Rating: 
Summary: One of the best books I've read
Review: Pearl Cleage did a more than well job with her first novel, What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day; and I cannot wait to read her next book. Ava Johnson, the main character of this book, is so REAL. She's a wonderfully courageous woman who takes life one day at a time, despite her fears, and looks at life with a lot of humor and honesty. Her sister, Joyce, is a real gem, as she is warm, caring, and intelligent. Eddie, whom becomes an important part of both of these women's lives, has real soul to him. He's lived a hard, sometimes shady life, and came out of it as a better man.Ava, dealing with a change of life and a deadly disease such as AIDS, has her real fears of ever finding someone to love, ever having a career again, and how strong will she be once she gets really sick. She deals with these issues in a courageous and positive way, even when she sometimes stumbles . . . she still manages to find her way. A story of triumph and victory, of loving and being loved, of facing your fears and trying to move through them anyway . . . this is one book that is difficult to put down. As I've said, I can't wait for Pearl Cleage's next one.
Rating: 
Summary: Forces us to confront delicate issues.
Review: This was the first book that I purchased through Amazon.com,and after I was through reading it I decided to read the reviews to see if other people agreed with me in my impressions of "What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day". I think that the amount of people who wrote in to describe their feelings says it all...this book really makes a statement. It is extremely realistic in its language and descriptions and is also very easy to believe as being a true story. What unnerved me about some of the reviews is the bad grammar, horrible spelling, mistakes in the main character's name (for example: Ada, or Eva...Ava is correct) and mistakes in describing the plot. It makes me wonder if people truly understood or even READ the book. I appreciate Pearl Cleage's brutal honesty and unique style of storytelling. I look forward to a sequel. (?)
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: I didn't know whether to laugh or cry reading this book, so I did a little of both. At times witty and urbane, the writing turns dark and foreboding the next, but not in a bad way. I'm reminded of McCrae's "Bark of the Dogwood" or some of Vonnegut's novels in the way that Cleage handles her material. A bit rough at times, this book is nevertheless worth every cent. Never preachy, but rather informative and clever, it's nothing but enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Out of all of Oprah's picks
Review: I like this one the best. I know the blurb doesn't sound like much ... An African-American woman diagnosed with HIV goes home to visit big sister. Boy, do I have to tell you ... ignore the blurb and just dive into the book. This is one of the best reads I've read this year. It's not depressing at all ... it's the fighting spirit book that just keeps you upbeat. I remember telling my husband about this book and now, he's interested in reading it someday (after my mom reads it!). Ava Johnson comes home to Michigan after living in Atlanta for 10 years or so ~~ this was just going to be a short stop on the way to San Francisco where she is determined to find a new life. Only, that plan falls to the wayside. Ava's older sister, Joyce is a warm-hearted woman struggling to find ways to educate young African-American girls about birth control, fight against her church's narrow-minded pastor and his wife who are out to stop anything that is not "Christian-like". And along the way, they rescue a crack baby, Imani and Ava falls in love with Eddie, an old friend of Joyce and her husband. This is such a rivetting read. One that I highly recommend to everyone. It is written with brutal truth and humor ... and you find yourself rooting for Ava and her family as they set out to conquer the small corner of their world. It's wonderfully written to keep your interest snared ... and I am looking forward to read more of this author's work. This is not your typical depressing Oprah pick ... it's one of the best, uplifting book I've read in a long time!! 2-11-02
Rating:
Summary: Forces us to confront delicate issues.
Review: This was the first book that I purchased through Amazon.com,and after I was through reading it I decided to read the reviews to see if other people agreed with me in my impressions of "What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day". I think that the amount of people who wrote in to describe their feelings says it all...this book really makes a statement. It is extremely realistic in its language and descriptions and is also very easy to believe as being a true story. What unnerved me about some of the reviews is the bad grammar, horrible spelling, mistakes in the main character's name (for example: Ada, or Eva...Ava is correct) and mistakes in describing the plot. It makes me wonder if people truly understood or even READ the book. I appreciate Pearl Cleage's brutal honesty and unique style of storytelling. I look forward to a sequel. (?)
Rating:
Summary: Looks Like Crazy.... A MUST read
Review: Ava Johnson was the typical everyday woman until a trip to the doctors changed her life; she was diagnosed with AIDS. As a result of all of the stress that comes with living in a big city (Atlanta) and living with AIDS, Ava decides to make a pit stop at her sister's home, while on her way to move to San Francisco. However, once in Idlewood, Michigan, at her sister, Joyce's, everything changes. This book tells about the summer from Ava's point of view. At first, it seems like a pretty harsh book, with AIDS, teen pregnancy, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence. However, the way Cleage ties all of these realities together makes the book even more eventful. Her use of first person allows you, as the reader, to feel as though the book is talking directly to you. Overall, the book is a great example of real life turned into a fiction novel that is a must read for everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: You've Got To Be Kidding
Review: 391 reviews and this book averages 4 stars??? Give me a break. The story is flat, predictable, and full of cliches. The way in which the 3 main characters are written just doesn't seem real, and that is why I found it hard to care about what happens to them. So, with only 50 pages left to the end, I put it down. Don't waste your money because this book is highly over-rated.
Rating:
Summary: What looks like crazy....
Review: This novel is about a woman {Ava Johnson} dealing with the fact that she has HIV and her promiscuous pass that lead to her having gotten it in the first place. Cleage also writes about Ava's day-to-day journey of living with this disease and the prejudices and the ignorance of people. I'm talking about those folks that don't know how HIV is transmitted, so they make things up as they go. Ava returns to her hometown of Idelwild, Michigan seemly just for a visit to her sister on her way though to San Francisco. Where she was determined to make a new life for her self... Idelwild is not the small country town she remembers. Not only did things change but they have changed for the worse. Drugs, break-ins, teenage pregnancy and other gang related incidences seem to be the normal occurrence now. Secondary plot revolves around Ava's sister Joyce. Joyce is on a mission to spread the word and educate teenage girls and young woman all over about the importance of safe sex, self-love and self-respect. Joyce, a single woman, has decided to adopt a child. Having lost her husband and two children by tragic means. This child is special and the adoption is not so easy, as you will come to see the more you read into the novel. You will get more than a few twists and turns in this novel folks... Very good read, I promise... Ave is also fortunate enough to have found true love with a man {Eddie} while in Idelwild. Eddie too has had to dealt with the skeletons in his own closet and came out on the other end of life just fine... Eddie helps Ave realize that just because she has this terrible disease that life without true love isn't necessary. My first taste of Pearl Cleage. I must say I am very impressed with this author style of writing. She is refreshing and witty and I am wondering what the heck took me so long in reading this novel in the first place... A friend told me about her a few years passed and I wish I would have gone out and purchased a copy right then... I could have said more in the review but I don't want to take away any surprises for those of you that will read this book... It was so interesting that I read it in about 6 hours time...
Rating:
Summary: Loved it - what more can I say?
Review: AMAZING book, just amazing! I loved this book so much , just can't recommend it highly enough. It's one of those books you will never regret owning. My copy has pride of place in my bookshelves while Pearl's voice still dances in my head. I also recommend "Second Glance" by Jodi Picoult. A very different type of book, but mesmerising also. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: 3-1/2 Stars, Rounded Up
Review: I listened to the audio version of this book, which is undoubtedly a much different experience than reading the book. The stereotypes in the beginning of the book were tiresome (every non-black woman as "that white woman", geographical biases, etc.) and muddied the story of an HIV-positive woman with AIDS. They decreased eventually. The language is also a bit rough all the way through. But the story itself is interesting. It was a "light listen." The characters are a bit unevenly defined. Eddie was unreal. The Reverend's wife was also quite unreal, but the author still made me want to smack her, so I guess she succeeded in making her villainous to some degree. Overall, a good, light read with some important messages to be gleaned - if you don't miss them due to some of the author's mistakes.
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