Rating: 
Summary: A Mother's Love
Review: When Clarise left the home of her Aunts and Uncles with her beloved Finch, she knew she had someone special and was happy just be with him. Finch knew he had someone special too and wanted to do all he could to please her, and please her he did.Clarise, Finch and their three daughters eventually were able to enjoy a life that many folks dreamed of. They had a great family, successful business and a beautiful home in an upper crust neighborhood. When business slows down however, Finch in his quest to keep his wife and daughters in the life they were accustomed to had an idea that he was sure would put them all back on top. Finch unfortunately doesn't get to see his plan to fruition. As a result the "tempest rises" for Clarise who struggles to keep her mind and her family together after Finch's untimely death but fails at both. An old vendetta against her one her aunts and a mistaken mental diagnosis sends Clarise's daughters Shern, Victoria and Bliss head first into the foster care system. The girls end up with Mae, a wannabe good mother, who's actually a gambling card shark with a secret. Her daughter Ramona is "saddled" with the day-to-day care of the three, yet she too is troubled due to the abusive relationship she has with her mother. The arrival of the girls in this home turns the lives exposes the secrets of the past and eventually turns tragedy into triumph. McKinney-Whetstones strength is her character development. She gives her characters a unique voice and successfully intertwines them without causing confusion for the reader. This particular story is touching because it deals with the perils of the foster care system without issuing any brutal indictments against it and it speaks to how a mother's love can transcend the toughest of obstacles and tragedies.
Rating:
Summary: Beatifully crafted
Review: Whetstone has written a book that is beautifully crafted, from the language on down. Voice is dead on the piece, and is very refreshing considering that we are seeing this type of voice amongst African-Americans at this point because so much of it is sex and violence oriented. I think that Whetsone brings out an earlier generations of sophisticated African-America characters who are just that, but not "bourgy," if you will. The language is loose and it definitely flows. However there are a couple of areas that could have been cleaned up. For example, the plot gets drawn out a little too much. We see Ramona and her mother way too much. Also Whetstone, builds to reader up for a tragedy that make s the story seem anti-climatic at times. I would have rather saw more of the mother than Mae and her likes. Also Ramona needed more developing, I think that would have made an intereting scene. Also, the ending was "over-the-top." It was way to saucy and drawn out. But overall, I would recommend this book as something to read because it is extraordinarily different from what is being produced lately.
| 
