What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day

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Summary: "What looks crazy..." really isn't.
Review: I've been reading a lot of good reviews about this work, and they're basically on target. But, the idea behind the book is a lot better than the actual execution. This is a GREAT story, but I wasn't particularly moved reading it. The sub-plots, at times, were even more interesting than the main characters. Not a bad effort, and it's a quick read, but I've read things that have moved me more.

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Summary: Cleage is standing at the cusp of a romance lit revolution.
Review: Reading Pearl Cleage's debut novel was like sipping a cold glass of lemonade on a 95 degree day - refreshing. Cleage takes romance fiction to a much needed level of suspense and adventure. And she successfully overcomes the romance writer's newest fear of the truly perfect and happy ending.

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Summary: THIS BOOK WAS GOOD...
Review: I read WHAT LOOKS LIKE CRAZY ON AN ORDINARY DAY and I reallyliked this book. I really liked the fact that even though Ava wasHIV+, she still found the love of her life in Eddie. The only part of the book that I didn't really like was when the Good Reverend's wife tried her best to stop Ava and Joyce from organizing the teen program for girls; especially when her husband was accused of "messing with" young teen boys. All-in-all, I really liked this book. I'm a sucker for a romance novel and I was extremely happy to see Ava and Eddie form a relationship. I can honestly say that I am now an official full-fledged Pearl Cleage fan!!

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Summary: You'll love catching this book by any kinda of light.
Review: Pearl Cleage's, "What Looks Like Crazy ..." is a completely enjoyable read. The story is tight, if maybe a little too compact. You're given enough information but you just want a little more. Some of the characters were given big obvious motivations and then left flat. Cleage's style is sister-girl cool, you really feel like you and the narrator, Ava, are sitting down and just hashing stuff out. The big issues are dealt with well if at times, perhaps a little too high handed. Unfortunately, because of redirection of media attention from the plight of African-American youth, the effects of drugs and the ongoing havoc that AIDS is having on the African American community some of the issues don't seem as urgent as Cleage would have us believe. She, sadly however, is right these issues are still of paramount concern for many African Americans and will continue to be so for generations to come. If nothing else "What Looks Like Crazy..." will make the reader, reconsider and remember some of the problems that plague us all. Personally, I'm looking for the next book, perhaps told from Eddie's perspective. Oh, and to understand the One-line summary, you'll have to read the book.

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Summary: Regardless of sexual-racial- gender identityCleage resonates
Review: Pearl Cleage has found a fine, wise and gutsy voice in Ava Johnson, the Afro-American heroine in the essayist-columnist-playwright's first novel WHAT LOOKS LIKE CRAZY...(Avon) HIV infected by one of her many male lovers, Ava sells her successful hair salon and heads for California, by way of of Idlewild, Michigan and a widowed sister. The odd side trip turns into a lifetime experience for the Black woman, which amazingly includes new and deepening love. No matter sexual preference or race, HIV+ or HIV-, this novel hits a solid bullseye for every reader. A most believable story by a exceedinly remarkable author.

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Summary: There is light at the end of the tunnel....
Review: After reading this wonderful, moving book, I was amazed that author Pearl Cleage was able to write so optimistically about such tragic topics: AIDS, teenage pregnancy, drug addiction & crime, society's apathy towards the "wasting" of America's youth. These problems have been faced by people living in "big cities" for years, but now they are spreading to smaller "hometowns" across America. Ms. Cleage's book "What looks like CRAZY..." chronicles the story of two sisters: Ava, who couldn't get away from her hometown fast enough - seeking the fast life in Atlanta, and Joyce, who chose to remain in her sleepy little hometown of Idlewild in Northern Michigan - trying her hardest to make a difference against increasing odds. The reality of life in the fast-lane soon catches up with Ava, and she heads back to her sister and her hometown to heal her spirits and make some major decisions about the rest of her life. However, upon arrival back home in Idlewild, Ava soon realizes that it is no longer a sleepy town. Many of the problems associated with urban living have found their way home to Idlewild. How Joyce helps resolve some of Idlewild's problems, and how Ava resolves her own problems, makes for a warm, often funny, poignant story. I've found that so many of the books on Oprah's reading list are depressing and dark - yes they do deal with "real-life" and people overcoming terrible obstacles - but you come away from reading the books feeling like someone just punched you in the stomach. Ms. Cleage's refreshing book is a story of LIFE & OPTIMISM: "what looks like CRAZY on an ordinary day looks a lot like LOVE if you catch it in the moonlight." How true that is. This book is a MUST read for everyone!

Rating:
Summary: A Look In The Mirror
Review: I couldn't help noticing that one reviewer commented "What unnevered me about some of the reviews is the bad grammar . . ." and went on to say "the amount of people who wrote in . . ." Grammatically correct verbiage is, "the number of people". Amount infers weight; number infers an actual count.

Rating:
Summary: What Looks Like Crazy is Insanely Good
Review: I have to say, that I was a bit weary of reading this book at first. It was in Oprah's book club, and I didn't want some book that had a cult following with just middle aged women. I am young and wanted a book that I could not only enjoy, but also relate to. And this book surely helped me to do both. I loved this book, but I love Cleage even more. The way she writes is so similar to the way my girlfriends and I think/talk. The read was so easy...almost too easy! I had to put it down because I didn't want to finish it!I definitely recommend this book to all.

Rating:
Summary: I liked it
Review: Initially I found this book hard to get into, but I eventually became engrossed in Ava's evolvement. Yes Eddie is somewhat unreal, like another reviewer has commented on but I still found their love story refreshing, beautiful and positive. I had a lot of issues with the seemingly ineffective, backward sheriff department and social services. I thought a better surprise ending would have been Ava getting shot by the Reverend's wife which I thought the story was leading into. All in all a good read with a unique perspective.

Rating:
Summary: Just like in real life, the sad mixes with the joyous.
Review: Pearl Cleage's What Looks like Crazy... explores some contemporary issues facing all American communities, but focuses on the microcosm of the African American community in a small town past its heydey. In this community, the reader will find issues of religious morality mixing with reality--the community has a high rate of teen pregnancy, drug use and abuse, violent boyfriends, and theft, but the religious community disagrees with the main characters about how best to deal with these issues.

Within this American microcosm, we find yet another--that of a family. Ava, who is HIV positive, returns to this community to visit her sister, who is a recent widow. This sister, Joyce, is a product of the activist generation; when she sees an issue that needs to be addressed, she gets her hands dirty and gets involved. Perhaps you can see who will be tousling with the religious community mentioned before.

Now, if the plot of the book doesn't yet intrigue you, let me tell you how quickly I was drawn into this book. It is an incredibly fast read. This is achieved by the beautiful voice of the author throughout the story. The characters here are so well developed, they seemed like people I know or could know. And they certainly have their faults too. The women in the book are all headstrong, like many women I know! The men, however, are absent fathers or horrid role models. But this is no man-hating book. Joyce's husband was clearly a wonderful human being who simply did not live until our story picks up. There's another man in the story who protects the main women in such a way that he might just make you rethink men if you are a man hater! But he too is not perfect.

I highly recommend you this book. Check it out. :)