Rating: 
Summary: Get lost in this book!
Review: E. Lynne Harris is absolutely amazing! My boyfriend bought the trilogy of books home (Invisible Life, Just As I Am, and Abide With Me), and right around the time I had started to question his sexuailty, I picked it up and kept reading until I finished all three (I realized I was out the loop for not having read these sooner). This book however was my favorite of the three. Harris is able to deal with the characters of this book with a honesty that humanizes them to the utmost, and at times made me laugh, cry, and scream with them. A face is put on the sufferers of HIV and AIDS, as Harris takes us through Kyle's struggle with the diseases. Although Kyle may seem like he is dying, I soon learned he knew more about life than most people who live full, healthy lives. I rarely have had a book move me to the point of tears, but this is the one. I was often annoyed with Nicole, and her confusion and self-hate about her skin color, but I came to realize that these are human things. I am so impressed with this book, because Harris seeks not only to entertain, but successly taught me life lessons as well...
Rating: 
Summary: PURELY ENTERTAINING BUT HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO KYLE!!!!!!!
Review: I read Invisible Life and then rushed to the store for this book. I am still skeptical about letting people know that this author's work was so interesting but his writing touched several cords about my relationships with my friends and my own struggles. I however found certain aspects of the book disturbing (primarily the male love scenes) but tolerable since he didn't always go into great detail.HOWEVER,HE RUINED ONE OF THE BEST CHARACTERS IN THE BOOK. Yes , the character was mainly for comic relief but he brought a fresh perspective to things and while I understand the writer's need to explore certain themes and deal with the demons that lurk within him on the great scourge of the century...a happier summation for this character was definitely needed. Overall a good book and I am now awaiting my copy of Abide with me. Thanks for getting me to read again,E. Lynn Harris.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: I liked this book a lot. I wouldn't read it over and over again though.
Rating:
Summary: This book was even better than the first one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I had just finished reading Invisible Life, when I came across the next book in the series Just As I Am. Let me fisrt say that this book was even better than the first. In this book, the character Raymond was dealing with his bisexuality, losing his best friend, having a romantic affair in his mind with his other best friend, and learning to let go of dreams that would only hurt him. This may seem like an impossible to write but E. Lynn Harris pulled it off with expertise. The character Raymond was so real and that is what kept alot of others like me reading until the book was finished. It was so good, that I've started picturing the characters as if they are real and wonder what the next book in this series will do. E. Lynn Harris, you can write and that's coming from a Spelman sister who is encouraging others to read your books. Spelman College loves ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Sorrow, Uplifting and Inspirational
Review: I'm not an avid reader, but after reading "Just As I Am", it was the most inspirational Novel I've read in a long time. Each character felt so real as if they were friends of mine. I felt their agony as well as their conquest. I recommend this book to any one who is confused about their sexuality. This book will allow you to be honest with yourself. It's a great book for all who are not afraid to hear the truth. Thank you E. Lynn Harris for writing such a great master piece. I'm looking forward to reading "Invisible Life".
Rating:
Summary: "Just As I Am " is a remarkable book.
Review: "Just As I Am" by E. Lynn Harris is a truly remarkable book, especially for its honest and open portrayel of Black middle-class life with all its complexeties, hang-ups and humor. One of the best and most effecting reads of the last few years for me, I applaud Mr Harris for finally confronting such important issues as color discrimination within the black community, homosexuality, the importance of freinds and family, and the hypocrisy of many so called religious people who instead use their religion as a weapon against other minorities. The characters in Just As I Am may be a bit on the glamorous side, everybody seems to be gorgeous with fabulous bodies, but they speak in a language that rings true. I literally did not want the book to end. Kyle, one the more fascinating of Mr. Harris' creations, provides the heart of this work and the treatment of his death to AIDS is noteworthy for the dignity that he brings to it. I laughed, I cried, I got powerfully! hungry. Peaches sure sounds as if she can burn a few pots! This is definitly a must read and a significant improvement over the very good "Invisible Life."
Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: Just As I am was really good. Reading Invisible Life really helped alot when reading this book because it provides some back ground. I felt like I knew the characters in this book. Kyle is my favorite in this book. He is so funny and spunky. Kyle's story will touch your heart. This book grabbed me more emotionally than Invisible Life. Nicole's experience with love is beautiful. Ray is still battling with himself. Just As I Am is a book of friendship, love, and self acceptance. Read it.
Rating:
Summary: just as good
Review: Just as good as "Invisible Life". Kyle's story line is truly inspirational. Guess what ! UPS just delivered Mr Harris's 3rd book "And this to slall pass". Gotta go and get started.
Rating: 
Summary: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful
Review: My first E. Lynn Harris novel. A sometimes enjoyable, frustrating, and ultimately satisfying read. I picked up the novel, hoping that it would shed light on the complicated issues of black gay/bisexual men and their relationship with other blacks. The first one-third of the book begins to paint a picture, somewhat convincingly. Unfortunately, the middle third of the book slows to a never-ending dirge, as we witness Kyle's progression through the final stages of AIDS. I'm sure the other characters' sentimentalism during Kyle's decline is sincere, but the expressions of love and sympathy become too redundant. The effect is that the entire plot and character development stops. How many times can the lead character Raymond run an errand for the ailing Kyle? Lots. It was difficult to muddle through this part. Thank goodness I stuck with the story: The novel picks up again after Kyle's death, and the characters get on with their lives (with Kyle still having an angelic-like influence). In the can-this-possibly-be-real department, please note that nearly all characters are drop dead gorgeous. Indeed, the characters either outright or internally comment on everyone's physical perfection. At first this made it difficult to determine if there were any "real" emotional attachments. Or were people simply attracted to each other, as friends or lovers, simply because of raw physical beauty? This of course, becomes one of the difficult themes of the novel: relationships that are affected by beauty, race, even skintone. What's amazing is how some of these beautiful creatures are able to share a bed platonically (not in my experience). What was most interesting was getting a glimpse at black fraternity life, the lives of jet-setting professional buppies, and the sexual escapades-gay and otherwise-of black professional athletes. I tried my darndest to empathize with Nicole, the lead female character, but couldn't warm up to her. I was glad she finally told off her holier-than-thou prayer partner, Sheila. I did better at warming up to the lead male character Raymond. I just wish he'd have come sooner to grips with his gayness-which he continued to call bisexuality. I was so happy with the ending, where he FINALLY meets someone (Trent) who can be totally honest about his sexuality and express love openly and fully. In all a good read. And I'm anxious to check out other of E. Lynn Harris' books.
Rating:
Summary: Tear Jerker
Review: If you need a good cry this is the one you need. The character in this book become a part of your life while you're reading it! You'll find yourself wondering what's going on with Kyle while the book isn't in your hands. E. Lynn Harris has done a great job with this one. Enjoy!
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