Rating: 
Summary: Just Finished
Review: As many other reviewers have stated, Mrs. Rose writes with such lucidness as to draw you into the pages. Everything from the sassiness of Aunt Josephine to the gut wrenching angst of Tonya can be felt. In the tradition of many Black women writers, Mrs. Rose's novel speaks to history, culture, art, politics, economics, sex, religion, and sexuality bringing them all together in a tighly knitted story that entertains. The novel is at first humorous, then painful as Tonya's turtored soul is exposed and her emotional stability unwravels confusing/hurting those who love her. As a Black Lesbian, I must correct the notion that Tonya has accepted a new-found sexuality. Her sexuality was "found" 10 years earlier. What she has is a fragile, borgeoning acceptance of it. It is a monumental task that most, Black women in particular, never meet thereby living their entire lives the way Tonya has lived the past ten years of hers. Also prominent in this novel is the kinship between Black women. Tonya's best friend, Nikki, has stood by her for 10 years and has willingly and knowingly watched Tonya hide herself behind her work as a sculptor and meaningless sexual encounters. Nikki's love for Tonya is best summed up on page 233 when one of the many supportive things she says is, "Think of it as following your heart because life is too short for denials and too long for regrets." Those regrets will resound in anyone reading this who has been in Tonya's shoes, and/or who has risked loving a "Tonya". Towards the end of the book I ached with empathy for Tonya, but still was fed up with her selfishness and expectation that she has all the damn cake at the party and expect for people to wait until she decides that they can have a piece too. The only problem is that for years she has been given only pieces and finally she has people in her life who will no longer settle for pieces! Originally, my criticism of this book was what I thought to be unrealistic acceptance/ patience Tonya receives, especially from Malcom. Realistically, this is a dangerous situation for both Satin and Tonya to be in. (...) I kept waiting for this truth to be played out on these pages. Mrs. Rose presents another reality. Through Malcolm, she debunks the one-sided portrayal of Black males and presents us with a Black MAN; one who truly is secure in his manhood, supportive, kind, always loving no matter what, and able to talk about his hurt without intimadating and beating on the woman who feels has caused it. Her portrayal of him works to do several things. First, it makes it easy to sympathize with him, even if you are a Lesbian who would, of course, prefer that Tonya follows her heart and live HER life. Secondly, Malcolm can not be used as justification. He disallows straight readers the excuse of "She is only with a woman because she had bad/abusive/ unsatisfying experiences with men." He is the man that we want our straight daughters to bring home! Often, Lesbianism is reduced to being a result of of sexual, physical, emotional, and/or psychological trauma at the hands of a promininet male figure in our lives. This reduction has no room in this novel. Mrs. Rose does a great job of chronicling Tonya's long-standing,intense feelings for women that exists not as a reactin to something traumatic, or something missing, but merely as a result of her humanity. So on second thought, my only criticism is the handling of Robin in this "mess," but I have probably given too much away in this long review. So I will stop here. Excellent work Mrs. Rose. This is the book I will be giving as gifts and recommending for a long time to come! If there is a sequel, please bring back Aunt Josephine!
Rating:
Summary: Just Finished
Review: As many other reviewers have stated, Mrs. Rose writes with such lucidness as to draw you into the pages. Everything from the sassiness of Aunt Josephine to the gut wrenching angst of Tonya can be felt. In the tradition of many Black women writers, Mrs. Rose's novel speaks to history, culture, art, politics, economics, sex, religion, and sexuality bringing them all together in a tighly knitted story that entertains. The novel is at first humorous, then painful as Tonya's turtored soul is exposed and her emotional stability unwravels confusing/hurting those who love her. As a Black Lesbian, I must correct the notion that Tonya has accepted a new-found sexuality. Her sexuality was "found" 10 years earlier. What she has is a fragile, borgeoning acceptance of it. It is a monumental task that most, Black women in particular, never meet thereby living their entire lives the way Tonya has lived the past ten years of hers. Also prominent in this novel is the kinship between Black women. Tonya's best friend, Nikki, has stood by her for 10 years and has willingly and knowingly watched Tonya hide herself behind her work as a sculptor and meaningless sexual encounters. Nikki's love for Tonya is best summed up on page 233 when one of the many supportive things she says is, "Think of it as following your heart because life is too short for denials and too long for regrets." Those regrets will resound in anyone reading this who has been in Tonya's shoes, and/or who has risked loving a "Tonya". Towards the end of the book I ached with empathy for Tonya, but still was fed up with her selfishness and expectation that she has all the damn cake at the party and expect for people to wait until she decides that they can have a piece too. The only problem is that for years she has been given only pieces and finally she has people in her life who will no longer settle for pieces! Originally, my criticism of this book was what I thought to be unrealistic acceptance/ patience Tonya receives, especially from Malcom. Realistically, this is a dangerous situation for both Satin and Tonya to be in. (...) I kept waiting for this truth to be played out on these pages. Mrs. Rose presents another reality. Through Malcolm, she debunks the one-sided portrayal of Black males and presents us with a Black MAN; one who truly is secure in his manhood, supportive, kind, always loving no matter what, and able to talk about his hurt without intimadating and beating on the woman who feels has caused it. Her portrayal of him works to do several things. First, it makes it easy to sympathize with him, even if you are a Lesbian who would, of course, prefer that Tonya follows her heart and live HER life. Secondly, Malcolm can not be used as justification. He disallows straight readers the excuse of "She is only with a woman because she had bad/abusive/ unsatisfying experiences with men." He is the man that we want our straight daughters to bring home! Often, Lesbianism is reduced to being a result of of sexual, physical, emotional, and/or psychological trauma at the hands of a promininet male figure in our lives. This reduction has no room in this novel. Mrs. Rose does a great job of chronicling Tonya's long-standing,intense feelings for women that exists not as a reactin to something traumatic, or something missing, but merely as a result of her humanity. So on second thought, my only criticism is the handling of Robin in this "mess," but I have probably given too much away in this long review. So I will stop here. Excellent work Mrs. Rose. This is the book I will be giving as gifts and recommending for a long time to come! If there is a sequel, please bring back Aunt Josephine!
Rating:
Summary: Lyrical Lesbian Fiction at it's Best
Review: Easily, one of the best lesbian books I've ever read. Odessa Rose took us through the emergence of Tonya Mimms' newfound sexuality, her self-acceptance, first female relationship, and finally her coming out. From beginning to end I found myself so engrossed with Tonya that I just couldn't put it down. I only wish that I could find out what happened to Tonya after she comes out to her family. I'm dying for a sequel. Rose writes a very genuine and involved novel that I could read time and time again. The words were so poetic and lyrical, but it rang of honesty and simplicity. A definite classic for any Black lesbian - or any lesbian or African American for that matter.
Rating:
Summary: Living by your own rules
Review: First time author Odessa Rose's novel, WATER IN A BROKEN GLASS, is a wonderful addition to any book collector's library. The manner in which Rose writes this novel is just as vivid and colorful as a newly painted portrait while at the same time drives home the lesson of being true to yourself. She introduces us to Tonya Mimms, a sought out sculptor with the inability to commit to anything other than her art. Tonya spends the majority of her life hiding out in a studio on the third floor of America's Art Institute working on projects passed on by her mentor. She's been involved with men before, but never on a long term basis as something just doesn't click with her. Meanwhile, she's haunted by a girl (Meyoki) that she was drawn to in high school and questions her morals while at the same time trying to convince herself that the feelings aren't real. She's been taught by her mother that "women ain't supposed to run with other women" so she uses this thought as well as other teachings of going to hell if she sins in various manners. As a result, she spends all her adult life hiding from her innermost feelings and births sculptures that reflects what her mouth is incapable of saying.
It is during one of her times of trying to get away from her thoughts that she meets Malcolm Holland and instantly takes him up on a challenge. Just when Tonya manages to have both love and sculpting in her life, she meets Satin Pierce, an openly gay bookstore owner. Although sexually drawn to Satin, Tonya establishes a friendship with her and teeters on the edge of fulfilling the desires stewing inside her. In spite of the comfort her sculptures offer, she quickly falls over the edge and a domino effect happens in her life causing her to lash out at the ones she loves as she deals with the decisions of choosing and following her heart or doing what she's been told is the right thing to do. Odessa Rose has painted vivid descriptions of both the characters and the scenes in WATER IN A BROKEN GLASS and has given us an engaging debut novel. Though the book touches on homosexuality, a subject that isn't normally approved in society, Rose has done it in a tasteful manner that helps the reader understand the character's feelings. The plot is driven by both the desires and the judgment of the characters while teaching us to be ourselves and not worry about trying to live our lives to the standards that society or those around us have established. Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: Living by your own rules
Review: First time author Odessa Rose's novel, WATER IN A BROKEN GLASS, is a wonderful addition to any book collector's library. The manner in which Rose writes this novel is just as vivid and colorful as a newly painted portrait while at the same time drives home the lesson of being true to yourself. She introduces us to Tonya Mimms, a sought out sculptor with the inability to commit to anything other than her art. Tonya spends the majority of her life hiding out in a studio on the third floor of America's Art Institute working on projects passed on by her mentor. She's been involved with men before, but never on a long term basis as something just doesn't click with her. Meanwhile, she's haunted by a girl (Meyoki) that she was drawn to in high school and questions her morals while at the same time trying to convince herself that the feelings aren't real. She's been taught by her mother that "women ain't supposed to run with other women" so she uses this thought as well as other teachings of going to hell if she sins in various manners. As a result, she spends all her adult life hiding from her innermost feelings and births sculptures that reflects what her mouth is incapable of saying.
It is during one of her times of trying to get away from her thoughts that she meets Malcolm Holland and instantly takes him up on a challenge. Just when Tonya manages to have both love and sculpting in her life, she meets Satin Pierce, an openly gay bookstore owner. Although sexually drawn to Satin, Tonya establishes a friendship with her and teeters on the edge of fulfilling the desires stewing inside her. In spite of the comfort her sculptures offer, she quickly falls over the edge and a domino effect happens in her life causing her to lash out at the ones she loves as she deals with the decisions of choosing and following her heart or doing what she's been told is the right thing to do. Odessa Rose has painted vivid descriptions of both the characters and the scenes in WATER IN A BROKEN GLASS and has given us an engaging debut novel. Though the book touches on homosexuality, a subject that isn't normally approved in society, Rose has done it in a tasteful manner that helps the reader understand the character's feelings. The plot is driven by both the desires and the judgment of the characters while teaching us to be ourselves and not worry about trying to live our lives to the standards that society or those around us have established. Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Rating: 
Summary: Water in a Broken Glass review
Review: I found this to be an excellent book, sensitive to a very controversial issue. I also felt as though I was taking a tour through the cultural sites of Baltimore. The research was superb. Great job, Ms. Rose; can't wait for the next book.
Rating:
Summary: Tanya's not done yet................
Review: I had the pleasure of talking with and purchasing the novel from Ms. Rose at our local mall and couldn't wait to read it. She's a wonderful person with an excellent book on her resume. The characters are written so you can see them and feel their pain. The sexuality, relationships and dissapointments are real-life.......it's the stuff we all have to deal with and nobody wants to talk about. When I finished the book, all I could think about was how brave Ms. Rose was to take this subject on. What a wonderful and honest book....it shows the authors own capacity to love.
I got so caught up in the book that I was sorry when I turned the last page because Tanya was just beginning her first chapter. Ms. Rose .......if you are reading this.....Tanya is not done yet! Looking forward to the sequel.....Dawn (Security Square Mall)
Rating:
Summary: It left me wanting more.
Review: I have read this novel 3 times. The language is lyrical. The characters, people we meet everyday. The story nearly brought tears to my eyes, actually I did cry. This is a must read for lesbians, especially African American lesbians.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read
Review: I really enjoyed this book and hope to read more of Odessa Rose's books in the future. I am not a lesbian but can understand the confusion that Tanya was going through. I felt the sadness of both of her lovers and at times felt that Tanya was really selfish. I would recommend this book to all of my friends gay or straight. Good job Mrs.Rose!
Rating:
Summary: DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO
Review: I think Tonya made the right decision. Prior to meeting Satin who helped her to recognized who she is and was all along, her life was miserable. I just wish she din't have hurt anyone in the process. ...
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