Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining, Enlightening, Thought Provoking, Breathtaking!
Review: The Seasons of Beento Blackbird is a wonderfully written debut novel from Akusia Busia( aka Nettie from the Color Purple). Ms. Busia transports us across continents and cultures as she provides us an emotionally charged and thought provoking read about a very sensitive and taboo subject. Polygamy, One Man, Two Wives--A Disaster Waiting to explode. Seasons is the tale of a very ambitious man and the intriguing web he weaves when he allows himself to fall in love and marry two women on two different continents. Solomon Wilberforce is a smart businessman with admirable, altruistic traits as well as a successful author of children stories about African culture/ history who writes under the pen name Beento Blackbird. Solomon lives his life compartmentalized into seasons. During the winter months, he lives in the Caribbean with his first wife, Miriam, who is 9 years older than him and who has always loved him since the day she delivered him as a midwife. During the spring, Solomon travels to Ghana and spends his time with young, second wife, Ashia. Although Solomon is sharing himself, each wife is aware of the other, and endures the arrangement. However, all partners will soon come to realize that the relationship of sharing will be more complex and emotional than either of them ever imagined. The summer/fall periods are devoted to writing and he spends that time in NYC where his literary agent, Samantha(Sam) only has eyes for Solomon and she tries to convince Solomon that she can do for him what two wives can't. Solomon's life runs smoothly until he's forced to return to NYC to deal with the death of his father which immediately sends his world into a tailspin and forces him to make some hard decisions about his future and his wives. Busia delivers a very complicated love story in a breathtaking and thought provoking manner. Her writing is descriptive and vivid as she "takes you there" you can see the beautiful colors of the island, taste the rich ethnic foods, hear the ocean, smell the rain, and feel the anger, pain, tension, sadness, joy and love of the characters. While Solomon has his faults, for the most part he's a decent man and you share his anguish as he comes to realize that some of the decisions he made were in poor judgment. The two wives are compelling and realistic characters, although at times I wanted to shake some sense into both of them and tell them to forget about Solomon and move on with their lives. In the end, I was happy to see that both ladies made decisions that they could live with. Seasons is an enchanting and skillfully crafted book with thought provoking situations. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a refreshing read and a lively discussion.
Rating: 
Summary: This is a book for all Seasons 5 +++
Review: The Seasons of Beento Blackbird is overwhelming, it is one of the best book I have read, ever. Set mostly in Ghana and the Caribbean , the scenic descriptions were lush, almost visual. The characters were rich in human spirit and intune with a higher power and were able to show the sacrificies made, when you truly love. Solomon Wilberforce, the main character was delivered by a 9 year old midwife, to a teenage mother. He spent his early childhood in the Caribbean and then moved to New York City, the home of his absentee, unyielding farther. Solomon, using the pen name Beento Blackbird, writes children's stories about African history using the Blackbird to impart his messages. He returns to the Caribbean, marries his midwife, Miriam, and is seemingly happy, but, during his travels gathering infomrmation for his books, he meets and marries Ashia, a young Ghanian woman. Solomon lives his life in seasons, the winter season in the Caribbean with Miriam, the summer season with Ashia and the remaining season is spent in New York writing. Each wife is aware of the other and have different feelings about the arrangement. The death of Solomon's farher disrupts his seasons, and thrust his life into a tailspin. When Ashia, with her infant son, travels to the Caribbean and the wives meet for the first time, Solomon has a decision to make. The beauy of this story is that aside from having two wives, Solomon is a decent man. Highly influenced by the teachings of is mother and the lack of teachings from his father, Solomon has lived in emotional turmoil. He wants to belong to one wife, one woman, one love, but he loves both and has never committed fully to either. Miriam and Ashia share an equal love for Solomon and have themselves bonded. As a reader you find yourself pulling for both wives, because they both deserve the best. Will Solomon continue to live with his wives are will he follow his heart and become ONE with one. At different stops on Solomon's journey you couldn't wait to see how the story would end. This is a must read.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite book of all time!!
Review: The Seasons of Beento Blackbird was an incredible story. I can't wait for the movie! If I had a decent budget to work with, I'd create the movie myself featuring Carl Lumbly as Solomon, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Miriam, the author as Ashia, and Sally Richardson as Samantha James. Michael Beach would play the role of Solomon's father beautifully and Angela Bassett would be Solomon's mother (as a young girl and as a ghost years later). That actor from Amistad would have to play Olu! The author did a wonderful job of developing each of the characters. I felt love, hate, anger, and tears of joy during the many "scenes". I felt I was right there (a fly on the wall) watching as these women tried to love their shared man. Solomon Wilberforce tried so hard to "do the right thing". He was pulled in so many different directions. The women in his life, just wanted to be loved, unfortunately the cost was truly too high. This is a wonderful book. Our Book Club reviewed this book, with prepared questions. Four hours later, we were still talked and laughing and having the time of our lives. Everyone absolutely loved the story. Not everyone in Our Bookclub loved Solomon Wilberforce, unfortunately. I understood his situation, not that I would want my husband to marry another woman and divide his time between continents, but I loved his character and everything he stood for, particularly the role with the African American children. I can hardly wait for Ms. Busia's next book. Hats off, lady - ya done good!
Rating:
Summary: Very Entertaining
Review: The Seasons of Beento Blackbird was my literary club's July book and I enjoyed it very much. These days reading has become very difficult for me because of my current demanding lifestyle but the book was so well-wriitten and entertaining I couldn't put it down. The author's writing style was wonderful; I could actually "see" the characters and the settings and "smell" and "taste" the food prepared by the women. I would highly recommend this book to family and friends.
Rating:
Summary: A Beauitful and Complicated Love Story
Review: The second I started to read this book I loved it. The first page has the most beauitiful description of the Caribbean Sea. The author uses such vivid and sensory description it's easy to picture what's happening. The story is about a very succesful author who has two wives. He sees one in the spring and one in the winter. His system seems to work very well intill his agent starts to like him and she throws everything out of sync. If you like love stories with a twist you would really enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Most Pleased.
Review: This book was a joy for the soul. I could feel Miriam's pain of loving one more than herself. The story touched on so many issues. The desciptiveness of her writing, the vividness, was wonderful. I thought it is a must read,if you love books.
Rating:
Summary: If I Could Give it 10 Stars!!!!
Review: This is one of the best stories that I have read in ALL of my years of reading! I had seen the book in the bookstore, but would not pick it up because I was not familiar with the author. The book happened to be on my bookclub reading list, so I bought it without knowing what the story had to offer. I am so grateful for the bookclub for having it on the list and Akosua Busia for writing such a beautiful story. The story has a lot of history that I am clueless about. After reading the book, I felt like I should read more books about the history of Africa. I did not agree with what Solomon did to Ashia and Miriam, but he was honest and he treated them kind. Although he seemed to be a little confused, he did the best he could with what he knew. I was really impressed with the way he wanted to educate the children of their history through his books. I was so caught up in his story telling that if it were really a Beento Blackbird, I would buy the books. I cannot give this book justice through a simple review. You really ought to buy the book and read it for yourself. I will not pass another book by written by Akosua Busia, because I trust that the next will be as good or better than this one.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most beautifully written books I have read
Review: This story flows with such beauty and grace you won't want it out of your site until you've finished it. I felt transcended with Beento as he traveled to the exotic lands mentioned as well as being brought back to reality when in New York. I disagreed with his lifestyle choices, but admired is devotion. I am not sure if I disliked the ending or I just disliked the fact that the book had to end. I hope Ms. Busia will honor us with another book in the very near future.
Rating:
Summary: Tremendous writing style and sensuous love story!
Review: This story has the ability to transport you to the very setting of each activity. The descriptions of the Carribbean and Africa were so breathtaking, you could almost feel the climate on your skin. The intimate look provided of each character made you feel as if you had invaded their space, but as a welcome guest. Mr.Solomon Wilberforce... the man of so many women's dreams, yet with the touch of romanticism that has been declared a lost art and a bit of human error that reminded the reader that everyone has flaws, even the men of our dreams. Excellent book. Recommend all readers unplug the phone and settle in with a glass, no a bottle, of your favorite beverage. Thanks Circle of Friends Book Club II for an excellent reading selection.
Rating:
Summary: a wonderful suprise
Review: this was an excellent read.ifell in love with the character immediately. i really felt that i was apart of the lives of the characters. it has been along time since i have been so taken with an author's work.the author did an excellent job. it was realistic everything about life isn't black and white. everything doesn't end up roses. i am glad that solomon does the right thing, although othersi admired his decision. i was also glad to see ashia take control over her life. ifeltlike she had truly been delivered and now she was set free. i felt that solomon was truly at peace and happy. now he could finally give miriam the life that she deserved. i would recommend this book to everyone. my bookclub will enjoy this read
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