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Summary: Re-Reading A Well Crafted Book
Review: True Lies is definitely even better the second time around. This is a well crafted story of love, waiting, fatherhood, ex-girlfriend and patience. Margaret Johnson Hodge writes a thorough story here that makes you understand all the complexed reasons to write a book - to tell a well-rounded story. The characters had issues and I love how it didn't read like the normal "drama" book. I got the point and highly recommend this book.
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Summary: Truth or Dare. This is an outstanding novel!
Review: We see it all too many times where one settles for a situation or a stays in a relationship that has no future for the sake of a child. It's situations like this that paints a poor portrait in accepting less than sterling options that are not in our best interest, which would allow one to deceive good intent hoping for things to turn for the better. This indeed is the true essence of misguided trust and a good lie. The preamble here best describes author and storyteller extraordinaire, Margaret Johnson-Hodge (Some Sunday, Butterscotch Blues) back with yet another excellent read. This is Baby Mama Drama at its best, where a good storyline and an even better plot makes for an exciting book.This is also the story of Dajah Moore and Rick Trimmons two people attracted to each other but with enough baggage to undermine whether being goal oriented (Rick) and disillusioned (Dajah) is enough to hang in there despite Rick's inability to shake an undesirable. The undesirable is live-in girlfriend Gina and her daughter Kanisha of whom Rick is the father. Without giving too much of the story away, Gina and Rick is on the outs but Gina knowing that the child she has with Rick is her trump card to stick and stay. Rick on the other hand, is trapped in a relationship where he feels duty to Kanisha is the better part of valor by devising a plan to keep his family intact but somehow not being able to ignore the siren Dajah's call. This truly is a good compelling human-interest story that all of us can have feelings for. Whenever an author injects this type of character study to illustrate a point and tell a good story to boot, she/her is writing from a deeper perspective for realistic effect. It shows the impact of life altering decisions that has bearing on other people's world in a familial setting. When poor and/or selfish judgment is used, more often than not you make for a situation that hinders more than helps. When you began to believe the lies that are told to yourself to justify uneven means you dilute the solution and work from half-strengths. This is the dilemma that plagues all of the characters in this book, save for Kanisha...who unwittingly is a pawn. There are no clear winners when no stand is made for the betterment of a child in limbo. I loved this book! And would recommend it to anyone who wants a real human-interest story that has layered characters so well drawn in how the author depicts each flaw and attribute to coincide with moving dialogue. I was mesmerized by how she made me understand each characters motivational bent and why they made the decisions they made. This is a highly recommended novel that will have you giving it to others to read!
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Summary: complex contemporary relationship drama
Review: When Corrections Officer Rick Trimmons and teenage drop out Gina Alexander meet, both think it is love. However, Rick never recovered from being dumped and remains in a rebound state of limbo while Gina desperately wants a baby. When Kanisha is born, Gina learns what an infant does to a lifestyle so in order to return to the streets, she begins dumping Kanisha on her grandmother, which angers Rick. Rick still fantasizes about a loving relationship between he, Gina, and their child, but he turns to showering all his love on his little girl. Hardworking Dajah Moore takes no risks in life even with her heart. Currently she is lonely having ended her last relationship about a year ago. When Dajah and Rick meet, perhaps it is the traits they share in common, but they begin to fall in love. However, Kanisha remains first in Rick's life, which means Gina is still a player and at night by himself he knows in his way he loves all three women in his life. Will Rick choose the dream that Gina will change; or select a relationship with Dajah that will limit his time with Kanisha; or opt for the status quo of a foot in two homes? TRUE LIES is a strong character study that shows the impact on people of life altering decisions to include the ripple effect on other individuals in a person's concentric world. The key cast seems authentic, as readers will recognize similar people especially when seemingly poor or selfish judgment is used. Fans of complex contemporary relationship dramas with strong characterizations will enjoy Margaret Johnson-Hodge's latest spotlight on life. Harriet Klausner
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Summary: I Cannot Tell A Lie
Review: With True Lies, Margaret Johnson-Hodge has scored again with an extraordinary portrait of accepting situations that are not in our best interest, deceiving oneself, all the while hoping things will change. Johnson-Hodge has captured the true essence of disillusioned lovers who fight for their love. Dajah Moore and Rick Trimmons inadvertently meet one evening; she on her way home, he on his way to work. Dajah is an accountant and Rick is a correctional officer, both from middle-class backgrounds. Dajah is unattached; Rick has a live-in girlfriend and a small child by the name of Kanisha. Gina, Rick's girlfriend, is not the best idea of a mother; she is manipulating, cunning and downright trifling. Somehow Rick has managed to keep his family together despite Gina's juvenile ways. Dajah informs Rick, "when you're free." Rick's motivation in life is his daughter and her happiness. Rick devises the "plan" as his way of being with the woman he wants and at the same time, being with his daughter. True Lies takes you on a journey with Dajah and Rick as they try to define their feelings for each other and the people around them; as they try to make a better place for the people in their lives, all the while neglecting themselves. Demonstrated is the making of decisions in the best interest of someone and how those decisions affect other individuals. Decisions, as a reader you may question, but are somehow able to understand. I found myself talking to the characters, hoping, worrying and praying for them. Friends and other characters' lives are examined as well, allowing the reader to see the main characters in a realistic sense of everyday living and loving. The language and imagery used to tell this story makes it thought provoking and I am sure, would lead to a lively discussion of what you "would have done" if placed in the characters' situation. True Lies is another excellent portrayal of the human psyche, because it elicits the reader's emotions and will go down as one of my favorites of 2002. Powerful!
Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves, Apooo BookClub
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