
Author: Candace Bushnell
2009
Began Reading: 6/2/2009
Ended Reading: 6/7/2009

Format: CD

Another of Candace Bushnell's insipid books, that I can not stop myself from reading. It is not that I have to read her books, it is that, I must read some books that have no redeeming values. And one things for certain, Bushnell's books have absolutely no redeeming values.

This book follows the life of the wealthy and the posers who pretend to be. There's the hedgefund manager who's so fabulously wealthy he and wife Anna Lisa buy the most expensive penthouse in the building. Paul is so obnoxious about everything that he gets into an all out war with the building's president of the board.

The president of the board is an overcompensating shrew. Mindy Gooch is the editor of a magazine and a blogtress. She wants what the Rice's have, but her husband is a failed writer. However, when he finally writes a book that is about to rival Dan Brown's, that amps up the craziness. She not only fueds with Paul Rice, she takes her new power to another level when she is snubbed by Enid Merle aunt of Phillip Oakland the former wunderkind screenwriter.

Phillip decides he needs an assistant and in sashays the fabulous Lola Fabrikant. The 22 year old rich girl who upon interview knows that she will seduce Mr. Oakland. What she doesn't know is that Phillip Oakland still has feelings for his former flame the actress, Schiffer Diamond.

And round and round this story goes. Why leave your house for drama, when you can find it in your building?

The Right Mistake

2009-05-27T18:10:00.001-07:00

Title: The Right Mistake 3.5 / 5
Author: Walter Mosley
2008
Began Reading: 5/24/2009
Ended Reading: 6/2/2009

Format: CD

Walter Mosley is a very thought provoking author. He makes you look at things in a different light. I have been listening to many books for a while now and they all seem to have a value to them. In this one, Mosley has us follow the life of Socrotes Fortlow. Socrotes is an ex - con who starts The Thursday Nights Thinkers Club. It is during this club that everyone pounds out theories and hypotheses that can change the world, for the better.

Socrotes' character is what is common in Walter Mosley's books. He is a strong physically and mentally man, yet flawed in some ways. Socrotes was a repentant rapist and killer. That is a very heavy charge.

Now, Walter made me feel for the character of Socrates. That is no easy feat considering in an everyday world I would never think of giving a man like Socrates a pass. He would in no way ever receive my sympathy. Luckily, this is a book and not real life.

Socrotes Fortlow left prison after a 26 year bid a bitter and broken man. He thought as most prisoners I have ever known they could change the world with their penitentiary psychology. Socrotes Fortlow used words and phrases only a "reformed" ex con would use, yet I still thought he was thought provoking.

Socrotes Fortlow is the example of the Damaged Black Man who goes to prison and comes home spouting off ideas on changing the world. Not only that, he finds a hurting Black woman who wants to set up house with him. She meets him and within weeks wants to give her life over to Mr. Fortlow. She is more gung ho on loving him than he is on her. This is not to say that he does not succumb to her charms. It is just the fact that he alludes to having penitentiary rendevouz and Luna, the future Mrs Fortlow has no problem with it. Could it be Luna has nothing left to live for? Could it be Luna has Daddy issues? She is 23, he's in his 50's. Late 50's.

Then there are the other characters in the book. The other damged individuals the gambler, the business owner the lawyer...

While this book was thought provoking in regard to the race relations issues, I found it lacking in characters that were worthy of remembering. But leave it to Mr. Mosley to make things not only black and white, but shades of gray.

The Darkest Child

2009-05-22T15:58:00.000-07:00

Title: The Darkest Child 4 / 5
Author: Delores Phillips
2004
Began Reading: 05/13/2009
Ended Reading: 05/24/2009

Format: CD

OK, where to begin. This book was downright painful. It would have been an uplifting story had this same story not been told so many times before. I have come to see from websites I have been frequenting that Black Women's fiction is rife with the same tired cliches and stories that have been told and retold.

I realize that many BW believe these stories are true about the majority of BW. We believe, even if we reside in suburbia that most BW have these miserable lives. I have to agree with Evia, that our fiction should be only uplifting. BW are the only women who are OK with wallowing in misery.

This story follows the life of Tangy Mae. A little girl born to a mother with severe emotional problems. She is one of ten children born to Rozelle Quinn. Tangy Mae is taught to believe she is ugly, but what she lacks in perceived beauty, she more than makes up for in intelligence. Tangy Mae and her brothers and sisters are abused and tortured in every sense of the word.
Rozelle does and allows things to be done to her children that no human being should even be capable of.

I did rate this book highly because the writer is great. She told a convincing, horrific tale. She told it in a way that I had no other choice but to pull for Tangy Mae. I, in no way wanted her or her siblings to stay in that evil home occupied by the demonic Rozelle Quinn. However, as a voracious reader I can't say I have not read tomes like this before.

I do believe as Evia does, that as BW we need fiction that helps us to escape this kind of life. Even though Ms. Phillips is a master storyteller I just believe that our fiction can be so depressing. It has nothing to make us look forward to. I know somtimes that we want things that have no redeeming value, but this kind of fiction is not uncommon with BW fiction. Most books that are marketed to BW have this similar theme. Look at the movie Push coming put soon. The movie / book has the same theme. A girl abused...

I did know what this book was about. It was recommended to me years ago. I promised her I would read the book, but never got around to it. Now I remember why I was in no rush to read this book.

A Version of the Truth

2009-05-22T15:18:00.001-07:00

Title: A Version of the Truth 3 / 5
Author: Jennifer Kaufmann & Karen Mack
2009
Began Reading: 05/08/2009
Ended Reading: 05/13/2009

Format: CD

A Version of the Truth started off as if Cassie would never get it together. Cassie was a woman with dyslexia, whom everybody thought never amount to much. Cassie was a down on her luck, unemployed, widow. Cassie gets the idea to apply for a job under the pretense of having a 4 year degree.

OK, we knew this book would end where it did. This story in some form or another has been told many times. It had its moments. While it wasn't the greatest story ever told, it was the worst. That's why I rated it a little above average.

Jewel

2009-04-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

Title: Jewel
Author: Beverly Jenkins
2008
Began Reading: 4/5/2009
Ended Reading:

Format: Book

Now Reading

Casanegra

2009-04-30T18:20:00.000-07:00

Title: Casanegra 4 / 5
Author: Blair Underwood
2007
Began Reading: 4/28/2009
Ended Reading: 05/08/2009

Format: CD

I did not know what to think about this book since it was written by Blair Underwood. I thought oh boy, here is another book written by a pampered star who believes he can write. Well, Underwood teamed with Tananrive Due and her husband, Stephan Barnes. This novel was engrossing and full of intrigue and action.

Tennyson Hardwick is a down on his luck actor who is thrown into the middle of a murder. Tennyson and his father the former Captain, known as Preach have never seen eye to eye, but for this debacle Ten is going to need his father and few close friends to break this case.

Blink

2009-04-27T19:12:00.000-07:00

Title: Blink 2.75 / 5
Author: Malcolm Gladwell
2007
Began Reading: 4/18/2009
Ended Reading: 4/29/2009

Format: CD

Blink is one of those books that get a lot of buzz, but you just don't know why. There were a few moments that shone through such as when Gladwell explained the reasoning behind how we make snap decisions and how we interpret things visually.

I wouldn't say this was a horrible book, quite the opposite. It just seemed to drag on forever. Gladwell just seemed to have too many examples to prove his points. If he could have pared down some of the examples the book may have flowed together better.

Guilty

2009-04-16T18:44:00.000-07:00

Title: Guilty: Liberal "Victims" and their assault on America 3 / 5
2009
Began Reading: 4/10/2009
Ended Reading: 4/18/2009

Format: CD

OK, where to begin? Ann Coulter is one of the most incendiary figures in American politics. She is abrasive and very controversial. Ann touched on issues of evil Democrats, saintly Republicans, victimhood and her new controversial subject: single mothers.

Single mothers in America tend to be almost put on a pedastal. They, she believes are protected from their irresponsile behavior. I agree. If you tell anyone you feel this way, they look at you as if you are wrong for believing this way. There are so many children born in the inner cities now without fathers that I can't understand why people would thake umbarrage with those of us who side with Couler.

The Ex - Debutanate

2009-03-31T09:14:00.000-07:00

Title: The Ex - Debutante 2.5 / 5
Author: Linda Francis Lee
2008
Began Reading: 3/30/2009
Ended Reading: 4/10/2009

Format: CD

This silly little formulaic book was a diversion for me. I knew exactly where it was going and how it would get there. I even predicted what would happen next. I thought it was cute for a diversion, but I hope the next chick lit book I pick up has a little different tone. I hope the next one has a different tone a different typr of plot, but still feminine enough to be called chick lit.

Fear of the Dark

2009-03-06T09:51:00.001-08:00

Title: Fear of the Dark
Author: Walter Mosley
2006
Began Reading: 2/27/2009
Ended Reading: 3/6/2009

Format: CD

Review Coming Soon

Something on the Side

2009-03-06T09:20:00.000-08:00

Title: Something on the Side 4.5 / 5
Author: Carl Weber
2008
Began Reading: 3/6/2009
Ended Reading: 3/30/2009

Format: CD

If there were ever a time a book could have too much drama, it would be this one.

There was Tammy and Tim a married couple who wants a little more.

Nikki and Tiny a lesbian couple.

Isis and Tony a dating couple.

Egypt, Nikki's sister.

CoCo, Tammy's cousin.

There was so much skeevy behavior in this book, and I know I should be outraged, but I couldn't be. I have to say there is something about a book with drama that I just love. You meet backstabbing friends, hateful family members, a porn star and a lesbian.

It started with Tammy talking about her great life with Tim and how she wants to give him his ultimate fantasy and threesome. Tammy enlists her best friend to do the deed with them, but it doens't turn out the way she thinks it should.

Isis who is Egypt's sister is dating the man of her dreams and he gives her the shock of her life on vacation.

There was absolutey nothing redeeming about readin this book, except it gave great drama. What more can I say?

I am Charlotte Simmons

2009-02-23T10:21:00.001-08:00

Title: I am Charlotte Simmons 4.5 / 5
Author: Tom Wolfe
2004
Began Reading: 2/20/2009
Ended Reading: 2/27/2009

Format: CD

I am Charlotte Simmons is a social commentary of college life on a big university campus. This book takes place on a fictitious amalgamation of Northeastern colleges. It sounded very much like Duke. The girls are silly and frivilous. The boys are junior cave men and the faculty for the most part are unresponsive to the overindulged kids.

I am Charlotte Simmons went through the progression of a college neophyte to an academic veteran in her first year. Charlotte who came from a small town began to learn about books and boys without losing too much of herself.

If this were required reading for all college freshman it would be OK with me.

My only complaint, reading the abridged version.

The Last Empress

2009-02-23T10:19:00.001-08:00

Title: The Last Empress 3 / 5
Author: Anchee Min
2007
Began Reading: 1/20/2009
Ended Reading: 2/20/2009

Format: CD

Anchee Min's first tome dedicated to the Last Empress of China was Empress Orchid. When I read that book I remarked on it being one of the best books I had read all year. I would would even say one of the best I had read in 5 years.

The Empress was foreign to me. I never knew China had royalty. I gues should have known considering I had heard of the Ming Dynasty.

The Empress was one of hundreds of wives, consorts and concubines to the Emperor of China. Orchid rose to the top to shep her concubine label and become a royal consort.

The sweeping narratives, palace intrigue and beauty of a world I did not even know existed was remarked upon in Empress Orchid, however that was not neccessarily the case with the last Empress.

The Last Empress at times read more like a history book. It gave far too many details and was sort of lacking in the drama department.

However, I know what a great writher Anchee Min is and I will continue to read her books.

The Race Myth

2009-02-23T10:14:00.000-08:00

Title: The Race Myth

Author: Joseph L Graves

2005

Began Reading: 1/20/2009
Ended Reading:

Format: Book

Now Reading

The Blackwoman's Guide to Understanding the Blackman

2008-12-30T09:47:00.001-08:00

Title: Blackwoman's Guide to Understanding the Blackman

Author: Shaharazad Ali

1992

Began Reading: 12/08/2008

Ended Reading: 1/18/2009

Format: Book

Review Coming Soon

Einstein: His Life and Universe

2008-12-30T09:43:00.001-08:00

Title: Einstein: His Life and Universe 3.5 / 5
Author: Walter Isaacson
2007
Began Reading: 12/4/2008
Ended Reading: 1/20/2009

Format: CD

I never knew very much about Albert Einstien. Honestly, I was never that interested until I saw the author promoting the book on one of the daily morning shows. Mr. Einstein's life was not the life of dreams. His life was tumultous, chaotic and complicated. He was a man of little feelings for most others. He was never a man to wear his heart on his sleeve or give others a barometer of his feelings. Perhaps it was all the years of analytical training.

This tome almost alternated chapters on Einstien's private life and his scientific life. Isaacson tried to make the complex mathematical and physics equations undersatandable, however... The private life of Einstein was far more interesting, not to mention understandable for me.

Slummy Mummy

2008-12-03T09:42:00.001-08:00

Title: Slummy Mummy 0 / 5
Author: Fiona Neill
2007
Began Reading: 12/01/2008
Ended Reading: 12/04/2008

Format: CD

I couldn't finish reading this book. It started off with much potential then fizzled out into gobbledy - gook.

The Blackman's Guide to Understanding the Blackwoman

2008-11-18T09:21:00.001-08:00

Title: The Blackman's Guide to Understanding the Blackwoman 4 / 5
Author: Shahrazad Ali
1989
Began Reading: 11/16/2008
Ended Reading: 12/08/2008

Format: Book

This book was published when I was a sophomore in High School. It was talked about in beauty salons, in school, around town and on Old School talk shows e.g. Donohue and Sally Jesse Raphael. Ali was a controversial figure who advocated hitting the Blackwoman in the mouth when she became to mouthy; as well as taking other women because the Blackman had the right. Well after almost 20 years of me not reading the initial text I became intrigued and wanted to read it when I thought about it years later.

The book is not what I thought it was about. Ali wanted noteriety to sell more books, that is why many people probably steered clear of the book. However after reading it, I see she was more of a sociologist than a self help author. The "self help" came in the last few chapters of the book when she advocated hitting a woman in the mouth when she got out of pocket.

The beginning chapters of the book were about her telling why Black women act the way they do. She gave a background on how the black girl and teen learn her values. She is taught what to value and she proposes to get those valued items. I saw myself and other family members in her analyses and thought is was very thought provoking.

Where Ali and I parted mental company was when she began to say the Black man has the right to more than one woman and the Black woman, should become a surenderred woman and accept it. Keep his house clean, cook for him, allow him to introduce "outside children" to their union and wait for him to return. Her whole existence should be around pleasing him and doing what he wants her to do, since our brains are not equipped to anaylyze things the way he does. You know, since the Black man has made many children before and has always taken great care of them.

This book would have been exceptional had she honestly thought out her conclusions a bit better.

Anna Karenina

2008-11-18T09:14:00.000-08:00

Title: Anna Karenina

Author: Leo Tolstoy

1875

Began Reading: 11/14/2008
Ended Reading:
Format: CD

Now Listening

Brother, I'm Dying

2008-11-18T09:11:00.000-08:00

Title: Brother, I'm Dying 4/5
Author: Edwidge Danticat
2007
Began Reading: 11/7/2008
Ended Reading: 11/16/2008

Format: CD

A beautifully written testament to the love of a father. Danticat wrote this biographical account of the life of her father and uncle. Both were Hatians. Her father lucky enough to become a US citizen left the poverty of Haiti behind to make a better life for his family. One brother, the authors father left the island nation of Haiti to become a citizen, while her uncle decided to stay in the only home he knew.

This rich testament to love and country is a must read.

God is Not Great: How religions Poisons Everything

2008-10-31T09:25:00.000-07:00

Title: god is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything 4 / 5
Author: Christopher Hitchens
2007
Began Reading: 10/24/2008
Ended Reading: 11/16/2008

Format: CD

I have finally gotten a chance to listen to the great Christopher Hitchens book. When I requested this book from the library I was so excited about it. Because of the way I rotate my books around it has taken me almost a year to hear it.

This book was contemplative, inciteful and had no hidden agendas. Aside from the authors nausally rendition of his words this book was so far above and beyond what authors in his genre can do.

I, like Hitchens grew up in a religious home, but grew out of it when I began to think for myself. However, unlike Hitchens I can easily (now) part ways with religion, but can not part ways with believing in God. Hitchens gave concise reasons as to why there should be no religion.

A great book for those who like to question the meaning of everything, and those who just want objective answers.

Love and Lies

2008-10-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

Title: Love and Lies 3 / 5
Author: Kimberla Lawson Roby
2006
Began Reading: 10/13/2008
Ended Reading: 10/24/2008

Format: CD

Pretty Entertaining. Better than the book before this one. The series is starting to wear thin though. Curtis is a middle aged man, I think it is time for him to retire.

Can't Get Enough

2008-10-13T09:27:00.000-07:00

Title: Can't Get Enough 4 / 5
Author: Connie Briscoe
2006
Began Reading: 10/3/2008
Ended Reading: 10/13/2008

Format: CD

I had been waiting for this book to be made into a CD. The first one, PG County was so good I needed to know what happened to Barbara and the gang.

This time around Connie has introduced European Royalty to mix it up. Great escapism.

Vixen Diaries

2008-10-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

Title: Vixen Diaries 1.5 / 5
Author: Karrine Steffans
2007
Began Reading: 9/26/2008
Ended Reading: 11/16/2008

Format: Book

OK, I know that there are certain books that have no redeeming value, but they are good for escapism, however this one was so dull all I wanted to do was escape from it. Nothing new, nothing interesting. Just lame.

White Guilt

2008-09-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

Title: White Guilt
Author: Shelby Steele
2006
Began Reading: 09/23/2008
Ended Reading:

Format: Book

Now Reading

Cane River

2008-09-24T09:16:00.001-07:00

Title: Cane River 5/5 Highly Recommended
Author: Lalita Tademy
2002
Began Reading: 9/15/2008
Ended Reading:

Format: CD

I have seen this book around for quite a time (I seem to do that with a lot of books) and finally decided to read it. I think my trepidation stems from Oprah choosing it. I read another one of her picks The Known World and was so underwhelmed, I don't even remember if I finished reading that book. But Cane River from the first syllable had me hooked. I wanted to know what happened to Elizabeth, Suzette, Philomene, Emily and the whole Cane River Family.

This story is the feminine version of Roots. A story that spans many generations and allows the reader to see past all the politics of slavery and understand that human beings were involved.

Philomene and Emily were the archetype to the Strong Black Woman myth. They took care of the house, the family and each other. They were both blessed and cursed simultaneously. Each of them had what Black women during their time and today wanted, creamy skin and not so thick hair, but they were trapped. They were each trapped in a prison of lust from White male "suitors". These men wanted to possess them mind, body and soul. They wanted to own them, but each of the women only gave so much.

This story was so beautifully written and the artistic license lent to it was astounding. I can not wait to read Red River. I believe this book deals with the paternal side to her family.

Satin Nights

2008-09-24T09:12:00.001-07:00

Title: Satin Nights 2.5 / 5
Author: Karen Quinones Miller
2006
Began Reading: 8/28/2008
Ended Reading: 9/15/2008

Format: CD

Satin Nights was a typical, yet entertaining drama. One part urban fiction. One part wants to be "bougie" fiction. It was very mediocre and ended in a way that was how I expected it to end.

New England White

2008-08-07T14:58:00.001-07:00

Title: New England White 4/5

Author: Stephen L Carter

2007

Began Reading: 7/25/2008

Ended Reading: 8/28/2008

My second foray into Stephen Carter and I am hooked. Hooked, I tell you. This is a very intellectual book, focusing on the most erudite of WEB DuBois' talented Tenth.

Carter decided to focus this book on his character Lemaster Carlyle. We were introduced to him as the overacheiving college president in 2001's The Emperor of Ocean Park.

Lemaster and his Julia find themselves in the middle of a murder mystery surrounding a genius Economics professor who may or may not have found the answer to a formula that may change the world.

The characters were very three dimensional and had depth that is hard to find in writing. While not a perfect read, this book could easily become a work of literature that is read fifty to one hundred years from now.

Rebuilding America

2008-08-07T14:56:00.001-07:00

Title: Rebuilding America 2 / 5
Author: J. Kenneth Blackwell
2006
Began Reading: 7/11/2008
Ended Reading: 9/23/2008

Format: Book

This was a paint by numbers Conservative book. I believe this book was wriiten mostly by Jerome Corsi. It was written too garner more votes for Mr. Blackwell. The only saving grace for this book was the chapter on East Cleveland. Otherwise a dull book.

Irresistible You

2008-08-07T14:43:00.000-07:00

Title: Irresistible You 1.5 / 5
Author: Francis Ray
2007
Began Reading: 7/11/2008
Ennded Reading: 7/28/2008

Format: CD

I Am America (And So Can You!)

2008-07-08T14:42:00.000-07:00

Title: I Am America (And So Can You!) 2 / 5
Author: Stephen Colbert
2007
Began Reading: 07/07/2008
Ended Reading: 7/10/2008

Format: CD

I thought this book would be more humorous than Jon Stewart's America which made me laugh out loud. Perhaps it is because I listened rather than read.

The Man In My Basement

2008-07-01T08:55:00.001-07:00

Title: The Man In My Basement 4.5 / 5
Author: Walter Mosley
2004
Began Reading: 06/21/2008
Ended Reading: 7/06/2008

Format: CD

I have only seen one adaptation of Walter Mosley's work, A Devil in a Blue Dress. It was an entertaining enough movie. I wasn't overwhelmed just wasn't that excited about it. Many people kept telling me to read his work, he really is a great. I am not a mystery person. I can tolerate suspense, but my genre is drama. Unadulterated, drama.

This book was a mystery, but not in the classical sense of a whodunit. It is more of a journey into the mind of a powerful man. A man who knows in one sense he is powerful, but knows in the scheme of things he is powerless to change who he is and the world around him.

Charles Blakey is a ne'er do well, a man who inherited his boyhood home and is about to lose it when a mysterious man offers him a way out of his trouble. He offers him enough money to pay down his debts, keep his home and make a little money on the side. All he has to do is rent him his basement.

This story was more than a mystery it opens up the world to the reader to let them understand that everything is not what it seems. Everyone may believe if this person is our leader, they will change the course of events. Everything that happens will be good.

Dedication

2008-06-20T09:14:00.000-07:00

Title: Dedication 1.5 / 5
Authors: Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus
2007
Began Reading: 06/06/2008
Ended Reading: 6/21/2008

Format: CD

Wow, this book is a long way from the Nanny Diaries. I don't believe in formulaic writing,but this book needed a formula and good dose of plot. This horrible little book was about a woman who at 30 stlll pined for the man who stood her up for the Senior Prom.

Kate's life was pretty well put together, an Eco Consultant living in South Carolina.

Jake was now a world famous musician who rose to fame because his first hit single chronicled their Teenage Love Affair (thanks Alicia Keys).

Kate never was able to get over the fact that Jake left her alone and dateless on prom night. That for her was more than 13 years prior. Every lover and relationship since had been compared to Jake.

Just a bland book that wasted my time.

The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History

2008-06-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

Title: The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History
Author: Thomas F Woods
2006
Began Reading: 05/17/2008
Ended Reading: 7/10/2008

Format: Book

Review Coming Soon

Infidel

2008-06-19T09:05:00.001-07:00

Title: Infidel 5 / 5 Highly Recommended
Author: Ayaan Hirsi Ali
2007
Began Reading: 05/21/2008
Ended Reading: 06/06/2008

Format: CD

After reading a book by the great Ayaan Hirsi Ali I did not know how I could review her book. I came up with the idea of writing her a letter of thank you. She so beautifully said what I did not know how to say. She told a story of love and courage and most of all self presevation.

Dear Ayaan,

I too, was raised Muslim. I was raised thankfully in an American home, but it was Muslim nonethelss. We began our journey back into Islam (since you know Muslims revert rather than convert) before I was born. My father brought it to my mother. They came by it because they were both searchng for a way to not have to worship the White man's God. They wanted a God that was followed by people like them. I was born in 1973 a time when the Black Power movement was on the wane, but still had thick roots in certain pockets of America. My parents worshipped under the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. He was a man who could do no wrong, very much like the Prophet. After Elijah Muhammad's death they decided to follow the son. That word "follow" is a powerful word. It has to me, the same conotation as Islam, to submit or surrender your will to someone or something. It says someone else will deliver you from all your ills and worries.

My childhood was uneventful as far as religion was concerned. We went to the Masjid, avoided pork, my parents never drank and steered clear of "lost founds" and their ways. A lost found is someone other than a Muslim. Almost akin to calling someone a kaafir, but not as harsh because they probably would not know what it means. I would say that until I turned 15 religion was nominal. The only way someone could tell we were Muslims were if they heard us give each other the greeting.

Then in 1987, my mother went through an illness. It was not life threatening, but enough to make her start practicing her deen. This put a rift in our mother and daughter bond. I could not understand why she had to pray all the time. I prayed to please her. I remember reading in an Islamic book about people who zikr can reach this trancendental place. I tried to zikr to go to that place. I zikred for at least half an hour and thought well, maybe its just me. Maybe I am not doing it correctly. I wanted to pray the supplemental prayers or Tahujid to feel what they said I should feel, I felt nothing. During this time I did believe in God and never doubted the existence of God, I just was not connecting the way those around me did.

I had far too many questions and no one wanted / could answer them. I was often met with d0n't question God. To which, I replied I am not questioning God I am questioning you. I remember attending Saturday classes which are very similiar to Sunday School. The "brother" teaching the class said all Muslims are supposed to be like robots in their deen. Rise without fail before the sun rises to offer Salaat. Then three more times during the day and finally once more before sleep. Allah must always be on ones mind.

When I was about 16 I I went through my first Ramadan. I just remember that being one of the worst months of my life. I was in high school during that time and had to abstain from eating and drinking even though it was summer. I remember being dizzy and not feeling well. I never went through that again. Every Ramadan since then I have had a guilty conscious. I felt like I should at least try to fast, but I could never bring myself to do it again.

Fast forward to 2002. I found a book in the library entitled Why I Am Not a Muslim. I charged the book out, but could never bring myself to read it. I had that book on the side of my bed for almost a year. Then one day something said to Google Ibn Warraq the author of the book, and so began my journey out of Islam.

I found wonderful websites written by apostates, but Ibn Warraq's site with all the testimonials from ex Muslims was the most powerful. I was rivited. Then one day I found you. I saw you on 60 Minutes discussing the barbaric way the "Muslim" killed Theo Van Gogh. I found almost a kindred spirit in you. Not only did you look like me (most apostates on the sites were from Middle Eastern countries) I had never seen a Black person denounce Islam. I knew I had to find out more about you. I knew I had a role model in leaving the shackles of Islam behind.

Love,

Tamara

Because She Can

2008-05-12T09:21:00.001-07:00

Title: Because She Can 4 /5
Author: Birdie Clark
2007
Began Reading: 05/11/2008
Ended Reading: 05/21/2008

Format: CD

I thought after reading other books of this genre that the Roman a Clef was dead. It was, until this little gem was published. This under the radar tome should have had the publishing world abuzz instead it seemed to have fallen aside for the more glittery knock offs of the Devil Wears Prada etc.

I thought this book was very well written and the main charcaters nemesis was off the charts horrible. If the author's next book is this good I will have no problem in reading her next books.

The Great Betrayal

2008-05-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

Title: The Great Betrayal 4/5
Author: Millenia Black
2006
Began Reading: 04/29/2008
Ended Reading: 05/11/2008

Format: CD

This book was on the far end of drama bordering on dark. The Great Betrayal is the story of a woman who lost the greatest love of her life. When she lost him she wanted to lose what came of that love, their daughter. After living for many years with a secret hanging over her head and heart her daughter finds her and that is when everything in Leslie's not so perfect life changes.

Millenia is really a masterful writing taking the reader on a rollar coaster of emotions with none of them landing on ambivilence for the characters. She makes you want to see them change or overcome their problems. Only a great writer can do that. Writers who know just how much to add and how much to take away.

This is the second book I've read by Millenia and believe me as long as she writes, it won't be my last.

The Manny

2008-04-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

Title: The Manny 2 / 5
Author: Holly Peterson
2007
Began Reading: 04/17/2008
Ended Reading: 04/29/2008

Format: CD

This was a very predictable book. The plot had absolutely no substance and the characters were less than engrossing. I thought the main character Jamie was not three dimensional. She was barely one. I could never remember her name, nor did I feel the need to do so. Even in writing this review I had to refer to another website to jog my memory.

The characters were one dimensional as well. Their individual plots weren't very well developed. And developments in the story seemed to happen without constraint of time. In other words, Jamie was fighting for her marriage, then a few scenes later she's having strong feelings for someone else. Peterson seemed to awkwardly push the characters into situations that were forced or just silly.

This CD had a post book interview with the author Holly Peterson. She proclaimed she was an insider in the Park Avenue world. Peterson let everyone know she was an insider from childhood, however she was parented with middle class sensibilities. She also said she was a journalist by trade. Peterson remarked that her being an insider and a journalist gave her a unique vantage point. She believes she is the best person to chronicle this life style. Having the type of background Peterson has one would think she would knock it out of the park. Unfortunately, her writing style comes across as superfluous and amateurish. She did not, for me shed a light into a social set that needs very little illumination.

Body Brokers

2008-04-22T09:10:00.001-07:00

Title: Body Brokers 3.5 / 5
Author: Annie Cheney
2006
Began Reading: 03/14/2008
Ended Reading: 05/17/2008

Format: Book

Death is probably one of the most taboo subjects one can write about. In this case Annie Cheney writes about the Body Brokering industry. A very nefarious industry that relies on covert operations, willing funeral directors and dieners, as well as genorous donors.

All of these people need each other to make profit or more justifiably to advance medical science. Most people believe when they donate their body to science it is used to train usually first year medical students and perhaps to teach established physicians new techniques. What the average person does not know about the donations and even crematory process is that their body may not be handled in the way they've donated or wished it to be treated.

Many funeral directors / crematory owners have an illegal side business of selling body parts to brokers who in turn sell at a huge mark up to doctors or corporations that need them as learning tools. Usually most families are either never renumerated or told of their loved ones final place.

This book has opened my eyes to what can happen after death. I will be a very concerned consumer when the time comes for me to deal with such matters.

Emma

2008-03-24T09:10:00.001-07:00

Title: Emma 2.5 / 5
Author: Jane Austen
1813
Began Reading: 03/22/2008
Ended Reading: 04/17/2008

Format: CD

Well, here I go with another Jane Austen classic. This was more understandable than the rest. Emma tells the story of a know-it-all aristocratic lady who tries to be matchmaker to her friends, but never herself. She is not keen on marriage for two reasons: 1. She does not believe there is a man out there that is right for her. 2. She doesn't want to leave her father who is most against marriage.

Emma wants to help her friend Harriette Shaw marry up into the world of aristocracy. She believes since Harriette is beautiful, smart and good natured so therefore, she can / should marry above her class. However, this does not seem to work out so well for Harriette. Harriette turns down the first suitor because of Emma's passive aggressive persuasion. Then she settles her sights on a gentleman who is interested in someone else.

Emma has decided to stay unmarried until she finally realizes Mr. George Knightly is the man for her. After many false starts and looking elsewhere the two finally connect on more than an old friend / neighbor level.

As with most classics I have trouble with keeping up with characters and situations. Jonathan Kellerman sums up classics best by saying they are stories with no plots. He is so true in his observations.

The Honeymoon is Over

2008-03-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

Title: The Honeymoon is Over
Author: Keith Lee Johnson
2007
Began Reading: 03/14/2008
Ended Reading:

Format: CD

Now Listening

The Age of Turbulence

2008-02-20T08:46:00.000-08:00

Title: The Age of Turbulence Adventures in a New World 4 / 5
Author: Alan Greenspan
2007
Began Reading: 02/18/2008
Ended Reading: 03/14/2008

Format: CD

Alan Greenspan's quasi biography is part History, Economics, Sociology and Anthropology textbook. Part one of his his book talks about his life growing up. This unassuming man seems to be very modest about his life. He notes that he did not come from very intellectual stock, however he came away with one of the world's most economically analytical minds.

Growing up an only child of a single mother he relished learning, especially numbers. Greenspan, in part two of the book talks about his early years in college and his transition into the business world. Part three he writes about how he came to be called on by five US Presidents spanning well over twenty years in America's top financial post. In the fourth part of the book he stopped talking about himself and began writing about his first love Economics.

The policy speak at times did become long, boring and monotonous, however he explained why we are in the crisis we have found ourselves. I listened with intense interest as he explained about the tech bubble bursting and the (impending) housing crisis. Greed then and now has been the catlyst to these calamitous events. How else could we explain the reasoning behind millions of Americans losing their pensions and stock market accounts and now the loss of millions of homes to foreclosure? The blame for both catastrophes is on the both sides: corporations and consumers. Greenspan did not skip a beat in blaming both parties. He let all of the readers know that this could not go on, but for both parties working in tandem. The corpration received what they wanted quick, low explanation sales; and the consumers received what they wanted products they could previously never afford at prices that were too good to be true.

And what did Mr. Greenspan have to say about the Feds role in these fiascos? He said that the Fed could only regulate so much of the industries. After a while it would take on the texture of socialism and in a Capitalist society that is unacceptable. However, I believe the feds are a more reactive organizastion than a proactive one. They only seem to make changes once it is too late.

Lady Sings the Cruels

2008-02-06T09:26:00.000-08:00

Title: Lady Sings the Cruels 1.5/5
Author: Eric Pete
2006
Began Reading: 02/05/2008
Ended Reading: 02/17/2008

Format: CD

What can I say about this book. It had mad potnetial when I began reading it. It grabbed me right from the start. Then it began to thin out. The characters became weak and I became disinterested.

When it began I had sympathy for most of the characters and wanted them to succeed, however by the end if they all died and disappered into dust that would be too good.

Dreaming of You

2008-01-30T09:22:00.000-08:00

Title: Dreaming of You 1.5/5
Author: Francis Ray
2006
Began Reading: 1/20/2008
Ended Reading: 02/05/2008

Format: CD

Gosh this was such a waste of paper, or in this case plastic. It is not that the writing was horrible, but the story was just stupid.

Idon't understand why some romance authors must make the men into childish imbeciles ready to fight. Or make the women into pathetic creatures about to give up on love until Mr. Right darkens her door.

I might take a stab at another of Francis Ray's books, but if it is as frothy as this one, I'll have to pass on the next few.

Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements, and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black America--and What We Can Do about It

2008-01-22T09:01:00.000-08:00

Title: Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements, and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black America--and What We Can Do about It 3.5 / 5
Author: Juan Williams
2006
Began Reading: 01/18/2008
Ended Reading: 03/17/2008

Format: Book

I read this book just knowing it was writtten by Juan Williams, a familiar voice of NPR radio. I thought it would be interesting to read a "rage and responsibility" book from a person believed to be a confirmed liberal.

Juan Williams without saying so takes on Michael Eric Dyson. Dyson in 2006 wrote Is Cosby Right? His response to Bill Cosby's indignation of the Black lower class "not holding their end of the bargain." Dyson believed Cosby was an elderly elitest who blamed everything on the poor. He berated Cosby for only now taking a stand of any kind. Dyson thought Cosby should have spoken out more during the Civil Rights Era. He should have spoken nicely and not on the world's stage when speaking out against the poor.

In comes Juan Williams with his liberal sensiblities to make the arguement that Cosby was indeed, right when pinpointing some of the things wrong with the Black poor.

You don't need a sociologist and grants to study what is wrong with this segment of the population. You may need to know what is happening or in some cases why, but the answers are staring everyone in the face.

I am glad Mr. Williams did not take the usual Liberal answer i.e. throw money at the situation. He used solutions a confirmed Liberal as well as Conservative can agree on.

Confessions of a Shopaholic

2008-01-21T08:51:00.000-08:00

Title: Confessions of a Shopaholic 4.5/5
Author: Sophie Kinsella
2001
Began Reading: 01/18/2008
Ended Reading: 01/20/2008

Format: CD

I put off reading this book for a long while because I knew that the book was set in the UK. Sorry, but I have never been an Anglophile and their accents make my skin crawl. The ones with the Cockney accents are the worse, but I digress.

Sophie Kinsella has written one of the funniest books I've had the pleasure of listening to. Her character Becky Bloomfield is a self centered, immature, non ambitious, shallow, slacker. She finds herself in situations most rational people would never find themselves in e.g. buying a high end scarf or paying her half of the tax bill. Buying into a do-it-yourself business and then after buying the equipment deciding it was too hard; and not finding the time to try more than twice. Oh, and the debt.

The debt Becky is in is unbelieveable. She has bills from everywhere. She comes up with crazy schemes e.g. putting all her faith in hitting the lottery. She also dreams big praying, literally all her debt will be magically erased. She prays the billers will transfer her debt to someone who can afford to pay. Someone who will not pay attention to all the charges and not question them.

Shopaholic is written sort of like a Seinfeld episode. It really is a book about nothing, but boy is it funny. When Becky decides she is going to change careers so she can wear great clothes that has to take the cake. She lies on her application and fakes it all the way through an interview. The final interview is when you are rolling on the floor laughing your ...

This book is recommended for all slackers. It is also recommended to just have a good laugh. I do plan on reading the rest of the series. I am sure they won't be this good, but I am now a fan, British accent and all.

Pushing Up Daisies

2008-01-15T06:34:00.000-08:00

Title: Pushing Up Daisies 2/5
Author: Jamise L. Dames
2007
Began Reading: 01/04/2008
Ended Reading: 01/18/2008

Format: CD

I must admit this book's plot was different from other drama type books. It was about a woman who'd been shacking up for seven years with her boyfriend, who was killed while trying to help someone. Daisy Parker knew her boyfriend was up to no good, but she did not know how much he was up to. To say Jasper was a dog is putting it mildly. Some of Jasper's secrets were spilled during the funeral. More came after the reading of the will and the rest after a friends revelation.

This book was not the normal paint by color drama, but it just did not do it for me. I was not very symapthetic to the characters and I just did not feel drawn into the story. Better luck next time.

Drop Dead Beautiful

2007-12-27T09:19:00.000-08:00

Title: Drop Dead Beautiful 4.5/5
Author: Jackie Collins
2007
Began Reading: 12/25/2007
Ended Reading: 01/04/2008

Format: CD

Finally the Jackie Collins I love. This is why I used to read her books in high school. I stopped reading them for a while, not because I stopped liking them; but because I had moved on to other authors. I decided to pick her up again last year. I did not like those books and felt she'd lost her touch. However with this book I see she has lost nothing.

Lucky Santangelo now has a family and a sixteen year old hellion of a daughter Max. Max wants to make her ex boyfriend jealous by taking up with an Internet hottie. Well, this hottie is a nottie and so the drama ensues. Along the way we are introduced to new characters e.g. Anthony Bonar - Drug Lord and woman hater. He and his family have a score to settle with the Sanatangelo's and he will move heaven and earth to do so. We meet Lord Grant Max's Internet hottie, who comes from privelege and breeding. He hates Lucky and is jealous of Billy Molina and wants to show her just how much he hates her.

Politics of Love

2007-12-14T16:58:00.000-08:00

Title: The Politics of Love 3.5/5
Author: Giselle Carmichael
2007
Began Reading: 12/13/2007
Ended Reading: 02/05/2008

Format: Book

I am a fan of the burgeoning Inter-Racial romance novels. As a matter of fact this is the third novel I've read with that theme and by far this is the best. The other novels I've read had super strong heroines and spineless weak heroes. What man would put up with a woman constantly saying, if I found someone from my race that was better I'd be dating him? That seemed to be the theme of those books.

The Politics of Love was a charming almost realistic story of love. It was not overly dramatic and for the most part they did not dwell on the racial aspect. It was just an all around good love story.

I pictured Adrian Grenier from Entourage and Kenya Moore from Trois - The Movie fame.

Diva Diaries

2007-12-14T16:48:00.000-08:00

Title: Diva Diaries 4/5
Author: Janine Morris
2006
Began Reading: 12/10/2007
Ended Reading: 12/25/2007

Format: CD

Just when I thought all drama ended happily everafter, this had to come along. This is the story of three best friends who met in college. All three have rewarding careers, however, their lives are not as storied as their vocations.

First there's Dakota, PR professional to the rich and infamous. A self described diva with the clothes to match. She meets and falls head over heel for a retired football lotahrio, that has many women, a daughter and a fiance all wanting his attention.

Then there's Chrasey (pronounced Tracy), who has a rewarding career in social services. She is married to her college sweetheart Keith, who has secrets of his own.

Finally there is Jordan, the no nonesense entertainment lawyer, with husband Omar and son Jason.

All three ladies are struggling to keep their marriages and love lives afloat, when one by one they are each tested on the strength of their love.

This was a great book that kept the reader wanting to know what would happen next to the characters. For me this book was different because usually I can be very judgmental when it comes to some of the exploits this author put the characters in. But, for some reason I felt emmpathy for the majority of the characters, save for two.

I also like this book because it did not end happily ever after. Sometimes it just isn't that way.

Wild Sweet Love

2007-12-14T15:47:00.000-08:00

Title: Wild Sweet Love 4/5
Author: Beverly Jenkins
2007
Began Reading: 12/02/2007
Ended Reading: 12/08/2007

Format: Book

Well, well, well Beverly is finally back. Her last two forays were half hearted efforts that were not that well written. Beverly changed the dynamic of this novel. She changed the hero and heroine plot. In this plot the woman was the hero. It was different. I would have enjoyed this better if it was more traditional, but a good change of pace nevertheless.

Whenever I read a romance novel I like to picture the hero and heroine with a celebrity face, in this case I chose T.I. for Madison and Ambreal from America's Next Top model for Theresa.

God Don't Play

2007-12-08T08:53:00.000-08:00

Title: God Don't Play 2.5/5
Author: Mary Monroe
2006
Began Reading: 12/02/2007
Ended Reading: 12/07/2007

Format: CD

Mary Monroe wrote one of the most engrossing books I had read in a long time. She wrote God Don't Like Ugly. That book told the story of a young girl who was abused physically and emotionally. How she overcame hardships with the help of great friends. What a great book. Then, Monroe wrote wrote a sequel named God Still Don't Like Ugly. That book was mostly a recap of the first book. It was readable, but not the greatest. Now she follows up with the third in the series, God Don't Play.

You know, sometimes you should leave well enough alone. Some things don't need a sequel or in the case of Star Wars a prequel.

God Don't Play was a less than entertaining over the top sequel that made little sense. It was very frustrating at times to listen to. Some of the situations and outcomes Annette found herself in were nonsensical. One of those outcomes had to do with with her goddaughter. A girl that was doted on by everyone. I could not understand why Annette never saw through this girl. She had very little redeeming qualities and was a totally unlikable character. Annette would always take up for her even to the detriment of her husband and child. What kind of hold did Jade have over Annette? Some of the things she put Annette through was unbelievable.

This book was unnecessasy and most times sequels should be left alone.

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda

2007-11-27T09:24:00.000-08:00

Title: Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda 4/5
Author: LaJill Hunt
2005
Began Reading: 11/25/2007
Ended Reading: 12/02/2007

Format: CD

This book should be a warning to all women who want to play house. Paige a young professional woman, a libraian no less, became pregnant by her college sweetheart. Marlon. A good looking mama's boy who never became a man. Marlon cared only about the feelings of his always inebriated mama, the hateful Miss Lucille.

Paige tolerated Marlon's behavior because she thought he would eventually come around to her way of thinking and make a family, complete with a ring. Not a chance. Marlon nor his miserable mama wanted none of that.

Along the way Paige meets two men who want to treat her like the woman she knows she needs to be treated like. The problem is which one to choose.

Good book, good story. Should be required reading for those women thinking of living with a boyfriend, especially after they have a child together.

Confessions of a Rookie Cheerleader

2007-11-20T09:20:00.000-08:00

Title: Confessions of a Rookie Cheerleader 4/5
Author: Erika J Kendrick
2007
Began Reading: 11/19/2007
Ended Reading: 11/25/2007

Format: CD

Alright girls, get your pom pons ready. What started off as awful chick lit bloomed into a pretty good, yet predictable love story. The main character Hannah Love always dreamed of being a professional cheerleder, but her life as a high powered executive stalled that dream. That is, until one day she heard an advertisement to join the Chicago Diamonds to become a Diamond Doll.

Hannah tried out for the team and became a Doll. Not only did she become a Doll, she also met the man of her dreams and he lived just a few floors down from her.

There were two main problems I had with this book. Hannah, although a record label VP lived in the penthouse suite of a great building, yet her wealthy suitor lived below her. To be fair he did have three floors, but that just did not make sense to me. Also, something that has become very annoying with chick lit is the label dropping. Forgive me, but I thought that went out with the last decade. The author tried to make it seem like everything needed to be explained e.g. Hannah left her office opened her Mercedes Benz C Class coupe. Her patent leather electric blue Christian Louboutins barely making a noise. Or, rather than saying the time the author constantly said Movado check 8 PM. Irritating. For about the first 25 chapters it was nothing but name checks.

With all that said this novel turned out to be pretty interesting and ending the way chick lit should.

Shoe Addicts Anonymous

2007-11-15T09:19:00.001-08:00

Title: Shoe Addicts Anonymous 4/5
Author: Beth Harbison
2007
Began Reading: 11/11/2007
Ended Reading: 11/18/2007

Format: CD

About darn time. I can't believe how long it has been since I have read a great chick lit book. I knew they were still out there.

This book revolved around four women each with radically differrent problems who find each other by attending a shoe addicts meeting.

I felt for each of these characters especially Lorna. She was purchasing shoes as a way to deal with depression, her mounting debt. While I don't have her debt, I was depressed for reasons such as finding a new job. I should have started a support group for women like me who have a hankering for handbags. I have the most glorious collection and revel in them. I feel just the way Lorna did about her shoes.

American Dream

2007-11-05T09:18:00.000-08:00

Title: American Dream 3.5/5
Author: Jason DeParle
2004
Began Reading: 10/02/2007
Ended Reading: 01/18/2008

Format: Book

I love reading books about real life situations. The kinds of books that make you question and revaluate your stances on everything. This book did just that and reminded me of why I feel the way I do.

American Dream chronicled the lives of three inner city women, their 10 kids and the various men that were in and out of their lives.

Angela, Jewell and Opal were either kin or fictive kin who were on the system for quite a bit of their adult lives. They began their indiscriminate breeding in the 80's and by the mid nineties were knee deep in negative life choices. The ninetie's was a time of huge gains in the stock market and huge losses to the welfare rolls. This is the time when the contract to America seemed to be something that was going to help the working person and give a kick in the pants to all the moochers.

None of the three women, for me were very sympathetic characters. I don't even believe the author after a time felt for them any longer. It is very hard for me to feel empathy when these women are knowingly beating the system. I am not angry, so much they are abusing the system; I am more angry they've taken the time to abuse it while everyone else must earn their way.

Then there is the pity factor that Marian Wright Edelman et.al. had for these people. She believed they or their children would be in the streets straving. Deparle wrote just what I had suspected all along: the welfare bunch are very resourceful people. Even when their monies/benefits are sanctioned they always find a way to "make do". Case in point when Angie or Jewell were completely cut off from the system they would always find a way to make it. Either boyfriends, covert jobs, mothers, whatever. They always find a way.

Then there is the emotional verbiage of calling these people a family or referring to the women as welfare moms. The women portrayed in this story were neither moms nor families. I would venture to call them brood mares (thank you Ken Hamblin) or quite possibly clans, but never families. I guess the author wants people to believe that if he referred to them in such positive terms he would have the reader not judge so harshly.

Then there are the politicians who either Democrat or Republican were using welfare as a political football. The Republicans pretended to care about the middle class and wanting to help people out of poverty by cleansing the rolls of ne'er do wells. While the Democrats pretended to want to help the poor by giving them a hand up. Both parties have their own interests in mind. Neither Bill Clinton nor Newt Gingrich gave one whit about the people who allowed themselves to be used. They allowed themselves to be used for less than what one might make on minimum wage.

The underclass as they are emotionally called are truly something I marvel at. They allow others to study them as if they are animals on the Serengeti Plains. They allow sociologists and anthropologists to come in a write the stories of their lives. It is almost as if they want everyone to acknowledge their dysfunction. They want people to feel their self inflicted pain. They are some of the most self absorbed, narcissitic, resourceful people around. I don't understand them, and truthfully with their lifestyles I don't want to.

Since I finished this book on the underclass, probably one of the few I've read since undergrad on the subject. I am still at a loss. My big question that ask after finishing a book like this is "Now what?" Will DeParle's telling of their story change anything? Lead these women anywhere? Will it make a big difference? Will it change the asinine behavior of the poor. My personal answer to "Now what?" Just leads me back to my original answer "The poor will always be there, with their bad decisions. Who else will we throw money at to make ourselves feel better?"

The Emperor of Ocean Park

2007-10-27T05:46:00.000-07:00

Title: The Emperor of Ocean Park 3.75/4
Author: Stephen L. Carter
2002
Began Reading: 10/15/2007
Ended Reading: 11/09/2007

Format: CD

I have owned this novel in the written form since it came out back in 2002. I heard many negative things about, chief among them it is too long. I could not see myself reading a fiction book of that length if it only had so-so reviews. And so I forgot I owned it. Fast forward to 2007. Carter has written a new novel entitled New England White. I suddenly became interested in him again and decided to listen to the book.

This is probably the most erudite fiction book I have ever read. He was intellectual without overburdening the reader with unncessary things. I would imagine most readers would have to have more than a sixth grade education to like/relate/understand the author; but he wrote in such a way to let the world know he is accomplished yet accomplished enough to write in such a way that most readers can understand.

Now about the ending. I can't say this was a true mystery because the author gave away why the judge was so angry about 2/3 of the way through the book. Also the ending was not that strong. I understood why the Talcott did what he did, but it just did not seem to tie up loose ends.

Little Black Girl Lost

2007-10-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

Title: Little Black Girl Lost 4/5
Author: Keith Lee Johnson
2005
Began Reading: 10/08/2007
Ended Reading: 10/15/2007
Format: CD

A few people told me to read this book. I said I'll get around to it eventually. I thought it was like those Triple Crown books. This book was nothing like those trashy over hyped books. It was set in the 50's and had everything from a concubine to a misogyny to murder.

This was the story of a young girl living in Jim Crow Louisana who was pushed into concubinage by her grafty someone dim witted mother. Johnnie did not like what her mother wanted her to do with her life and decided to change. Rather than be resigned to her fate she decided to learn all that she could to lift herself out of her situation.

I noticed this book did not have a true ending, however I really enjoyed listening to this book. I can't wait for the second and third installments.

White Ghetto

2007-10-05T12:28:00.001-07:00

Title: White Ghetto 3/5
Author: Star Parker
2006
Began Reading: 10/1/2007
Ended Reading: 11/02/2007

Format: Book

I have read Star Parker's other books and enjoyed them, this one not so much. Although she dealt with very important social issues they seemed very retreaded. Her other books are geared more toward African Americans changing their lifestyles and doing better for themselves and their families. This book was written toward the Middle America read White America.

I have to admit this message needs to be spread because the wider community has problems just as big as ours. But her message came across as preachy and very thin. The book covered all the usual social points but just did not give clear and concise solutions.

I think this book could have been demanded from her publisher or was just not very well thought out, but whatever the reason I hope her next book is not like this one.

Momzillas

2007-10-05T12:25:00.001-07:00

Title: Momzillas 3.5/5
Author: Jill Kargman
2007
Began Reading: 10/01/2007
Ended Reading: 10/08/2007

Format: CD

I have listened to this author's previous work. She is one half of a writing duo that specializes in New York City based chick lit. This story was not much of a depature from her previous fare. The only difference this time is that she focused on fabulous moms, rather than thirty something singles.

I really liked the main character Hannah. She was not the cookie cutter mom who wanted to follow behind the vapid mommies measuring head sizes and bragging on Apgar scores. She was an individual who knew her own worth and stuck to her guns.

I had one problem in listening to this story. I did not like the voice the narrator gave to Tate. The way she voiced him he came across as old and annoying. Someone Hannah would not be interested in.

As of late, I had become very disenchanted with chick lit, but this book made me remember what I liked about it in the first place.

740 Park

2007-10-02T13:43:00.000-07:00

Title: 740 Park 4/5
Author: Michael Gross
Copyright: 2006
Began Reading: 05/25/2007
Ended Reading: 09/30/2007

Format: Book

This book is why I chose Sociology and Anthropology as majors in college. If you ever want to understand the values and mores of those in our society, the first thing one must study is their habitat.

Michael Gross began this engrossing tale of fotunes, waning fortunes, dowagers, divorcees, high society, wanna be's in society, wife beaters, husband cheaters and criminals into one solid story. The story of people who belong to one of the most exclusive clubs in America. A club that admits few even if you have the proper resources but the wrong pedigree.

740 is the story of a fabled old school WASPy building located on two fabled blocks. For the nouveau riche, there is the 740 Park address for those who must shout to the world their address. This is akin to the label whore who must say I have money by wearing anything with an insignia. (I must agree, they are the worst). Then there is the other side of the building. The one where the old money prefer to live. They like to say 71 E. 71st. This address allows them to live in opulent anonymity.

Some of the more famous residents of this building have been: John D Rockefeller Jr, First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onansis and Edgar Bronfman Jr., heir to the Seagram fortune.

This book is a fine Sociological analysis of the the wealthy in our country. Most Sociological studies focus on the poor amongst us. All too often the poor are maligned for seemingly not adhering to the hegemony of the "well heeled", however it is this book that coherently explains what I have always argued concerning the rich and the poor. That is, they are mirror images of each other.

The wealthy and poverty stricken seem to follow their own rules, the world be damned. It seems to be only the middle class following something and, not to mention paying for everything. However, I am veering from topic. The poverty crowd does take their cultural cues from the rich, but they seem to act like one another. They both give off the devil may care attitude.
Cases in point:

Black Jack Bouvier, father of Jacqueline Kennedy was more or less an absentee father. He also had substance abuse problems.

Poverty twin - More than 70% of Black children are brought into the world without a father living in the home. Quite a few of these fathers have substance abuse problems.

Rich Man's Saviour - Jacqueline Kennedy's mother, Janet, Black Jack's babymama was given a home "read large mansionette" inside 740 Park. The building was owned by her dad James T. Lee.

Poverty Saviour - The government. Also known as Section 8. See, no one goes without a home.

Dorothea Shearn, wife of Clarence Shearn. He was a high powered Hearst attorney. She was a poor party girl whose mother approved of her having an affair with a married man at a young age. She dropped her cuckolded man only to become the afforementioned widowers wife. Not to mention she also made her neighbor's life, namely Rockefeller Jr's a living hell.

Poverty twin - I know, I know, this is not sociological to mention, but the empirical evidence can be seen everyday on Jerry Springer.

Rich Man's Saviour - Her activities are shielded from view by living in such an insulated community. I am sure that if she was transplanted to the heart of a trailer park with no chance of ever leaving, she would fit right in for life.

Poor Man's Saviour - Free Clinic. Penicillin is cheap.

Saul Steinberg a financier left his wife and children to be with his pregnant mistress. After lots of fighting he decided he didn't want to be with her and rather than working it out called in the police to intervene.

Poverty twin - More than a third of all Americans have out of wedlock births. More than half of all American marriages end in divorce. More than half of those divorces are caused by adultery.

Rich Man's Saviour - Although, Steinberg was not well liked, his financial genius made this more comical than pitiable.

Poor Man's Saviour - The media just doesn't report these stories very often anymore and now they too, are seen as more comic than tragic.

A One Woman Man

2007-09-14T13:42:00.001-07:00

Title: A One Woman Man 3.5/5
Author: Travis Hunter
2004
Began Reading: 09/13/2007
Ended Reading: 09/24/2007

Format: CD

My first time listening to this author. I liked him very entertaining. Lot's of suspense and not too trashy. I will read/listen to this author again.

Sexy/Dangerous

2007-09-10T14:11:00.000-07:00

Sexy/Dangerous 2/5
Author: Beverly Jenkins
2006
Began Reading: 09/01/2007
Ended Reading: 09/28/2007

Format: Book

As much as I dislike giving one of my guilty pleasure authors a bad ranking, I have to. This book was dull and not Beverly's usual work. I am really not a modern romance reader, but since BJ is writing I'll read it. I just did not like this book. She gave the heroine a masculine name and I kept getting her confused with the male love interest. I just did not like this. Maybe her next one, which I already have will be better.

The Vow

2007-09-10T14:01:00.000-07:00

The Vow4/5
Author: Denene Milliner, Mitzi Miller and Angela Burt-Murray
2005
Began Reading: 9/1/2007
Ended Reading: 9/13/2007

Format: CD

Although a bit formulaic when will authors stop saying: she has it all great looks, great husband, great kids, great house yet, she's harboring a secret. Enough already. Nothing says more about class envy than that phrase.

That being said this book was good because it entertained and kept me wanting to find out what was going to happen to Amaya, Trista and the gang. Good book.

The One That Got Away

2007-08-03T08:24:00.000-07:00

The One That Got Away 1/5
Author: C. Kelly Robinson
2005
Began Reading: August 2, 2007
Ended Reading: August 10, 2007

Format: CD

Not a very good book. This book was too ridiculous to even remember what it was about. A man wants his first love who was Bipolar with a crazy daughter and a husband who was a man whore. Just not good.

Baby Proof

2007-07-28T14:24:00.000-07:00

Baby Proof 3.5/5
Author: Emily Giffin
2006
Began Reading: 07/26/2007
Ended Reading: 08/02/2007

Format: CD

I would have given this satisfying chick lit book a better rating if I had not already read it before. I did enjoy this novel. However, it had the same plot as one of my favorite books of last summer - Counting Raindrops Through a Stain Glass Window. In Baby Proof Claudia and husband Ben when they meet decide they both don't want children. Then suddenly Ben changes his mind. In Counting Raindrops Vanella does not want to get married yet Alton does.

Both books parallel each other in that, both characters had to leave each other to see they should be together.

The ending was predictable, but would we want it any other way? Just a pleasant summer read.

The Known World

2007-07-14T16:40:00.001-07:00

Title: The Known World 1/5

Author: Edward P. Jones
2003
Began Reading: 07/06/2007
Ended Reading: 07/24/2007

Format: CD

Oprah recommended this disjointed mess on her show. She said it was great. A story about families in the years before the end of slavery. I was even impressed with the author he did an interview on her show as well.

I began listening to disc one and found it very disappointing. I kept listening, but by disc 5 I was ready to throw in the towel. I am not a quitter so I decided maybe later on the the story would pick up.

Needless to say, it never did. The author introduced characters from out of thin air, then they'd just go away. Then come back back down the line maybe three chapters away. I could not keep up with this book. The story would have had a better plot if if just stuck with one story line. We would have known who all the characters were and how they fit into the story.

Deception Point

2007-07-02T15:50:00.000-07:00

Title: Deception Point 2.5/5
Author: Dan Brown
2003
Began Reading: 06/21/2007
Ended Reading: 06/28/2007

Format: CD

This book was similiar to other Dan Brown books, it is a mystery/suspense/thriller. His books always seem to deal with either the paranormal or conspiracy theories.

This book dealt with governmental cover ups and a rouge governmental agency, NASA.

NASA has been losing money and there are certain people who want to privitize it. All the familiar twists and turns are there. Ready to make the reader want to know who the good guys and bad guys are. True to his formula writing Brown keeps the reader in suspense to the end.

The problem with this book is Brown's attempts to write in a relationship. His quickly evolving relationships are awkward, ill-timed and totally unnecessary. Just stick to writing the suspense thrillers and nothing more.

The Apostles

2007-06-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

Title: The Apostles 4/5

Author: Y. Blak Moore
Copyright: 2004
Began Reading: 06/18/2007
Ended Reading: 06/21/2007

Format: CD

Now this is what an urban novel is supposed to be. Not too much unnecessary gratuitous sex. More plot. More of a back story. Everything that makes a good novel.

We were introduced to Solemn Shawn in a previous novel. This was his story. This story tells why Shawn chose street life over law and order. His character was sympathetic and likeable. You felt for him when he rememebered things about his childhood or why he chose to stay in the game for so long.

A very riveting story. Almost like listening to an episode of the wire.

Pride and Predjudice

2007-06-06T13:54:00.000-07:00

Title: Pride and Predjudice 3/5
Author: Jane Austen
Copyright: 1813
Began Reading: 06/06/2007
Ended Reading: 06/18/2007

Format: CD

Pride and Predujudice is the original chick lit novel. Jane Austen's classic love story was beautifully written. It is the story of five sisters who find love in different ways. There is the impetuous Lydia who finds love with Mr. Wickham. Mrs. Bennett's favorite Jane who loves Mr. Bingham. Kitty the youngest who wants to be presented at court. Mary who is resigned to live with her parents forever and Elizabeth who was Mr. Bennett's favorite finds love with the controversial Mr. Darcy.

Mr. Darcy at first glance comes across as prideful and arrogant. Aloof and not very amiable also seems to be Mr. Darcy's disposition. He is a man that is used to getting what he wants and a man that used to having the ladies at court throw themselves (albeit with some modicum of decency) at him.

When I first listened to the book Mr. Darcy seemed none of the above. He came across as a man who was introspective, somewhat not too sure of himself, thoughtful and at moments painfully shy. He seemed to not want to put himself out there to be turned down by Ms. Bennett.

A very pretty tale of love almost requited, then not, then finally it is requited. Great old school read.

In the Company of the Courtesan

2007-06-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

Title: In the Company of the Courtesan 3.5/5
Author: Sarah Dunant
Copyright: 2006
Began Reading: 05/24/2007
Ended Reading: 06/05/2007

Format: CD

Such a well craftred story from the author who also brought us the medieval tale The Birth of Venus. Fiametta is the courtesan who is forced to leave Rome and sell her wares in the beautiful waterfront town of Venice. Driven out of Rome by conquerors and the new religion of Martin Luther, Fiametta and her dwarf/business partner Puccino must take up residency and find new patrons quickly in their new city.

The two social chameleons learn to blend in and make money quickly enough, but the intrigue is never far away. They meet an artist, a former courtesan cum chamber maid and a blind healer with a secret.

Quick read for those who love medival European history.

John Adams

2007-05-17T16:35:00.000-07:00

John Adams 4/5
David McCullough
2001
Began Reading: 05/16/2007
Ended Reading:05/24/2007

Format: CD

What must it have been like to be number two? The second President of the United States of America. Although, Mr. Adams was not nearly as charismatic as his predecessor or thought of as philosophical as his successor, he was a major force behind our country's founding.

President Adams never received the respect the other statesmen of his generation received. He is sort of the forgotten hero. Perhaps it was because his demeanor was unassuming and non pretentious. He lived the life many framers waxed philosophical about. He had a happy home life and wonderful marriage and most of his children made him proud.

This patriot was the workhorse this fledging nation needed. He put aside his need to make huge sums of money as a lawyer. He never prospered the way others of his generation did. He believed his talents were better suited for the administrative duties this country needed. In other words he put country before everything else. Maybe his contemporaries need to look to him as their shining example.

The Second Assistant

2007-05-14T12:40:00.000-07:00

The Second Assistant 1/5
Clare Naylor, Mimi Hare
2005
Began Reading: 05/13/2007
Ended Reading: 05/23/2007

Format: CD

You know, it is quite the possiblity I do not learn my lessons very well. In my attempt to read quality chick lit (has any ever been produced?) this is the stuff I have to wade through to get to the good stuff. I just can't believe it took two people, count em' one, two people to write this. And believe it or not they have a sequel to mind numbing garbage.

Twins of Tribeca

2007-05-12T07:25:00.000-07:00

Twins of Tribeca 1/5

Rachel Pine

2005

Began Reading: 04/27/2007

Ended Reading: 05/14/2007

Format: CD

What a waste of my time. Ever since the Devil Wears Prada, every two bit office assistant wants to get on the roman a clef bad wagaon.

In this story there was no plot to speak of. The ancillary characters were not even recognizable. Did she have a love interest? Who was the boss? What was going on? What the world was this book about. A total waste of my time.

To all the authors who want to tell all and are using the Devil Wears Prada as their blueprint, FYI: The Devil Wears Prada wasn't that good. Try being more original.

The Caged Virgin

2007-04-30T11:56:00.000-07:00

The Caged Virgin: An Emancipation Proclamation for Women and Islam 4.5/5
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
2006
Began Reading: April 21, 2007
Ended Reading: May 23, 2007

Format: Book

Ayaan Hirsi Ali has to be the bravest woman I've ever read about. I grew up in the cult also known as Islam. I had to let go of that faith or risk losing me. The author has suffered much hardships during her life. Way more than myself, possibly because I grew up in America. The author wrote of being abused by her mother, being neglected by her father and being circuncised by grandmother against her father's wishes.

The author decided to take a stand against this happening to other girls and women and decided to write a book detailing how they can escape the chains of Islam. Before this book there was the movie that brought her international noteriety. Submission. The movie was directed by Theo Van Gogh. Extremists believed the movie to be blasphemous against the Prophet and therefore, issued a fatwa for his death. When they killed Mr. Van Gogh by stabbing him to death they left a death threat knifed in his body for Ali.

These are the kind of people she was writing about. The kind of people that believe so absolutely in a diety that no one can ever give a differing view. Ali wrote this book so that women in Islam, especially those living in the West can escape the chains and live free lives. If I had not already known these things this book would have truly been an eye opener.

Conspiracy of Fools

2007-04-27T11:42:00.000-07:00

Conspiracy of Fools
Kurt Eichenwald
2005
Began Reading: 04/21/2007
Ended Reading: 04/27/2007

Format: CD

Review oming Soon

Lovers and Players

2007-04-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

Lovers and Players 2.5/5
Jackie Collins
2006
Began Reading: 04/18/2007
Ended Reading: 04/21/2007

Format: CD

This book was considerably better than her last effort Hollywood Wives: The Next Generation, but not by much. It has all the usual Jackie Collins storylines: entertainment industry, rich and beautiful people, a bad guy. Add all and stir. The usual happily ever after ending. Nothing new or ground breaking. Not even revolutionary. you can tell when a writer is at the end of their career. They don't even take the time to think of anything new.

Liberalism Is A Mental Disorder

2007-04-17T13:01:00.000-07:00

Liberalism is a Mental Disorder 3.5/5

Michael Savage

2005

Began Reading: 04/15/2007

Ended Reading: 04/18/2007

Format: CD

Michael Savage is one of those talk radio hosts you have either one of two opinions for, you are never on the middle of the fence with him. I love his topics and the way he never seems to back down from a good fight. He fights for an America that we should all have. He is a diehard Republican. But not a Bush Republican. He is very critical of the administration and is unlike other talk show hosts, who for some reason never seem to stop backing Bush in his insanity.

Michael Savage has many opinions and most of which are contrary even to the most ardent Republican. Republicans such as Bernard Goldeberg have named him as one of the hundred people who are destroying America. How could that be? After reading his book I think he only wants what is best for America. To some that may be unfeeling and unsympathetic, but who ever said feelings were important to saving a nation.

Don't Ever Wonder

2007-04-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

Don't Ever Wonder no rating
Darren Coleman
2005
Began Reading: 04/12/2007
Ended Reading: 04/13/2007

Format: CD

I don't understand how this crap was published. I am just to lazy and unimaginative to read (listen) to porn. I listened to about 2/3 of the first disc and there were three sex scenes without a plot. Just bad Black porn.

Maneater

2007-04-08T22:57:00.001-07:00

Maneater 1/5

Gigi Levangie Grazer
2003
Began Reading: 04/08/2007
Ended Reading: 04/12/2007

Format: CD

I was only looking for some mindless chick lit, but this crap was totally unacceptable. If Ms. Grazer was not married to one of the most powerful men in Hollywood this drivel would never have had a reputable publishing company behind it.

*********************************** Plot Spoiler**************************************
What the hell, this was already spoiled like ten day old milk.

1. The main character whose name I could not remember (Clarissa) decides on New Year's day she would marry a rich man. Preferably one with a physical disablity. He would feel lucky to have a gold digging w&#r@ like her.

2. She finds the name of a neophyte producer in Hollywood with a gimp leg who she immediately decides she will marry.

3. She meets him with the oldest trick in romance books, she decides she'll ignore him. Wow how groundbreaking.

4. He finds her intriguing. He asks her out. On their first date she's literally picking out China patterns and he knows about it. Three dates down she proclaims they are engaged and he doesn't run for the hills. What the...

5. They get married and on the day of the blessed nuptials he asks her to sign a prenup. She undresses in front of the lawyer. Can one say this storyline has taken a turn even more toward absurdity. Oh no you can't because here comes something even stupider: she decides to spend her entire wedding day and night in her couture wedding gown and on honeymoon night decides to use a turkey baster to make sure she keeps new rich hubby.

6. They get married sans prenup he tells her he's been disinherited. They must live in an actor's studio.

7. She's a psuedo prima donna they fight a lot. She informs him she's knocked up. He's happy. She devises a plan to get his family money , you know since she's preggers and all. She flies to meet the parent's unbeknownst to him. He accuses her of cheating with ex. Says baby is really the exes.

8. They break up. She gets a job writing a society column (how original) and then goes to an auction bids on a cheesy painting and the winner is announced. Now here is where the true hijinks ensue. Her husband's name is called she believes it is her name called walks toward the auctioneer and the real Aaron Mason walks in the same direction. She wonders who he is. It is told he is the real Aaron Mason, her Aaron.

9. She gives birth. Her mother who is a Bolivian Jew with an eating disorder dies on the toilet. She died of having anal anorexia. I think this part was supposed to be funny then make you feel sorry for the character. Nope nothing. Not even disgust. Only disgust at myself for reading this, this "literary" explosion of diarrhea. She confronts her real husband, who's the fake Aaron (I know I'm confused as well). He decides he will forgo the paternity test because the baby does look like him. (?) They talk things out and...

10. They make up in the end and live happily ever after.

The Best Kept Secret

2007-04-08T22:04:00.000-07:00

The Best Kep Secret 4/5

Kimberla Lawson Roby

2005

Began Reading: 04/02/2007

Ended Reading: 04/08/2007

Format: CD

Well, the Reverand we love to hate is back. This time old Curtis has truly decided to give himself to the Lord (for real this time). He moved away, more like got away as quickly as possible from his big city church in Chicago - the scene of his previous troubles. He decided after first being shot at then his mistress killing herself in front of him and the congregation this was too much. Curtis decides what better time to marry his "baby mama" and live life the way the Lord said he should.

Unbeknownst to him the good Sister Black, First Lady of the Church has been cuckholding him. Charlotte can't stand Curtis, not because he is a bad husband and treating her wrong, but because he no longer makes the kind of money once did. Charlotte is now a 25 year old woman and Curtis is almost 40. I'm sure he thought this marriage would last forever.

It is kind of hard to show sympathy to either of these characters. They are both flawed and deserve each other. What is great about these books is that the drama never stops. Aaron, Curtis's best friend and Charlotte's special friend has a few problems and makes Curtis wish he never knew him.

There is another installment to this series just published I can't wait to read it. Also on the bandwagon with the hustling preacher is Nikki Turner author of a Hustler's Wife, Riding Dirty and other literary gems has turned one of her characters from a hustler doing a 10 year bid to a preacher. I can't wait to read it. Perhaps some of our church people need to read these books and decide twice before giving away money to these slick talkers.

Condi: The Condoleezza Rice Story

2007-03-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

Condi: The Condoleezza Rice Story 3.5/5

Author: Antonia Felix
2003
Began Reading: 03/22/2007
Ended Reaing: 04/02/2007

Format: CD

This is actually my second time reading Dr. Rice's life story. The first time was back in 2004 just before the Presidential election. I wanted to read for myself why many people reacted to her the way they did. I also read Ward Connerly, Justice Clarence Thoman and Thomas Sowell's bios. This is my way to understand which side of the fence to be on, if any.

Dr. Rice's life was very comfortable middle class. Her parent's stressed education. Her mother was a teacher her father was a college professor. These are things we've heard before. The author writes in a very sympathetic tone to the Bush crowd. I just want the facts. I want to know the subject. I want to know what makes each person I read about tick. If an author writes about another person I want to know more than what is on their bio sheet on their personal websites. I want to understand them, I want to feel as if I have met them personally.

On the other hand, Dr. Rice seems as if she does get a bad rap with the press, not nearly what people like Cheney and Rumsfeld recieves but pretty close. From this biography I feel she is an absolutely brilliant woman. She is self assured and if she had a D beside her name she would be our next presidential hopeful.

My only hope is that the author in her expanded version gives us a more indepth view into Rice's life. Make us not only admire her but make us like her too.

Making Friends With Black People

2007-03-23T12:11:00.000-07:00

Making Friends With Black People 2/5
Author: Nick Adams
2006
Began Reading: 03/23/2007
Ended Reading: 04/21/2007

Format: Book

I have read only one satire book I totally loved, John Stewart's America. That was one of the funniest books I have ever read. This book started off funny and just became one man's manifesto against everything. I don't think a book about ending racism is necessarily good if they use old stereotypes that have been around since forvever.

The author wants all White people to be nice to Black people yet makes racist remarks about them. Hello, Don Imus. I know this a satire book, however the sterotypes were just lazy. One in particular is the old one about White people not knowing how to dance. The author wants all Whites to "know" that if a Black person can't dance they know how to keep to a rhythm and keep away from others on the dancefloor. Whites he believes for the most part are genetically inferior dancers, therefore they they go buck wild on the dancefloor. How old is that sterotype?

The only thing this guy got right was his anger with BET. That is one of the worst stations on cable now. However Mr. Adams should have known better than to work there. The years he worked there the network was already known as a bastion of great learning and mental uplift. How the world did he believe that it would change because he worked there?

Freshwater Road

2007-03-03T11:40:00.000-08:00

Freshwater Road 3.5/5
Denise Nicholas
2005
Began Reading: 03/01/2007
Ended Reading: 03/22/2007

Format: CD

This book was quite a refreshing read. It caught me completely by suprise. I don't remember ever reading a period book on the Civil Rights era. I honestly try to steer clear of those kinds of books for myriad reasons, number one being they are very depressing.

This book was good not because the author did has written anything that has not been said before, but as an actress I believe Ms. Nicholas's writings was closer to that of a screenplay. The way she wrote this novel it could easily be converted to a motion picture screenplay.

I began to believe this is novel could really a roman a' clef. The emotion in the main character Celeste was too real. This book seems as if it could only have been written by a Civil Rights insider.

The Great Deluge

2007-02-20T16:27:00.000-08:00

The Great Deluge 2/5
Douglas Brinkley
2006
Began Reading: 02/20/2007
Ended Reading: 03/01/2007

Format: CD

I had high hopes for this book, however after listening to it I see this book was a blame game meant for one person: the mayor of New Orleans. Before and after the hurricanes I was by far one of the biggest critics of the Honorable Mayor C. Ray Nagin of New Orleans. I thought he was an ineffective leader and had no blooming idea of how to manage during a crisis. Should I force evacuations? Should I make the business quarters close? Should I stay in the city or run to higher ground? I thought his idea of leadership was sketchy at best. But, he was only a mayor. He had only certain resources. He was not the governor nor the president. There was more than enough blame to go around for this catastrophe and Mr. Brinkley put it all on one man while making the other cast of characters seem almost blameless.

Mayor Nagin had many complex issues when dealing with these two hurricanes. He did not have the luxury of dealing only with constituents. He had the complexities of dealing with race and class. He knew that had he forced immediate evacutaions the people would have risen up to say he was working for the "man". He thought about this critically, I believe he played all possible scenarios. He knew if what happened, the levees breached and wiped out the ninth ward, and none of the residents were there because of forced evacuations he would have been accused of everything especially getting rid of the poor population to bring in wealthy Whites. These Whites would steal the land of the impoverished to build casinos and other attractions as in the French Quarter. We already had to endure the ceaseless reminder the FQ was barely touched. Presumably this was the power of the all powerful "Man". He can not only force people to loot and rape he can also decide the Ninth Ward would be wiped out and the FQ would sustain no damage.

This book had so many issues in it. I could barely finish listeneing to Mr. Brinkley. I was glad when it was over.

Triple Take

2007-02-20T16:24:00.000-08:00

Triple Take 3/5
Y. Blak Moore
2003
Began Reading: 02/13/2007
Ended Reading: 02/19/2007

Format: CD

This crime drama was entertaining enough. It came out around the time of the burgeoning Triple Crown empire. This genre of books was most entertaining at one point, however, a few years later it is stale and the plots are very thin. That being said, I tried not to compare this book to those. It had some very unlikely things, but I guess that is what makes these books so popular. The main character(s) always beat the system and ride off into the sunset unscathed.