The Hand I Fan With

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Summary: An extremely inspirational and thought-provoking story
Review: I have personally read all three of Ms. Ansa's novels and I think that The Hand I Fan With is the best one. I was touched by the character, Lena's need to be of service to each and everyone in the town of Mulberry, GA. But it took the ghost, Herman to show her that she needed to be of more service to herself as well. This is a truly fascinating novel with an excellent use of imagery. It is also highly erotic! Thank you Ms. Ansa for a truly inspirational story.

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Summary: A well-written love story that moved me to tears!
Review: Although Ms. Ansa is one of my favorite authors, I shied away from this book at first because I didn't think I wanted to read about "ghosts." However, once I bought it, I couldn't put the book down. You should read "Baby of the Family" first because you will get more insight into Lena and her uniqueness. "The Hand..." was an extremely well-written love story. I got so caught up in the characters, that I was crying near the end. I can't wait for Ms. Ansa's next novel. Another must-read is "Ugly Ways!!"

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Summary: FABULOUS!!!
Review: I am anxiously awaiting the sequel to "The Hand I Fan With". I could not put this book down. I do all of my reading while I am excercising on the treadmill or stairmaster. I was so involved with the characters that I was actually crying while on the stairmaster! I think that is the ultimate recommendation, I was so involved I was overcome!!

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Summary: Best Christmas Gift I've Ever Received!!!!
Review: I love all of Mrs. Ansa's books. I enjoyed Lena and Herman. This is a beautiful book. I read it in Janaury of 1997 and it is still fresh in my memory. I anxiously await Mrs. Ansa's new book and I hope it is a continuation of this one. Keep up the good work!

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Summary: The Best Book I have read to-date!!!!
Review: I have read many African American books. I can only tell you that this book was so intriguing and so romantic that I didn't want it to end. I have told so many people about it and they get the giggles when I try to relate the story to them. It had me wishing that I could conjure up a man that was ALL THAT!!! I hope her next book is a continuation of that one because I want to know what happens to Lena.

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Summary: True Piece of Trash!
Review: If Lena McPherson is a woman with a lucky streak, then why does she have to settle for making it out with a ghost. I mean, she has a man "Herman" that she can't even take to the movies or flaunt around her friends. Makes no sense to me. Not to mention the EXTREMELY SLOW PACE OF THE BOOK. I thought I would never finish reading about how good of a dresser Lena was or how perfect the tiles in here bathroom were laid. The time spent on writing this stuff should have been spent on the PLOT of the book. It took too DAMN long for Herman to even appear! I was extremely bored with this book. I can't see what everybody likes about this peace of over-rated trash!

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Summary: Don't waist your money or time!
Review: I always said, that if the first 25 pages of a book don't keep me interested, then it isn't worth reading. This book was hard to figure out. The author spends too much time on describing the designer clothing that Lena McPherson wears and the fancy estate in which she lives. I think that it probably would have been better if we did not have to get to the end of the book before Herman the ghost appears. I hope Tina McElroy Ansa never writes a book like this again! What do I care, I wont be buying it anyway!

Rating:
Summary: slow overated and looses the readers attention
Review: It is very hard to stay focused in this book. It was way too long and drawn out. I am still upset with the friend that told me it was THE BOMB! When I was half halfway through the book, so far, all the author talked about is Lena's wardorbe and the spirits that haunt her. I don't like the fact that the book is not written in dialogue form. It is written like a person is narrating it. I am also upset with the fact that when you are reading about what is happening to Lena McPherson that day, then all of a sudden she is remembering something that Mama or Daddy or somebody in her past would say. I got all mixed up and I didn't know if what was going on in the book a thing of Lena's present or a thing of Lena's past. I can't understand for the life of me why Tina McElroy Ansa came up with this type of tale for this book. Now here is a woman who has all the riches in Mulberry, and can have any man she wants and what she gets is a ghost named Herman. People are loving this book and I can't understand why?

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Summary: Absolutely wonderful!
Review: Very seldom do I find a book that intrigues, provokes, and engages me in its story, but this mystical love story is one of the best! I highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful love story
Review: Not since Tar Baby, have I seen black love so beautiful. The passion between Lena and the "ghost" is what most of us look for, and the way Mrs. Ansa captured their spirit was truly wonderful. Mrs. Ansa's continuationof Lena's life ws also an excellent idea, who else but Lena could fall in love with a spirit and make him real. Reading this book was like catching up with an old freind.