Rating: 
Summary: A FANTASTIC READ!
Review: Pearl Cleage is my hero! When I began reading this book I thought that this would be a sad story. How wrong I was. This was the best story I have ever read that involved so many tragic ocurrences to nice people. I kept reading and I am glad that I did. I learned so much from this book about compassion and unconditional love. I feel that I am a better person just because I read Pearl's book. I could not believe that this was a first novel. Bravo Pearl Cleage! You are on your way! Keep writing and I will certainly keep reading your work.Sandy
Rating: 
Summary: Over-rated
Review: Interesting but sorely under developed characters; plot is predictable, contrived, and cliche.
Rating:
Summary: very enjoyable, easy read, and a real page turner. Loved it
Review: This book carried me away with the story, very emotional and moving
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: I couldn't put this book down! I thought Pearle did a great job of dealing with some of today's worst issues. I laughed. I cried. A great read!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Fabulous !!! Seems more like fact than fiction
Review: Pearl Cleage is one of the best authors I've seen in a while. She keeps you on the edge as she shows you the life of Ava & the town of Idlewood. I stayed up until 2 am & read by the moonlight because I couldn't get enough of this book. Pearl, your work is definitely a "pearl"!
Rating: 
Summary: A show for Ricki Lake
Review: Thankfully this wasn't the first book I read from the Oprah book club. I realize this is Ms. Cleage's first novel, but I would suggest she stick with playwriting. No doubt, she has lots of literary talent, but she didn't do herself any favors with this book. First, we are to feel sorry for Ava because she got AIDS. She deserved it, after all she would go into a room and be proud, she sleep with every man here. Second, a black paradise that she left is no long their, it looked like every one under 19 had a kid with no father around. . Seemed like only two teenage boys (Frank & Tyrone) were around to be fathers. Sound like a show for Ricki Lake The when the idealistic heroines (Joyce, Eddie, Ava) suggested possibly hurting or killing the two troubled teenage boys (Frank & Tyrone), I was appalled. Even though their intent was not made specifically clear, my take on it was that they were tentatively planning to murder those boys! If this should even be fictionally stated that this is how the black community deal with their own, let's just pray that a white supremist not get hold of this book!! Considering violence against children (even fictionally) is scary. When it comes to this book, Why waste their time reading this drowning book, that would sink the Titanic?
Rating:
Summary: Light, beautiful, funny prose -- I couldn't put it down.
Review: Ms. Cleage's first fiction novel is a gem. I read and re-read parts of it that truly touched me in ways I never expected. The ending seemed a little too "polished" for me -- like a made-for-t.v. movie -- but it also gave me hope that happy endings can come true. Now, if only I could find Eddie...
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!! I really enjoyed this book.
Review: Pearl Cleage is an excellent writer. I felt as if I was there in Idlewild with Ava. The characters were easy to relate to and very real. Pearl Cleage did an excellent job developing the storyline and the characters. I am anxiously awaiting her next novel!!!
Rating: 
Summary: A thoughtful and funny tale about the ties that bind.
Review: Ms. Cleage has written a heartwarming tale that manages to find humor in desperate times and situations. While I thought the story was a bit predictable, it did not detract from the overall quality of that of her characters. I was conflicted because I found myself reading faster, and faster as I wanted to know what happened next, while at the same time, I didn't want the story to end. And when the end came, I found myself laughing and crying, happy and sad. Discovering the meaning of the title is reason enough to read the novel! I recommend it highly!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Touching and real
Review: I first read the book then I read the other reviews. Ms. Cleage is making a social commentary not offering solutions. Why should she? When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in '94 my first thoughts were definitely NOT about how little time I had left in which to change the world. I identified so strongly with Ava-and I'm a 43 yr. white woman living in a rural area. That sense of immediacy, regret and poignancy that comes with a diagnosis of terminal illness is recognizable to me. I cried-truly, was caught of guard-when Ava cut Aretha's hair. That touched me more than anything else in the book. It's about becoming and then living who we truly are.
| 
