What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day

Rating:
Summary: Not so crazy after all
Review: Ava Johnson has been diagnosed with HIV and she wants to move to the more open-minded San Francisco. Before heading to San Francisco, she makes a stop-over in her childhood town, where her widowed big sister lives and works as a social-worker. Ava wants to hang out with her sister and relax, but she soon discovers that the big city problems have moved to the small towns as well. She becomes involved in her sister's social work with teenage mothers, crack addicts etc. The story is written like a sort of diary, and we follow Ava during a few summer months where all sorts of things happen. The subjects being brought up in this book are not happy, and it is hard to imagine that this can be a happy book, but it is. It is also funny, well written, moving, dramatic, touching and very good. The characters are easy to love or hate and you feel like you want to know more about the persons when the books ends.

Rating:
Summary: A Worthwhile Read-And True to Life
Review: When Ava Johnson discovers that she is HIV-positive, her life changes instantly. She sells her hair shop, and moves back home to Idlewood Michigan to be with her sister Joyce. Joyce has just rebounded from the untimely death of her husband Mitch, and therefore could use Ava's company. So once Ava settles in, a variety of events begin to happen in their lives.

First of all, an old childhood friend Eddie, comes into Ava's life, and the two start a romance. But Ava is afraid to tell him of her HIV-positive status. But Eddie also has secrets of his own.

Joyce also needs a helping hand with Imani, a crack-addicted baby she has taken into her heart and home. But getting custody won't be easy, as the natural mother is putting up a big fight. So Joyce will carry the case as far as she can to win.

And last but not least, is the Sewing Circle, of which is a group of women in the church who get together. Joyce is determined there to teach the young black girls about safe sex practices, drugs, pregnancy, and other life issues. But there is a lot of interference from the Reverend Anderson's wife, as she doesn't approve, and she makes all kinds of trouble for both Joyce and Ava. Especially when it comes to spreading rumors that Ava is HIV positive to the whole community.



Rating:
Summary: Dare to Live and Dream
Review: This book was excellent, it makes you look at life so differently. Ava's life could have been any of ours, life dealt her a bad hand and it hurt. Having a loving understanding sister in your corner is a plus. Then she mets a man and unsure of what to do or how to act she runs at first, then they become friends. It all happened in truth and honsety, which is why I say dare to live and dream. I think the man in this book is one we all dream for. I was glad to also she that Joyce was dealing with something that is hurting our young ladies, drugs, pregnancy, abusive men, aand hypocrites.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Informative Read
Review: What Looks like Crazy was a good read. It really opens your eyes to the issues that one must deal with while living with HIV. It's not preachy, but yet sends across a message about many other things such as love, abuse, alcoholism, drugs, and violence. Ava is the main character who is HIV positive, and she is the narrator of the story. You can't help but empathize with this character. Joyce, her older sister, is just as enjoyable. The love and support between these two sisters is astounding. Their relationship epitomizes how sisters should stick together. What I really liked about this story is that the author leaves the message that love is always possible, not matter what the circumstances are. This is my first read by Pearl Cleage, and I plan to read the sequel, I Wish I Had a Red Dress, which tells the story of Joyce.