BLESSINGS: A NOVEL

Rating:
Summary: ... 1 Review of Blessings by Sheneska Jackson
Review: Blessing by Sheneska Jackson was a book we read recently in our book club. The book was about four women who worked in a hair salon. Zuma, a fabulous hairdresser who is an energetic, loud and brassy sister who has developed a 5 year plan to have a family by the time she is 30 with or without a man. Pat, the owner of Blessings has everything a woman could want; a wonderful husband, successful business and good friends; but there is one thing missing from her life, a child. Faye, the hair braider/weave expert is a single mother of two children, a teenage daughter (who is giving her much grief) and young son. Sandy, who happens to be the only white woman in the bunch; is the ex "dancer" now manicurist that Pat hires. Sandy lives with her boyfriend and two children and let's just say Sandy is no Mrs. Brady.

Although each of these women has different goals, backgrounds and cultures, there is one thing that is apparent throughout this entire book, and that is children. In additon to the theme of children being blessings, we also uncovered various themes such as stereotyping, interracial dating, spousal abuse and the neglect of children. The book gave a picture view of each of these women lives and what it is they chose to do to make their family real. Although some of us found the book not too well researched (in terms of the characters), predictable and typical; other members felt like they knew and understood their drama and pain. Overall the book was well written, and a good read. Sheneska Jackson did a pretty good job in showing each of these women turmoil and trouble and how they all came together to help each other out. The group on a whole rated it "fair" giving it a 7 out of 10 rating.

Rating:
Summary: What a Blessing!
Review: Blessings will make you laugh...cry...and shout for joy! I read this book in two days and enjoyed it from start to finish. I'll never look at the beauty shop the same. It's definitely true that the vein to what's going on in any small town, runs through the beauty shop. If you get your hair done on a regular basis...you can easily keep track of your neighbors! The ending was wonderful, I'm so glad everything turned out for the best!

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Summary: The truth
Review: I didn't really know what to expect of this book just that it was about a beauty shop. When I read the first line i was shocked the author was talking about the area that I live in, right on the corner. So, I immediatly started to wonder which shop she was talking about. When I finaly got to sit down and really read it I couldn't put the book down. The book told THE TRUTH. How there is a lot of gossip and back stabbing that goes on in the shop and also how we can all pull together when someone is in trouble. This book dealt with real life situations that touched me to the bone. I'm a Child Development major and it made all sorts of emotions appear when all the situations concerning the children arose. Ms. Sheneska Jackson thank you for giving me something to enjoy and think about when I had nothing to do. P.S. i'm going to find out which salon you were talking about, and I love the name. Blessings, Naomi

Rating:
Summary: Better than T.V.
Review: I have read all of Sheneska Jackson's novels and although I thought Lil' Mama's Rule could not be topped, after reading this book I quickly re-evaluated my judgement. The characters are believable and real(I found myself contributing to their lively conversations, outloud and in public, quite embarassing at times, but hey, that's what a good book can do to you.) Blessings critical look at motherhood proved that motherhood is no easy task and children are a blessing and we should always do right by them. Blessings is spiritual, funny and heartening. I am just not ready to let these beauticians go, hell I wish I could sit in the shop all day and wait to have my hair done by Zuma! Ms. Jackson if you ever read this, please bring these characters back to life again. If I ever get to write a novel half as good as this one I would have done a good job. Great book! Peace.

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Summary: Deep...
Review: I read this book about two years ago and I must say to this day this is one of the best books I have ever read. To see how this different woman were how much they had in comman yet how less they had in common. This book definately had me in tears and I would love to see it on the big screen.

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Summary: Blessings is a wonderful book
Review: I really enjoyed this book. What a blessing the gift of motherhood is, or can be.
This book introduces you to four women: Pat, Zuma, Faye, and Sandy. All of these women work in Blessings a beauty salon owned by Pat. Pat has everything, wonderful loving husband, a great career, and a beautiful home. The one thing that she wants is a child. This obsession to have a child is the one thing that could tear her marriage apart. When Pat finds out she can?t have children, she not only goes into a deep depression, but she shuts her husband out. Her wonderful husband knowing how much they both want a family is willing to work things out, and has found a way for them to adopt a child. They have to deal with the anguish of adopting as well. Will Pat ever have the child she desires so much?

Faye works in the salon as the braider and weave mistress. She has two children, and she is a widower. She is also overweight. She is still dealing with the pain of losing her husband, and to deal with her loneliness and stress she eats, and eats, and eats some more. She is raising a problematic teenager who really needs some motherly attention (and a good spanking would not hurt), and a young son. Faye was a character who if I could I wanted to reach into the pages of the book, and shake her. Her emotional eating just made me so angry with her. She was eating instead of facing her problems, and coming to grips with what her emotions were doing to her children.

Zuma was a trip. Zuma is a no nonsense type of woman, who does not take any lip from anyone. After being in a relationship that did not work out, she had a Master Plan to have a child on her own without a man, especially her sorry ex. Nothing or no one was going to interfere with her Master Plan. What Zuma did not do was have a back up Master Plan, and she pretty much expected everything to go as she planned. The rest of her Master Plan included owning her own shop, and she had the money saved to have one.

Sandy is a mother of two, and she hates being a mother. While the other women embraced the blessing of being a mother or had a strong desire to be a parent, if Sandy had her way she would not have had children. She only had them because the man she is in love with wanted children. Sandy is was an exotic dancer (White Chocolate), but when she started dating Cerwin, the owner of the bar she worked at, he did not want her to be a dancer anymore. If her children so much as whimpered, she would lash out at them, but let someone try to step in and say something about how she is raising her children, and she will pretty much go off on you. When tragedy strikes she makes the ultimate sacrifice. One that will be a blessing to someone who truly deserved it. This book is very descriptive, but flows well. This book will take you on an emotional roller coaster. You will laugh, you will cry, you will get angry, then you will cry again. You will feel sorry for some of the characters, but get disgusted, and angry at another.

There is a description about a guys rusty crusty feet that will leave you laughing long after you read it. The ending of the book will have you reaching for some tissue. I would love to see a follow up to this book. When you read the book you will understand why I would like to see a sequel to this book. This is a wonderful book.


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Summary: Parenting 101
Review: Ms. Jackson definatley has the Blessings of a great writer. Expericing characters of Blessings makes you sad, mad, and happy. Generally, these women had something in common. As they bond together you will see the realization of life. When you read this book you will know that God has giving them the many Blessings of life. Ms. Jackson has a nice writing stlye.

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Summary: Ms. Jackson if you Nasty!!
Review: My girl knows how to write a book that you just don't want to put down! i loved this book. i found myself cussin, crying, laughing, the whole nine. Tell me you didn't want to SMACK Faye's daughter in the mouth, and Sandy done lost her mind over a man that don't even want her and Pat *shaking my head* she had a good man. These ladies were great characters! I didn't know what to expect about a book that took place in a shop but my girl linked it all together. Ms. jackson sure is nasty!!!

Rating:
Summary: Good, but...
Review: Sometimes, an unrealistic ending can dim the entire enjoyment of a book.

That is how I felt about this book.

The storylines were engaging and held my interest. However, the ending about Sandy was so unrealistic that it turned me off. There is no way in heaven or hell that Sandy would not have been prosecuted -- at the very least, her story would have a very different ending than what we were given in the book.

(I'm trying hard not to give it away, but I really want to go on a rant!!!!).

I wish the ending had been more realistic. Had it been, I would have given this book 5 stars...

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Summary: Interesting book showing morals
Review: this was a good book to read with nice dialouge and events that happened, bu sometimes i thought that it was a bit detailed. i liked how she incorporated a white woman into a black beauty parlor that did not feel the same way about children. i especially like the part where she's in bed with a guy and his toenails were so jagged that they sractched her and made her bleed. that was quite hilarious.