Rating: 
Summary: Great listening
Review: "What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day" wasn't the story I expected from reading the package blurb; it was better. I checked it out of the library because it looked like it might be a decent listen while I went about my daily activities. Usually I find modern novels disappointing, but this one hooked me and kept me interested from the start.The story is told in the first person by Ava, whose hair salon begins to fail after she is "outed" as HIV+ and nervous customers stop coming. She sells the salon with the intention of moving across the country to San Francisco. What happens when she drops in to visit her sister Joyce, a community activist, in a small Michigan town before making her big move is the substance of the book. The dialogue and many aspects of the characters rang true, which is one of the great pleasures of a novel for me. Okay, Eddie may be a bit too wonderful to be real and the reverend's wife perhaps a bit too evil. And there were a couple of situations where it seemed that in order to advance the story Cleage didn't let the characters think of obvious solutions to their dilemmas (leaving me to mentally yell at them things like "Call the police!", but that didn't greatly detract from my enjoyment. Some of the action is horrifying to hear, but not in a horror-story way; more like a shake-your-head way -- at things you know people actually do. My main criterion for evaluation a book is how much I enjoyed it and whether I want to hear something else from this author. Since I was sorry to come to the end of the tape, I give this five stars. Ironically, it was only after I had almost finished listening that I realized (from reading the box) that I was hearing an abridged version of the novel. The abridgement was not at all obvious to me, so I think it was well done, but of course I wish there had been more story to listen to.
Rating: 
Summary: Life may not be a bed of roses... but...
Review: Imagine a novel narrated by a woman diagnosed with HIV in her prime. Imagine that while this diagnosis changes everything, the woman overcomes her own demons to protect the lives of her friends and family surrounding her. Imagine a happy ending. Impossible? Not with this novel! Pearl Cleage's first novel, What Looks Like Crazy, is a testament to the strong character of women in this day and age. A highly successful African-American businesswoman in Atlanta realizes her life must change when diagnosed with HIV. After writing letters to her sex partners over the past ten years, she decides to visit her sister in Michigan before moving across the country. Instead of a restful three-month visit, Ava becomes ensconced in her sister Joyce's existence. A much needed women's group is developed to teach the teens basic information such as safe sex, self defense and child care despite opposition from the traditional church administration. A crack-addicted newborn joins Ava and Joyce's family. And Ava becomes dangerously close to an old friend, Eddie, that may keep her in Michigan longer than anticipated. A heartwarming tale' I can't wait to read Cleage's latest novel!
Rating: 
Summary: You've Got To Be Kidding
Review: 391 reviews and this book averages 4 stars??? Give me a break. The story is flat, predictable, and full of cliches. The way in which the 3 main characters are written just doesn't seem real, and that is why I found it hard to care about what happens to them. So, with only 50 pages left to the end, I put it down. Don't waste your money because this book is highly over-rated.
Rating:
Summary: Out of all of Oprah's picks
Review: I like this one the best. I know the blurb doesn't sound like much ... An African-American woman diagnosed with HIV goes home to visit big sister. Boy, do I have to tell you ... ignore the blurb and just dive into the book. This is one of the best reads I've read this year. It's not depressing at all ... it's the fighting spirit book that just keeps you upbeat. I remember telling my husband about this book and now, he's interested in reading it someday (after my mom reads it!). Ava Johnson comes home to Michigan after living in Atlanta for 10 years or so ~~ this was just going to be a short stop on the way to San Francisco where she is determined to find a new life. Only, that plan falls to the wayside. Ava's older sister, Joyce is a warm-hearted woman struggling to find ways to educate young African-American girls about birth control, fight against her church's narrow-minded pastor and his wife who are out to stop anything that is not "Christian-like". And along the way, they rescue a crack baby, Imani and Ava falls in love with Eddie, an old friend of Joyce and her husband. This is such a rivetting read. One that I highly recommend to everyone. It is written with brutal truth and humor ... and you find yourself rooting for Ava and her family as they set out to conquer the small corner of their world. It's wonderfully written to keep your interest snared ... and I am looking forward to read more of this author's work. This is not your typical depressing Oprah pick ... it's one of the best, uplifting book I've read in a long time!! 2-11-02
Rating: 
Summary: Forces us to confront delicate issues.
Review: This was the first book that I purchased through Amazon.com,and after I was through reading it I decided to read the reviews to see if other people agreed with me in my impressions of "What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day". I think that the amount of people who wrote in to describe their feelings says it all...this book really makes a statement. It is extremely realistic in its language and descriptions and is also very easy to believe as being a true story. What unnerved me about some of the reviews is the bad grammar, horrible spelling, mistakes in the main character's name (for example: Ada, or Eva...Ava is correct) and mistakes in describing the plot. It makes me wonder if people truly understood or even READ the book. I appreciate Pearl Cleage's brutal honesty and unique style of storytelling. I look forward to a sequel. (?)
Rating:
Summary: Sister No Matter What the price........
Review: Ava and Joyce this a pair that I won't forget. This book has many twist and turns because one the sisters had to endure alot of issues such as losing their parents at an early age, AIDS, losing a spouse, and falling in love again renewing their spirts together from a community that was supposed to be the black Mecca turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the both of them. By the end of the book you will be saying go girl in one breathe and in another saying God DON'T LIKE UGLY so be careful what you wish on others (...)
Rating:
Summary: Looks Like Crazy.... A MUST read
Review: Ava Johnson was the typical everyday woman until a trip to the doctors changed her life; she was diagnosed with AIDS. As a result of all of the stress that comes with living in a big city (Atlanta) and living with AIDS, Ava decides to make a pit stop at her sister's home, while on her way to move to San Francisco. However, once in Idlewood, Michigan, at her sister, Joyce's, everything changes. This book tells about the summer from Ava's point of view. At first, it seems like a pretty harsh book, with AIDS, teen pregnancy, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence. However, the way Cleage ties all of these realities together makes the book even more eventful. Her use of first person allows you, as the reader, to feel as though the book is talking directly to you. Overall, the book is a great example of real life turned into a fiction novel that is a must read for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: I didn't know whether to laugh or cry reading this book, so I did a little of both. At times witty and urbane, the writing turns dark and foreboding the next, but not in a bad way. I'm reminded of McCrae's "Bark of the Dogwood" or some of Vonnegut's novels in the way that Cleage handles her material. A bit rough at times, this book is nevertheless worth every cent. Never preachy, but rather informative and clever, it's nothing but enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: What looks like crazy....
Review: This novel is about a woman {Ava Johnson} dealing with the fact that she has HIV and her promiscuous pass that lead to her having gotten it in the first place. Cleage also writes about Ava's day-to-day journey of living with this disease and the prejudices and the ignorance of people. I'm talking about those folks that don't know how HIV is transmitted, so they make things up as they go. Ava returns to her hometown of Idelwild, Michigan seemly just for a visit to her sister on her way though to San Francisco. Where she was determined to make a new life for her self... Idelwild is not the small country town she remembers. Not only did things change but they have changed for the worse. Drugs, break-ins, teenage pregnancy and other gang related incidences seem to be the normal occurrence now. Secondary plot revolves around Ava's sister Joyce. Joyce is on a mission to spread the word and educate teenage girls and young woman all over about the importance of safe sex, self-love and self-respect. Joyce, a single woman, has decided to adopt a child. Having lost her husband and two children by tragic means. This child is special and the adoption is not so easy, as you will come to see the more you read into the novel. You will get more than a few twists and turns in this novel folks... Very good read, I promise... Ave is also fortunate enough to have found true love with a man {Eddie} while in Idelwild. Eddie too has had to dealt with the skeletons in his own closet and came out on the other end of life just fine... Eddie helps Ave realize that just because she has this terrible disease that life without true love isn't necessary. My first taste of Pearl Cleage. I must say I am very impressed with this author style of writing. She is refreshing and witty and I am wondering what the heck took me so long in reading this novel in the first place... A friend told me about her a few years passed and I wish I would have gone out and purchased a copy right then... I could have said more in the review but I don't want to take away any surprises for those of you that will read this book... It was so interesting that I read it in about 6 hours time...
Rating:
Summary: Loved it - what more can I say?
Review: AMAZING book, just amazing! I loved this book so much , just can't recommend it highly enough. It's one of those books you will never regret owning. My copy has pride of place in my bookshelves while Pearl's voice still dances in my head. I also recommend "Second Glance" by Jodi Picoult. A very different type of book, but mesmerising also. Enjoy!
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