Rating: 
Summary: A WONDERFUL book that holds BLACK MEN in a positive light!
Review: First and foremost, I have to give Ms. Brown MADD PROPS for writing a book that depicted GOOD, LOVING, HONEST brothers. Unfortunately in my reading of contemporary novels, I rarely come across books that make you go, mm mm mm, I want one of those...and Ms. Brown's novel, "The Shirt Off His Back" did that and a whole lot more."The Shirt Off His Back" is the story of Terry, a good, kind black man who is raising his 10-year-old twin daughters. Since their birth, he has had custody over them, seeing that their mother just didn't have the time or the maternal inclination to take part in their upbringing. Now, ten years later, with Terry finally finding happiness with Jackie (a beautiful sistah with her own self-esteem issues)...he's ready to make his relationship a union of both his and Jackie's families, but his twins' mother - Catherine - is back, and wants her daughters...so that she can climb the ladder of career success. This novel was a one-sitting reading, as I got engrossed with Brown's characters. Brown pulls the reader in with her conversational dialogue, and I found myself racing to finish, in the hopes that Terry would win custody of his daughters (you'll have to read for yourself to find out!) To those of us who have lived in the Waiting to Exhale, my man don' dogged me, my man ain't no good era of relationship novels, this is a definite read to restore your faith in the black men we DO know and love for their conviction and values. Shonell Bacon, author of "Luvalwayz: The Opposite Sex & Relationships" RAW Sistaz Member & Book Reviewer
Rating: 
Summary: Terry's da' man!
Review: I enjoyed reading, "The Shirt off His Back." What a positive read with emotional twists thrown in to entertain its reader. I've read "Sittin' in the front Pew" and can't decide which novel I enjoyed the most. All I know is WHATEVER... Ms. Brown writes I plan on reading. Excellent!
Rating:
Summary: Awsome!! A must Read!!
Review: I had the pleasure of meeting Parry Brown at a book signing in May of 2000, when she was self published this book. Just from the meeting, I knew that she was a woman with a story to tell. I had to buy a new book because I had loaned my book to several co-workers and the book was starting to look worn. This is Terry's story. He loved his children and he worshipped Catherine. Terry put the needs of his children before anything else. Nevertheless, he was able to see Catherine for the person that she really was. Brown's detail account of the meeting between Terry and Jackie was breathtaking. (If only it could happen in real life-but it problable has) Cedes and Roland were wonderful friends. And who could forget Momma C - everyone has a person like her in their lives -loving, smart and always wise. I fell in love with Terry from the very beginning and everyone tthat reads the story will also. But there has to be a sequal - what happen with Cedes and Roland? Will Terry and Jackie have children? Will Catherine think of another plan to win the girls hearts. Parry, We are waiting!!! Peace and Blessing
Rating:
Summary: Super!!
Review: Most novels that I read make Black men look really bad. This is the very first novel that I have read that shed light on a few good men out there. Terry is great father. I don't know any man that has done a selfless thing that he did in this novel. I think that everyone can relate to something in this novel. The characters seemed real, and most important, the love seemed real. This novel was well written.
Rating: 
Summary: What A Disappoinment!
Review: My initial thoughts were "finally, here is a novel which would refute the myth surrounding our Black men." Less than halfway into the book, I developed a serious headache - especially after reading Momma C's dialect. The characters were ridiculously phony - you really couldn't get more fictional than that! The plot was underdeveloped and surprisingly I did something I haven't done....I refused to finish the book - it was just that bad. There was so much potential with this novel, yet Parry Brown was unable to attain it! I skimmed through all the reviews (on this site) prior to reading "The Shirt Off His Back" and I agree wholeheartedly with Reviewer 'valree76' - see below or above. Her review sums it up to a "T".
Rating: 
Summary: Can ANYBODY write a book these days??
Review: One of the first things learned in any elementary level creative writing class is 3 DIMENSIONAL CHARACTERS. This book is the worst example of this I've ever seen. I believe this story got such raving reviews because of its portrayal of a positive black man raising his children, which is all good. But let's be truthful, does anybody REALLY know a man, black or white, as flawless as Terry? I doubt it, just like I doubt, unless you're personally acquainted with Jeffery Dalmer or the Devil himself, that you know anybody as evil as Catherine. And the twins, what are they, Stepford Children? The story was so mushy and unrealistic, just oozing with love and understanding and easy solutions, that the whole time I was reading it I found it difficult to believe this was a published author. I agree totally with the reviewer who said this sounded like a student's writing--a high school student at best. I think this book would have appealed to a lot MORE people, INCLUDING men, if it had been more realistic, showing more of the real life problems a man goes through when dealing with a new relationship and the troubled one with his children's mother. I'm not saying make it "ghetto," because the one thing I do agree with about this book is it's attempt to show that not all black people live that lifestyle. But these characters, NO ONE, ghetto or bourgie, can relate to because they do not act like real people at all.
Rating:
Summary: Well-intentioned Drivel
Review: Shirt Off His Back was simply terrible. I think that the author had good intentions when she wrote it. Instead of writing about no-good black men who cheat on their girlfriends/wives, she chose to write about loving black men who care for their families and are faithful. That's fine. So why did she mess it up by creating these ridiculous characters? Momma C and her annoying dialect was just too much to handle. Catherine was so unbelievable-she was almost like a black Cruella DeVille. Terry and Jackie's relationship and their perfect children were so saccharin-sweet I just couldn't handle it. The book is as far as realistic as you can get. I half-expected there to be a pumpkin, a fairy godmother, and some dwarfs in it. It would make for a perfect black Disney movie.
This book did not make for an enjoyable commute. Not recommended.
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Summary: I AM A TRUE FAN OF BLACK LOVE !!!
Review: This is book was very refreshing. There was not an ounce of a man or woman disrespecting the other in this book. Black love is a beautiful thing when a couple release all their inhibitions and just love. Ms. Brown did a fantastic job in positively portraying these couples.
I definitely recommend this book !!!
Rating:
Summary: Heartwarming
Review: This was truly a heartwarming story. I love stories that end happily. Even though they had some obstacles to overcome, love conquered all. It was unsettling to see that there are so many parents who have negative reasons for wanting to be a parent - but it is true. It gave a good insight into the fact that all mothers are not mothers and there are some great fathers!
Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL, TOUCHING, SURREAL and so much more
Review: What a beautifully woven and touching story. This book hit every emotion possible and left me begging for more. I just couldn't put it down. I had to know what would happen next. My heart went out to 11yr.old twins Alisa and Ariana, who longed for the love and acceptance of their mother,(Catherine)Who's a piece of work, in every true since of the word. It's a story that celebrates the love, compassion and friendship that surrounds them from not only their father Terry, who's raised them since birth but, also from their extended family Roland, Jackie, Michael and Michelle, Mercedes, Momma C, Teresa and Veronica. The love they share amongst themselves is so powerful and inspiring to say the least. The inner strength each adult possess and passes on to the other was so touching and loving to. They're all wonderful and beautiful examples of what it means to be a family. What it means to love one another unconditionally. This story restores faith, hope and love in a very touching way and makes believers of non-believers. I look forward to sharing this book with my daughter, family and friends. Thanks Parry "EbonySatin" Brown for such a refreshing and beauitfully woven novel. I look forward to reading more of your books very soon.
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