Rating: 
Summary: An ambitious snapshot of the civil rights struggle
Review: From a historical perspective this is a very interesting book, and a good synopsis of a segment of a number of significant issues in the civil rights era. Campbell also effectively defines the essential economic causes underlying racial strife, and how the upper class has effectively employed racism to secure its own position. Scanning the reviews from around the nation, however, I also expected this to be great literature. While it tells an important and noble tale, the characters, plot, and metaphors are far from extraordinary. This is a very readable, interesting, and informative work, but any profundity is limited to what is depicted, not the literary prowess of the writer. A decided weakness is the book's attempt to cover too much territory, and a regrettable "peaceable kingdom/cumbayah" conclusion where justice is on the horizon, and the evil get their just rewards. Unfortunately life usually isn't that tidy, and evil often goes unpunished. Readable, and a tale quite familiar to those who have studied the civil rights era -- I would particularly recommend it to those wishing to learn how civil society and the status of black Americans have been transformed since the fifties.
Rating:
Summary: An ambitious snapshot of the civil rights struggle
Review: From a historical perspective this is a very interesting book, and a good synopsis of a segment of a number of significant issues in the civil rights era. Campbell also effectively defines the essential economic causes underlying racial strife, and how the upper class has effectively employed racism to secure its own position. Scanning the reviews from around the nation, however, I also expected this to be great literature. While it tells an important and noble tale, the characters, plot, and metaphors are far from extraordinary. This is a very readable, interesting, and informative work, but any profundity is limited to what is depicted, not the literary prowess of the writer. A decided weakness is the book's attempt to cover too much territory, and a regrettable "peaceable kingdom/cumbayah" conclusion where justice is on the horizon, and the evil get their just rewards. Unfortunately life usually isn't that tidy, and evil often goes unpunished. Readable, and a tale quite familiar to those who have studied the civil rights era -- I would particularly recommend it to those wishing to learn how civil society and the status of black Americans have been transformed since the fifties.
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant!!!
Review: I am an avid reader, and this is one of the best books I've ever read! It was so visual that I felt as though I was standing right next the the characters. I applaud Ms. Campbell for creating such well-rounded characters. What Floyd did was despictable, but he still comes off as a human being struggling to find his place in the world. No one is all good or purely evil, and I'm glad that Ms. Campbell communicated that. This story is really about class. I thought it was interesting that the poor whites and blacks fought each other, while the rich whites sat back and worked to control everyone's life. I thought the ending was very hopeful, becuase it looked as though Corrine and Ida had "seen the light" and had decided that working together to fight corporate greed was better than hating each other. I do agree that this novel should be made into a film. This is one tale that should be on the big screen. Let the world know that black people have more depth than what we have seen in the latest novels turned movies.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Yet Painful Novel Of Survival And Suffering.
Review: I became familiar with Bebe Moore Campbell's work only after reading "Brothers & Sisters" because like Esther, I did identify with the challenges of being black and female on the job. In "Your Blues Ain't Like Mine", she shows the horror of how one misunderstanding can affect the lives of the people of a small town. Floyd is more interested in proving his manhood to his father and brother than protecting his wife's reputation. Delotha is wracked with guilt and shame for not keeping her son Armstrong the victim, and Armstrong's father Wydell realizes that his inability to be a father has to do with his own inability to come to terms with the horrible relationship that had with his father. Lily, the unintentional instigator of this whole affair realizes that as she grows older, life is harder, men aren't always going to be there when you need them and that things aren't as rosy for other people as they seem especially when she discovers how bad off her in-laws have become, but at least in the book the characters try to come to terms with the past and struggle to live in the present.I would recommend this book to anyone who would want to read it.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Yet Painful Novel Of Survival And Suffering.
Review: I became familiar with Bebe Moore Campbell's work only after reading "Brothers & Sisters" because like Esther, I did identify with the challenges of being black and female on the job. In "Your Blues Ain't Like Mine", she shows the horror of how one misunderstanding can affect the lives of the people of a small town. Floyd is more interested in proving his manhood to his father and brother than protecting his wife's reputation. Delotha is wracked with guilt and shame for not keeping her son Armstrong the victim, and Armstrong's father Wydell realizes that his inability to be a father has to do with his own inability to come to terms with the horrible relationship that had with his father. Lily, the unintentional instigator of this whole affair realizes that as she grows older, life is harder, men aren't always going to be there when you need them and that things aren't as rosy for other people as they seem especially when she discovers how bad off her in-laws have become, but at least in the book the characters try to come to terms with the past and struggle to live in the present.
I would recommend this book to anyone who would want to read it.
Rating:
Summary: Replacement of Lost Love
Review: I could not but this book down. I was intrigued and wanted to know more. There were many families that were facing unforeseeable events and I wanted to know how each families handled their nightmare. I recommend it to all of my friends and family. This was an easy read. Put this on your MUST READ LIST.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent story told from various veiw points
Review: I found this story to very interesting and attention grabbing. I did not read the book, but listened to it on tape which made it even more intriging because they told the story from two perspectives ( a white voice and a black voice). This story told life from various aspects such as the life of blacks in the rural south, those of blacks in up north, and those of whites in the south. It showed different time frames and what time can do to an environment and the changes that are made as far as race and sexism. It potrayed African Americans as whites viewed them in the 1950's which is inferior. As time moved on, instead of blacks working for whites, they worked with whites and voiced their minds more as the story progressed into more modern days.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent story told from various veiw points
Review: I found this story to very interesting and attention grabbing. I did not read the book, but listened to it on tape which made it even more intriging because they told the story from two perspectives ( a white voice and a black voice). This story told life from various aspects such as the life of blacks in the rural south, those of blacks in up north, and those of whites in the south. It showed different time frames and what time can do to an environment and the changes that are made as far as race and sexism. It potrayed African Americans as whites viewed them in the 1950's which is inferior. As time moved on, instead of blacks working for whites, they worked with whites and voiced their minds more as the story progressed into more modern days.
Rating:
Summary: Truth is harsher than this fiction
Review: I give this book such a high mark because of the message that it will bring a generation who does not know about the Emmett Till murder. The Emmett Till murder is the single most heinous crime that has ever been inflicted by one man upon another. Were Ms. Campbell a little more faithful to the truth, the brutality would have kept some readers from finishing this narrative. I hope many people will look further into the true story that "Your Blues" depicts in a far more gentle account. There are several books about the Till murder available her at amazon that are worth the time. Ms. Campbell is a good storyteller and uses the simple language that is designed to appeal to a large audience--- and she is successful in her endeavor.
Rating:
Summary: Very Strengthening
Review: I have read many books and I can say that none have come close to this book. It takes you to the reality of the Southern blues and how both sides-black and white- were affected by it. In the conclusion, Wydell the father takes his son back to his "past"-helping him to appreciate what he-his son-is taking advantage of. Very compelling and inspirational in showing the strengths of women of the South.
| 
