Rating: 
Summary: A novel of monumental characterizations...
Review: "Well honey I could never be satisfied
And I just couldn't keep from cryin' " - Muddy Waters Lita's sister Adele is one of those people about whom Muddy Water's wrote in his song "I Can't Be Satisfied." Already married to a well-to-do man who adores her, she searches for something she is missing in the arms of Lucien, an all-out bad boy. Tervalon guides us through degrees of separation in Lita and Adele's family, as is common in the Louisiana bayou. Regardless of skin tone, family name, or otherwise, you just never know who may be a blood relative, or who may have done your family wrong. This was my first time reading Jervey Tervalon. Judging from the cover of this book, one may be led to the conclusion that this is an erotic tale of seduction. Judging from the title of this book, one may surmise that this is a story of supernatural nuances. But, judging from the words on the pages in this book, I can gather that this is a fine piece of literature, a novel of monumental characterizations, and, lastly, an author I will definitely be reading again.
Reviewed by CandaceK
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: A novel of monumental characterizations...
Review: "Well honey I could never be satisfied
And I just couldn't keep from cryin' " - Muddy Waters Lita's sister Adele is one of those people about whom Muddy Water's wrote in his song "I Can't Be Satisfied." Already married to a well-to-do man who adores her, she searches for something she is missing in the arms of Lucien, an all-out bad boy. Tervalon guides us through degrees of separation in Lita and Adele's family, as is common in the Louisiana bayou. Regardless of skin tone, family name, or otherwise, you just never know who may be a blood relative, or who may have done your family wrong. This was my first time reading Jervey Tervalon. Judging from the cover of this book, one may be led to the conclusion that this is an erotic tale of seduction. Judging from the title of this book, one may surmise that this is a story of supernatural nuances. But, judging from the words on the pages in this book, I can gather that this is a fine piece of literature, a novel of monumental characterizations, and, lastly, an author I will definitely be reading again.
Reviewed by CandaceK
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: Dead Above Ground
Review: 'DEAD ABOVE GROUND' by Jervey Tervalon is set in 1940's New Orleans where racial segregation ran rampant and the law cared little about "colored crimes". However, Lita DuChamps comes from a family who has always been light enough to pass and has seen how the other side lives and knows when to use that to their advantage. So when smooth-talking Lucien Faure¢ who has the "devils good looks" enters into their lives seemingly out of nowhere the DuChamps realize that they need to use all of their resources to keep Lucien far away from their family and more importantly away from Adele the eldest DuChamps girl who despite being married to a Navy officer who is away most of the time has, like many others before her, fallen prey to Lucien's charms. However, little does anyone know, Mama DuChamps knows all too well why Lucien has entered back into her life and refuses to let him tear her family apart without a fight to the death. 'DEAD ABOVE GROUND' is an excellent story that will keep you turning the pages trying to find out what will happen next. I read the bulk of this book in one day and am now forced to wait until July of 2003 to read Trevalon's follow up, 'LITA', which I will be pre-ordering to ensure that I have my copy as soon as it is published.
Rating: 
Summary: Unique look into 1940's black New Orleans
Review: As a descent pf 'Nawlins creoles from that era, Mr. Tervalon's work provided an interesting look into the creole subculture. I have recommended this title to my mother and uncle, products of the environment.
Rating:
Summary: This is one smooth read
Review: During the Great Depression and the subsequent war years, New Orleans Helen "Mama" Du Champ ruled the family roost with an iron glove. Mama's oldest daughter Adele married some low life and is rumored to be playing with the devil Lucien Faure. Mama's seventeen-year-old daughter Lita wants her freedom from the great female dictator who she loves even as she loathes her seemingly always drunken father. However, Lucien has a motive for gallivanting with Adele. He seeks vengeance against Mama, the one woman who burned him even though decades have passed. Knowing he cannot hurt Mama directly, he chooses her weak daughter and hopes to score two aces with Lita next. Lita, the heir apparent to Mama, will do anything to rescue her older sister from the devil. DEAD ABOVE GROUND is an exciting historical fiction novel that shows once again that Jervey Tervalon has a peculiar yet realistic and charming way with characters (see UNDERSTAND THIS). The story line works because the key female cast and Lucien appear as genuine individuals though the remaining male ensemble are stereotyped and written off by the strong women and the reader. The plot moves quickly forward as Lita struggles to save her family with each ensuing page making her more desperate. Mr. Tervalon provides his audience with a taut terrific thriller. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: CATIVATING
Review: From the moment I started reading I couldn't put the book down. I enjoyed it so much to the point where I'm getting ready to order the sequel.
Rating:
Summary: Page Turner
Review: GREAT book. I loved the direct detail. . not too much but just enough. Because of this book I want to read more books by Jervey Tervalon!
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT FIND
Review: Having not read Jervey Tervalon before, I did not know what I was missing. From the first word to the last, I was swept into the life of a colored family in New Orleans in the 1940's. It was a straight through read, as the characters are fascinating, the writing perfection, the drama stimulating, the underbelly of New Orleans, frightening but enticing. I am very impressed with this author's brilliant style of prose; captivating, descriptive and poetic. I will be ordering more of Mr. Tervalon's books if this book is an indicator of his prowess. Excellent read!!
Rating:
Summary: I love this writer!
Review: His writing style is hot and grabs you right away. I am ordering ALL HIS BOOKS!
Rating: 
Summary: Ball of Confusion
Review: How does a young woman keep her family together when secrets threaten to blow it apart? This is the dilemma of Lita Duchamp. Lita's family life wasn't exactly the American dream. Her father was a drunken loser who thought much too highly of himself. Her mother Helen was the breadwinner, a woman who knew how to earn, and ran the family business. Her sister Adele was a glamour girl with hot pants married to a sailor who thought the world of her. Then there were the young twins a last ditch effort by Helen to brighten her already dim marriage. This "idyllic" life was threatened by one Lucien Faure' who has one the heart of Adele and has a score to settle with Helen. Tervalon weaves a great story into a confusing ball of a book without the benefit of division by chapters. The reader knows that Lita is charged with keeping the family together, yet it seems that Helen is the actual heroine in this story. This reader isn't so sure that this was Tervalon's intention.
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