The Hand I Fan With

Rating:
Summary: overrated overheated trash
Review: All the signs were pointing to an enjoyable book: a teasing synopsis sounded interesting, a unique milieu was promised, there was a lauded writer. What no one mentioned was the SLOW PACE of this book. Lena McPherson finds love with a ghostly stud named Herman--why doesn't anybody mention that FIRST we have to wade through tedious descriptions of Lena's designer wardrobe--her luxurious house (complete with a sauna with hand-made tiles; Lena just can't find a decent maid to scrub those very tiles, darn it all!)--her expensive car--her hairstyles--her earrings--the color of her nylons, her shoes, her fingernails--before we even meet this Herman? Do we really CARE about Lena's many materialistic trappings? The townsfolk of Mulberry, GA, are less communal and caring than nosy and infuriating. The sex scenes are abrupt and raunchy--I relish decent erotica, but somehow Lena and/or Tina McElroy Ansa seem to flaunt "dirty words" and lascivious deeds in between pretentious musings on the past, the future, "love," ghosts, whatever. This isn't a beginning/middle/end kind of narrative, it's a New Agey hash of African goddess worship/voodoo/Catholicism/"smell the roses"/sexcapades/hedonism. It's supposed to be an eerie coincidence that Lena and a dead relative use the same expression: "Oh, Lord!" Is "Oh, Lord" considered that idiosyncratic? What next, the IRONY that both Lena and Herman say, "Shoot!"??? I kept waiting and waiting for something to happen--near the end, finally, two things actually did: The citizens of Mulberry try to have Lena committed, and Herman decides to disappear as suddenly as he appeared. Neither scene was played for its dramatic moment--they were simply one more thing that happened to passive, perfect Lena McPherson. More than bored by this book, I was ANGERED--why do so many other readers love this book? Don't they recognize rubbish when they see it?

Rating:
Summary: Its a book that stays on your mind long after you've read it
Review: The Hand I Fan With By Tina McElroy Ansa

Rating:
Summary: Its a book that stays on your mind long after you've read it
Review: The Hand I Fan With

Rating:
Summary: This book conjured up a wonderful fantasy!
Review: I am part of a book club that began at the first of the year (1997). "The Hand I Fan With" was our first selection. We thoroughly enjoyed it. We've read a book a month since then and at each meeting we always come back to "Herman", discuss the book, and discover a new little tidbit we had missed before. We eagerly await Ms. McElroy's next book.

Rating:
Summary: Sheryl Lee Ralph IS Lena...
Review: The audiotaped adaptation of Tina McElroy Ansa's book is excellent. Too often abridged versions don't capture the spirit of the novel. It's mere an appetizer. Sheryl Lee Ralph's interpretation and reading is a full-course meal. An unabridged version for the greedy among us really would have hit the spot.

Rating:
Summary: A Must read by Tina. She is an awsome writer.
Review: First of all, before you read "The Hand I Fan With" you should read Baby of the Family because it is the beginning of The Hand I Fan With. This was a great book. Lena McPherson is quite a character and so is "Herman". You will laugh, and cry and be happy and sad. You will want "Herman to come into your life. This book was a pleasure to read. I hope Mrs. Ansa is done with her next book. Also, check out "Ugly Ways". I just loved that book. I read it first and recommended it about 10 of my friends and family and they all loved it, too. Buy it, you'll like it. Tina, if you read this, please let me know when your next book is coming out!!! (P.S. I am from South Carolina and living in California presently. I know just where Yamacraw village is located. Keep up the good work. Faye Murchison

Rating:
Summary: This book is great reading!!!!
Review: This was a most "haunting" story of love that I have ever read. This is about a woman trying to find love, and having the ability to "see through" the worst of all the men. She also, has the gift to help others, and continues to do so until she finds her real love. I really couldn't put it down once I started reading it. Ms.McElroy Ansa is trully a gifted writer. Thank- you for the entertaining reading.

Rating:
Summary: Too descriptive, too lengthy
Review: This book pulled me in two directions. It annoyed me and entertained me at the same time. The picture that Ansa paints with her words are gorgeous. The descriptive writing is good, however, I WISHED SHE WOULD GET ON WITH THE D#@* STORY!!!!!!!! I didn't care how the story ended because I didn't "know" the characters. Yeah, I got lots of background stories about Lena and the people around her, but I rarely caught a glimpse of who she was as a person during the situation she was going through in the present. I only knew how others perceived her due to the copious amount of descriptions that Ansa provided. I stopped reading the book about halfway through. I only got halfway though because I was determined to finish it this time (2nd time trying to read it). I couldn't do it.

If you want to read it, check it out at the library.

Rating:
Summary: Hated it!
Review: This book was so boring that I couldn't even finish it. There was way too much description and wordiness. Everytime I though it was going to get interesting and get into "Herman the ghost", it popped right back to the boring stuff about the town of Mulberry. I haven't read any of Ansa's other books, and this one makes me not want to. This book could of easily been 200 pages less than what it was and had a chance to be interesting. If your're looking for drama, mystery and suspense this book has none of that.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book, read it!
Review: I first started this book over a year ago, and I put it down because I wasn't ready to engage the "complete" story in the way it was written.

I just finished it yesterday, and it was a wonderful work. I t gave everything that a Pseudo Country Girl, like me, could ask for: nature, spirituality, sex, history, and gossip.

I would place this book right along side "The Color Purple" and "Beloved" any day. The characters are real, Herman (the ghost) is even real...

I haven't read any of McElroy's other works, but know I guess I have too.