Rating: 
Summary: WOW times 3!!!!
Review: I just finished "Leslie" by Omar Tyree and I have to say, this book is GREAT. It's definitely nothing like Flyy Girl, which is what I expected. Man, Leslie was definitely all that and a bag of CHIPS! The story had me going like she was just another lonely, manic depressed female who didn't know the business, when in fact Leslie Beaudet knew it all, done it all, and just had to show the world who was boss. Mr. Tyree, this book is wonderful, and PLEASE write a sequel... Gotta know what happens next.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Read
Review: Very interesting book!! Omar Tyree is not one of my favorite authors, but he really held my attention with this one.Leslie had alot of personal issues and its sad that she dealt with them through killing. I found the chapters about her mother to drag the book. Maybe if those chapters told more of why Leslie felt the way she felt against her mother, it would have kept my interest. In the end, I could really see her getting off. All she need is Johnny Cochran on her side. Omar Tyree dug deep for this one. It was very original.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: Leslie was a well written and researched novel. The message that I received from reading this book was that when Leslie's father gave up and left the family it destroyed the family. If Leslie's father would have been a strong Black man, maybe the family wouldn't have had so many tragedies. I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to Part 2.
Rating: 
Summary: Mildly Disappointing
Review: I felt strained to complete this book. It took too long to bring the story together. By the time it got interesting enough to not put down it was over. What I would like to see is a sequel. But only if Leslie is still the main character and has beaten the charges against her. To see her learn about her powers and how to use them without all the wrongfully placed vengence would be good. The other priestess who recognized as the war priestess has a lot to offer. I felt there were too many loose strings left and the book had no closure.
Rating:
Summary: A WORTHWHILE LISTENING EXPERIENCE
Review: From Omar Tyree, the New York Times bestselling author of "Flyy Girl" and "For The Love of Money" comes "Leslie," an audio novel set in mysterious New Orleans. Voodoo, drugs and murder permeate this tale about Leslie Beaudet, a beautiful co-ed of Haitian and Black Indian descent. Leslie is the focal point of a spectrum of dreams and expectations emanating from a cast of entertaining characters who illuminate unique facets of African-American life in the cultural melange of the Big Easy. She is resourceful and determined in her quest for success, thus surprising those who thought they knew her. Like many, Leslie is complex and driven by fears of failure and feelings of powerlessness in controlling her fate. Healther Alicia Simms' reading adds a pleasing auditory dimension, making Leslie a worthwhile listening experience.
Rating: 
Summary: Leslie lacks luster, packed with promise
Review: "Where was the independence for the ghetto, the freedom to feel free without the weight of poverty bending you over and breaking your back?" I decided to begin with this thought from the title character Leslie because after reading this voluminous novel, I think this early question encapsulates the theme of this novel; it is poverty not just due to the lack of money but also being poor in spirit that is at the heart of this tale. Early in this coming of age story set in Louisiana, the financial disparity between Leslie and her roommates stands out as the catalyst for why she does not seem to "feel" as they do and why she perceives herself as a misunderstood outsider. Oft times a cold and rigid character, Leslie continues to dwell on her suffering not only from poverty but interrace racism, sexual abuse and the social stigma of a parent with AIDS. Add to the "weight" of these burdens, her family being ostracized in New Orleans for being cultural different (Haitian) and having two emotionally frail siblings, and Leslie seems to carry the weight of the world with a pessimist and self-defeating attitude. As you further wind through the maze of characters in this tale, trying to determine what fuels Leslie's increasing hostility towards them, her murderous intent and unhappiness, you soon discover that poverty is like a noose not only around the neck of the poor person (Leslie) but society, as well. When Leslie cannot hack all the trials and tribulations heaped upon her, she turns on the world around her and provides a gripping illustration of how and why society continues to be plagued by crimes and moral depravity. Though I don't think anyone who reads this, at times preachy tale, will excuse Leslie's action due to her "problems." I think one can, at points, empathize with the frustration of the Leslie, "a crab trying to get of the barrel being pulled down by the rest." No matter how hard Leslie fights to go to work, be a good student, and a good sibling, she is dragged into the problems of her family and friends, which sends her reeling out of control. I know once I reached the end of this melodrama, I wondered why Leslie was not ever taught, "God does not give you more than you can handle." Possibly if she had known that, Leslie would have had the strength to resist the evil impulses that eventually causes her downfall. But, then I thought, why is the world plagued with some many have not lashing out at the haves? Why do the haves not share with the have-nots? Why is it so hard to change your station life? And, why when you try to do other try to keep you from succeeding. I don't think this novel provides answers to these questions, but what it does do is allow you to see how if you do not control your reactions to the things that happen to you, how they will take control of you. Equally important in this tale is her father Jean, who is the closet person to her in this story. He has also succumbed to his life circumstances and leaves the love of his life and family behind. I believe, he learns too late that offering yourself to someone you love is a greater gift than having something material to share.
Despite the fact that his character lacks development in the story, his heart wrenching speech about his wife, which can be applied to all women in general, is worth sharing: "But how could any man repay a woman for her heart, a heart that beats with unconditional love, and for life's sake alone? How could a man repay a woman for the sharing of her womb to bear children, and then to feed, nurture and love them until the grave and after? How could he repay a woman for the warmth that she gives a home? And how could a man repay a woman for the trust she endows in him from the moment that her heart skips a beat and becomes heated inside her chest at his sight, his breath, and at his touch? The debt is bottomless. When I got to the end of this novel, I debated what to say about all of the characters and themes within it. There is no Hollywood happy ending, no solution to poverty or teenage pregnancy, no answer to how to save lost souls, except to say that most of these characters could have found a different outcome in their situations if they had remembered this saying:
We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have by Frederick Koenig.
We all have burdens in this lifetime, although one would hope lighter than Leslie and her clan's. I would hope that anyone who chooses to read this novel, could wade through it and come out and remember:
"It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it."
Lena Horne A review by M.C. Beamon, Author or Dark Recesses and Eyewitness (2002), and columnist on [URL's}.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: Well I really like Flyy Girl, which is the first book i read by Mr. Tyree. Although, i'm still not finished reading "Leslie", so far I'm enjoying it, yes i agree with the other reviewers about Leslie's mother and Father, but over all I'm pleased, this is the first time i've gotten to sit down and read a book since I've had my baby, so it's a good "get-away"!
Rating:
Summary: He's doing it again!
Review: As an avid reader of Omar Tyree,Igrabbed the book as soon as I could. Tyree is not only a master writer and storyteller - he is a teacher. Each new novel we learn something new not only about the human psyche but also our black culture as well. Admittedly I never knew or wanted to know anything about voodoo. Tyree helps us to understand this ancient religion VAUDOU is a culture and what we,or I thought I knew was totally wrong. I also appreciate relearning French.
The story centers around our dreams and aspirations,how we strive to achieve and how we respond when the inevitable roadblocks occur. It is the struggles which make us strong or weaken us. We can look at each character and their various responses to not only guide us individually but help us to remember that no matter how we responded it is never too late. As long as we live we can atone for the past and strive for the future.
Rating:
Summary: Getting Better.... Full of fluff.....
Review: I thought this book was better than Tyree's previous two books. Mr. Tyree has been slipping. He spends too much time describing Leslie's mysterous disposition. I could not wait for him to get the story started. You could read the first chapter and skip to page 150 & U would not have missed a thing. Tyree needs to ease up on the fluff a little. It gets exciting towards the end. However, the ending could have been much better. It leaves you hanging like there may be a part 2 in the works. Who Knows...
Rating:
Summary: I could not put the book down....
Review: This book was wonderful. The beginning is a little slow, but once I got into it, I simply could not put it down. I skipped my chores, didn't watch TV or listen to music or anything....all because I was entranced by this novel.
The book combines ghetto psychology with everyday life...it's simply a masterpiece.
Mr. Tyree has outdone himself.
Five stars *****
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