Rating: 
Summary: WASN'T FEELING THIS NOVEL
Review: A wonderful tale of a couple of friends growing up in Alabama and the joys and pains that come along with it: from experiencing that first crush, doing "it" the first time, and falling in love, until jealousy mixed with frustration leads to murder! I enjoyed this one and can't wait to read Monroe's previous and future works.
Rating: 
Summary: Gonna Lay Down my Burdens
Review: Gonna lay Down My Burdens
("The best book I've read so far") "I kept my tears and my weakness to myself." That is so true because in this book one of the character's, named Carmen keeps all her feelings to herself. She always tries to help others. Mary Monroe's purpose of writing this book was to create a image in the mind, And make it feel like you're there, or your one of the characters. The setting is very overwhelming ; It created a wonderful mood for the reader. The language has dialect. This is truly a fascinating book.
In Gonna Lay Down My Burden, there are two best friends and one man. When Carmen has a night to remember with Chester, she doesn't tell Desiree about it. So, this creates a problem when Desiree starts dating him. Also, when Carmen interferes with a fight between Desiree and Chester, she does something that will change her and Desiree's life forever.
The story setting is very detail and it makes it feel like the reader is there. " The rain, hammering down out of the north, thumped on the windows of my dependable old Nissan like rocks" This lets the reader know how fast the rain was coming down and it kind of make the reader feel like they were in the rain as well. Mary Monroe did a great job at creating the mood.
The characters of the story are childhood friends. Carmen is the type of person that keeps her troubles to herself and everybody knows a person like that. Where on the other hand Desiree is that type that always get herself in trouble but can't get herself out of it and have to call her friend to help her out.
The plot is the important part of the story. It gets kind of confusing at the begin because it jumps from the present to the past and then back to the present. Once the reader get use to the plot it is wonderful. It tells all the way up unto the present day.
Language is another important part of the story. It is a narrative its told in third person. It has that southern kind of talk because it is set in Alabama.
To close, this book receive five stars from every aspect. The only thing it can be confusing and keeps the reader wondering till the end.
Rating:
Summary: It is official Ms. Monroe is one of my favorite authors!
Review: I have to let you know that this review may be bias because I just love this author's style. Her characters are funny, interesting,& realistic. I have however noticed this pattern in her books. She always seems to have at least one character in her book that solves their problems by committing murder. I wanted to read more about the love interest in this novel, I hope that she has a part two to this novel like she did God don't like ugly.
Rating:
Summary: nice nice nice
Review: i liked the book alot. i lovedddddd all the twists that it had to offer. I would tell all what happened but im not finna do that to those who haven't read the book yet. it is a must read. it will definately have you sayin, "what?" and things like, "she's crazy/stupid". But this book is a definite must read. holla
Rating:
Summary: Loved It!
Review: I listened to the book on tape while at work. This story is eventful from beginning to end. I love the way they start off in the present and then go back to tell us how they got to that point. My opinions of people changed throughout the story as you got to know them better. The story made me laugh and cry out loud while sitting at my desk! Way to go!
Rating:
Summary: Burdens Layed Down
Review: Mary Monroe has done it again, this book was great. The characters were all very interesting and suspenseful. This book was a real page turner, once I started it I could not put it down. Mary has a great way of building characters that keep you very interested. I would recommend this book to everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: M.Joseph
Review: Mary Monroe's powerful voice speaks volumes to her audience. She gets into the hearts and souls of her readers by creating characters that they can relate to.
Gonna Lay Down My Burdens is a novel about deception, lonliness and guilt. As the main character Carmen, determined to make amends for her cruel acts spends most of her adult life feeling obligated to a man for the pain that she caused him during their childhood. She promises herself to this man, whom she doesn't love because of her guilt. Carmen started on a journey that wasn't her own but a surprising twist of faith leads her to her true love.This book speaks of love and lost and it will take you on a journey that will leave you feelinf fulfilled.
Rating:
Summary: Easy Read
Review: The best thing I can say about this book was that it was a very easy read. No confusion...chapters flowed smoothly. I did have a problem with the fact that Chester was made at the end to be somewhat of a nice guy avoiding the fact that the book started with him beating his wife. The whole plot with Carmen & Desiree leaving the state when they thought they had killed Chester was very lame. It just didn't make sense that they would leave when it was self-defense. However, the book is somewhat entertaining if you're looking for light reading material.
Rating:
Summary: Didn't lay down right.....
Review: This book was ok. Ok, let's start it like this.... You help your bestfriend out by going to her house to help her get away from her boyfriend beating her, then you turn around and hit him in the head thinking you killed him. Not to mention the fact that this is a man you have been in love with since he was a boy and he is also the person that took your virginity, but you would not let yourself be with him because you owed another man your life because you paralyzed a man playing a trick on him. Good grief, that story line was jacked up from the beginning. Call me selfish, but there is not that much guilt in the world to put your life on hold for someone else. Yes, Carmen can feel like she was in debt to Burl for the rest of his life because of his accident that she helped cause, but as fas as her love life, she can love whomever she wants. If you read this book you will see that Carmen was just too dayum friendly and she let people take advangtage of her. I was suprise at Mary Monroe, because this story line what just tired. Later!!!
Rating:
Summary: Gonna lay down my burdens - One of the best books of 2002
Review: This book was so fantastic and down to earth that I just could not put it down. I was so into the book that I read it at work every chance I could get. The book was good from the first page until the very last page. My heart went out to Carmen as a young girl because she was like so many young girls. Her only real crime was not going to her parents and letting them know about the deadly prank she pulled. I love all of Mary Monroe's books, but this was by far the best one yet. Thumbs up to you Mary Monroe.
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