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Summary: Humourous & entertaining - your typical disfunctional family
Review: "A Day Late and a Dollar Short" - at first, I thoughtsomeone was describing the striving, hungry days of my youth, tryingto exist and obtain a university education on a shoestring. ....However, this book takes on an entirely different meaning. As youread through the pages, and if you are completely honest, you will bereminded of characters found in most families that you would prefer toleave well buried in the closet. Well, this family has "oodlesof noodles" in their closet, and somehow they all seem to emergein "A Day Late and A Dollar Short." There is Viola, acontrolling woman completely absorbed with the lives of her children;Cecil, the husband who made a lofty exit to the arms of a much youngerwoman; Paris, the judgemental child; Charlotte, emotionally unstableand deeply disturbed; Janelle, insecure and lacking in self-esteem;Lewis, brilliant but without an ounce of common sense. The list goeson, and the only downside of the book is the somewhat difficult taskof keeping track of all these characters, how they relate to oneanother and remembering "who is who, and who didwhat." You will be attracted to the author's writing style andentertained by the bizzare but strong, well-developed characters foundin this book. Talk about your typical disfunctional family - this oneis as hilarious as a ... movie.
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Summary: I Don't Know How I Missed This in Hardcover....
Review: but I've read all of McMillan's other works, some with mixed emotions. I picked this one up in the airport in paperback, and was immediately engrossed in the story of a dysfunctional African-American family -- as told from the point of view of each of its six members. McMillan truly captures the difficulty of sustaining a long marriage, sketches each of the adult children by using their own and their siblings and parents' points of views. Each character is richly textured; and although you have more difficulty rooting for Lewis and Charlotte to find happiness, you ultimately
become deeply supportive of every character. The book builds to a truly definitive high point when mother Viola's letters to her long-time husband and each of her four children are revealed and read aloud. McMillan gives us a deeply moving, complicated story of love, joy and heartache in families - and describes the feel of living in Las Vegas with uncanny ability. With this book, McMillan establishes herself, not as just a popular novelist, but perhaps as the voice of a generation of young African-Americans.
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Summary: Great Job Terry McMillian
Review: This is a great read. I tried to read it once and put it down. Why did I do that? This is a great family drama story. Read it, you won't be disappointed.
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Summary: Don't save the drama for this mama~
Review: In my opinion the title of this books means: "It might not be what you want, but its all you got". Terry is the master at conveying her points and this book does not disappoint. She does a magnificent job of introducing us to the "Price family one by one.....idiosyncrasies by idiosyncrasy. Viola "Matriarch" of the Price clan has a brutal mouth, and a loving heart. She is very strong-minded and going through her own personal crisis, that only her best friend Ms Loretta knows and can understand. Cecil her timid mild-mannered husband of 30 something years, decided after coming home late one night that he has had enough of Viola's verbal abuse and mean spirit. He leaves her and the only life he ever knew to go where?? Paris the eldest of Viola's four, has all the money and material things a women could ask for, but she's strung out on pills...why? Charlotte next to the oldest but you would think she's the youngest. Always vying for attention from the family, needing to be in the spotlight...? Lewis the only male sibling, struggling with incest and the "lack of being a man" trying to figure what is he missing... Janelle the odd ball or is she... The things that go on in this family will have you looking at your own. The "Price family will become a part of your hurt. You will shed tears with them and laugh when they do. When you turn the last page you willbegin the healing in your own family along with them. "Regardless of everything when you blood relatives, somehow you need to figure a way to overcome all these difference and remind yourself that you part of a family. You ain't goin never have but one" (Taken from the book) Thank you Terry for reminding us the value of family no matter what their shortcomings are.
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Summary: The Price Family Saga!
Review: Terry is back and gosh did she meet my expectations! A Day Late and A Dollar Short (DLDS) is a tale about family secrets, tragedies and triumphs. Go with McMillian to Las Vegas and uncover the story of Viola and Cecil Price and their four adult children. Viola is the matriarch and the central character of the storyline, however the story is told in the first person voice of each of the six main characters. McMillian hits close to home for many with this storyline which provides a very believable and realistic look at families. While the Prices happen to be African American, actually their situations and exploits are colorblind and could easily represent any family. DLDS touches on issues of sibling rivalry, adultery, unplanned pregnancies, drug and alcohol abuse, rape, incest, and homosexuality. Dysfunctionality abounds and no matter what the gender of the character or whether the character is a major or minor player they are all flawed for the most part (except for maybe Ms. Loretta). As I read DLDS I encountered love and hate, joy and sorrow, happiness and anger. There were some LOL scenes, some scenes which made me grit my teeth and other scenes which made me shake my head and say..."uumph, uumph, uumph". DLDS is an excellent book that's well written and includes in-depth character development along with unexpected plot twist and turns. Terry is back and she's on her game! Pick up DLDS today and get to know the Price Family...hey you might even meet some family members along the way or better yet you might come face to face with yourself. ...
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Summary: YOU GO GIRL!!!
Review: Loved it!! Loved it!! Loved it!!! This book is a great family drama. I loved it!
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Summary: You won't regret it
Review: this book is awesome, right from the beginning it holds your attention, its everything and more that you expected from Terry McM....it is FUNNY, i mean funny...you wont want to put it down and im not just making that up, it has all the southern humor and realism of family described so precise through Viola's mouth. Go out and get it!
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Summary: This is a must read!
Review: A Day Late and a Dollar Short, by Terry McMillan, was an interesting novel. It explored in great details the twist and turns on an African American family through their ups and downs. It was very realistic yet honestly funny. There were times when you laughed and times when you cried, but throughout the entire book you could relate to one if not more of the events happening. In my opinion this was the best-written book that I've read in a long time. There were very descriptive settings, which made it feel like you were watching the story unfold instead of reading it. With every page turned there was a surprise that keep you on your toes. By the end of the novel you would be wishing that the pages would keep turning like the hands on a clock. Terry McMillan touched every base possible in the life of a "dysfunctional'' family. She showed how they always stuck together, and the rough times that all most tore them a part. Terry McMillan's characters were so realistic you felt as if they were real a person you know or some you could actually meet on the streets. My favorite character was Viola Price. Viola was the mother and the main character of the novel. In many ways she is the reason that her family stayed together, and one of the biggest reasons they all most fell apart. She was strong willed, loving, and a very helpful person. I feel that after reading this excellent novel you will no longer look at family fights and hard times the same.
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Summary: A day late and a Dollar Short
Review: A day Late and a Dollar Short follows the life of the price family.
Throughout their lives they have had their shares of ups and downs.
Viola, the family's strong-willed matriarch, struggles day by day-putting aside her own happiness-to help her four adult children through all of life's struggles and still stay together and love each other. Suffering from severe asthma and a heartbreaking divorce, Viola soon learns that her children must learn to solve some things on their own. This story shows the importance of togetherness within families. Sometimes people may take those they love the most for granted. But while reading this book I learned that no matter what they go through, a family will always be a family.
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Summary: A feel-good book that actually felt good to read.
Review: I have a secret soft spot for Terry McMillan's books, even though I have to say that I roundly dislike much of the other books in this category. She writes with an infectious energy, eye for detail, and sense of character that is nearly impossible to dislike. I don't mind the emotional manipulation because it feels well-meant and in the end it's both satisfying and effective. I enjoyed reading this book. Minor quibbles: while I liked the device of the letters, it was a bit *too* pat; the pacing felt off in the second half of the book-- moved too quickly to its conclusion somehow.
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