Rating: 
Summary: NOT worth the wait...
Review: As a fan of Tina McElroy Ansa, I anxiously awaited the arrival of this book for at least 2 1/2 years during which time she changed not only the title of the book (It was originally suppose to be titled "And You Should Know Better") but also changed publishers. When the book was finally released, I had to have been one of first people in line to buy it and I must say that I was EXTREMELY disappointed. I did not feel the depth from these charachters that was so easily detected in her past 3 novels, and the story itself simply was not at all intriguing. Though it took Mrs. Ansa several years to follow up her last release, this novel was written as though it took only a few weeks, perhaps due to the fact that she and her husband were working on a screenplay for one of her earlier novels. If you've never read any of T.M. Ansa's work before, PLEASE don't let this novel be the gauge by which you judge her writing ability. I just hope that she is able to redeem herself after this.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't get into it
Review: First of all, I need to be honest, and say that I did not finish this book. I read the first two parts about Lily and the other one was about Sandra, and that was it. I could not take it any more. The chapters were way longer than they had to be to get what the author was trying to get over to her audience. It seem to go over and over the same things way to many times before it actually got to the point. I do not recommend reading this book at all.
Rating:
Summary: A Complete Waste of Time and Money
Review: I am a very quick reader when the book is good. But, this book took three months for me to finish. Why? Because it was so long, drawn out and boring. I don't know how many times I had to force myself to finish this book just for the sake of finishing it! The characters were annoying and self centered with the exception of Mama Mama and the three spirits. This is just another remake of the Christmas Carol. Please bypass this book and read ANYTHING else.
Rating: 
Summary: Not her best, but worth reading
Review: I am in a book club that reads African-American/Third World writers. This novel tells the 24 hour drama of three generations of women family members. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book and laughed out loud at some parts throughout the book. However, this book does repeat itself (character dialoge) that was uninteresting the third time you read it. This may be how people really speak, but it is annoying when reading it over a couple days. For instance, the line "You know, children don't take after strangers" is brilliant! But the third time I read it, well, it lost its punch. All in all, I would recommend the book. In particular, all three spirits were exceptional written, I enjoyed the grandmother Lily, didn't 'appreciate' the daughter Sandra and was truly 'scared' of the granddaughter LaShawndra. She is a segment of today's generation that is absolutely every parents nightmare. But she is real! And for that I give Ms. Ansa all the credit.
Rating:
Summary: Not her best, but worth reading
Review: I am in a book club that reads African-American/Third World writers. This novel tells the 24 hour drama of three generations of women family members. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book and laughed out loud at some parts throughout the book. However, this book does repeat itself (character dialoge) that was uninteresting the third time you read it. This may be how people really speak, but it is annoying when reading it over a couple days. For instance, the line "You know, children don't take after strangers" is brilliant! But the third time I read it, well, it lost its punch. All in all, I would recommend the book. In particular, all three spirits were exceptional written, I enjoyed the grandmother Lily, didn't 'appreciate' the daughter Sandra and was truly 'scared' of the granddaughter LaShawndra. She is a segment of today's generation that is absolutely every parents nightmare. But she is real! And for that I give Ms. Ansa all the credit.
Rating: 
Summary: Ghostly Lessons
Review: I decided to purchase this book one day after I went to a booksigning to hear Tina McElroy Ansa and to decide if
I wanted to read this book. I was so impressed with her speaking and
her description of the book and the point she was trying to make
with this book, I could not help but buy it. I am glad I did.
This is this author's fouth novel, and my first time reading any of
her works. In the town of Mulberry, GA, Lily Paines Pines is up in the wee
hours in the morning searching for her wayward granddaugter,
LaShawndra. Along for the ride is Miss Moses. Miss Moses does not
say much, but she is there to help Lily think through her thoughts
on her ex-husband, daughter and granddaughter. Lily Pines also
ponders on how she was able to balance a teen pregancy, marriage and
career and why her daughter could not do the same and where did they
go wrong with LaShawndra. Sandra is also riding around Mulberry, kind of looking for her
coochie daughter, as she is taking Nurse Bloom around town to look
at property. Sandra is telling Nurse Bloom about how she can not
control that coochie, about her feelings of abandonment by her
baby's daddy, her love and relationship with her father, her
accomplishments, possession and her relationship with the minister.
Sandra, of the ME generation gets several reality checks from Nurse
Bloom during their journey. LaShawndra, is a self proclaimed "ho" and is proud of the title.
She is self-centered and knows she is a disappointment to her grandmother and mother. She has one goal in life and that is to
dance in a music video. LaShawndra is hitching a ride out of
Mulberry as she has messed up again and is not going to stick around
to face the consequences. She is picked up by Ms Liza Jane Dyer.
During their slow moving ride out of Mulberry to the Freaknik in
Atlanta, LaShawndra tells Ms Liza Jane of her ambitions, and her
relationships with the women in the family. One things that she
does that just gets on Ms Liza Jane nerves is the constant degatory
remarks LaShawndra makes about herself. Ms Liza Jane tries to
reinforce to LaShawndra she can be all she wants to be and that she
needs to face the music back in Mulberry instead of running away all
the time. What LaShawndra did not realize was that in their own
subtle, non-confrontational way, her mother and grandmother were
saying the same things to her that Ms Liza did, except it was not sugar-coated but direct, so LaShawndra could hear it better. I liked how in this novel, it shows three generations of women and
how they dealt with life, children and responsibility. I also liked
how each ghost represented the consciousness of each woman and help
them to see their strengths and weaknesses. This is a good, highly recommended novel. For me, I am going to
check out the rest of Ms Ansa's work, especially The Hand I Fan
With, as I have heard so many good things about this one. Jeanette Wallington
APOOO bookclub
Rating: 
Summary: Tina Does it again
Review: I have read all of Tina's books and she is and extradinary author...." Better" was great, however I had to change my mindset early on to see where she was going....I keep waiting for them to find LaShawndra! LOL I enjoyed how each of the deceased individuals mirrored the other characters and help bring them along....
Rating: 
Summary: Irritating characters
Review: I just finished reading this book, and I am so glad I got through it finally. The daughter of Sandra, LaShawndra, was so irritating to me that she just grated on my nerves the entire way through the book. Also, the book didn't really have that much direction. I had a hard time understanding the point of the book for some reason. I was just happy that I finished it, so I could quit reading. I loved her other books, but this one just didn't do it for me.
Rating:
Summary: SAVE YOUR MONEY!!!
Review: I picked this book up with very high expectations. I ordered the Harcover edition of this book because I thought for sure it was going to be a prized gem in my library. WRONG!!! This has to be the most BORING book I've read in my entire life and I am not one to criticize, but it was just poorly written. She said the same things over and over again such as "You know children don't take after strangers", which was cute at first but quickly turned into a nuisance.I was so bored I almost put this book on the shelf without finishing it and I always finish books. I finished the book to see if it was going to get any better. WRONG AGAIN! If I had known it was this bad I would have saved my money and used it towards something better. If you just have to read it, please borrow it from someone or check it out from the libary!!
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't get into it
Review: Thank God I got this book on tape. If I had checked out the print edition,I doubt I would have finished it. Repetative is an understatement, long winded is another. Why would you need 5 minutes of tape to describe an old woman's sweather? The premise of the story was good, and it made me think of my own relationship with my son. But the majority of it was a waste.
If you can get this book on tape, listen to it. Don't kill yourself trying to read it.
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