Ida B. : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: A Social Document and a Eulogy
Review: It's hard to imagine a more detailed, vivid, and accurate picture of life in a high-rise low-income housing project in Harlem at the turn of the 21st Century than Karen E. Quinones Miller gives us in "Ida B." Her grasp of the personality types, prevalent mindsets, social manners and mannerisms, moral values (or lack thereof), personal aspirations, and -- most remarkably -- the language of social intercourse, is extraordinary. Her dialogue is superbly, almost gratingly, authentic.

"Ida B." is a social document that professors of sociology would do well to assign in courses on inner-city subculture. No textbook can show it as concretely and dramatically as Miller has. After being immersed in that subculture she rose above its limitations, acquired the language and perceptions of the mainstream, and then drew what no one born to the mainstream could ever draw with such authority and conviction. I think she will always be, emotionally at least, living in two worlds, mediating between them -- interpreting one to the other. Helping us understand them and them understand us, and making us like each other better because of that deepened understanding. This is a valuable aspect of her work.

The ending of "Ida B." is clever, original, and so far as I can remember unique. There are few novels, even among the classics, about which that can be said. Fortunately it's not essential that we novelists astonish the reader with an ending that casts a new light on all that precedes it, if we've written an otherwise strong story. But when we do, we engrave the tale in the reader's mind and help him remember it whole. "Ida B's" ending refers to the beginning, connects with it, and forms a circle that ties the events together like beads on a necklace.

The title takes on added significance too. I sometimes wondered as I read: Who is the protagonist of this novel? I assumed at the outset it would be Brenda, but she never rose to the occasion; never took center stage for any length of time and held it. Rosa was the stronger female figure, but still pallid compared to some of Miller's other heroines, like Regina Harris ("Satin Doll") and Faith Freeman ("I'm Telling"). Sharif was, as I see it, the closest thing to a conventional protagonist, by far the strongest, wisest, most admirable character in the book. But it wasn't his story either. We never got inside his mind, heart, and experience in a really intimate way. As omnipresent as he was, he seemed to be always in a strong supporting role. Supporting whom? Well, everyone. Which is to say, the real protagonist -- Ida B., the high-rise low-income housing project in Harlem, viewed as a social organism.

It is Ida B's story just as the title proclaims. The story of her turbulent life, filled with passion, friendship, humor; conflict, anger, depravity; violence or the always imminent threat of it, drug addiction, tragic death after tragic death (murder, suicide, more murder, then vigilante capital punishment); a deep-rooted suspicion and disdain for the laws of conventional society and its mechanisms of enforcement; and a conviction that loyalty to the tribe -- the clan, the subculture, the brothas and sistas who live in the tower -- is the highest moral good. Higher than truth. Higher than justice. Higher than God. Didn't Sharif proclaim this when he stood before "the makeshift altar he'd set up in memory of his grandmother" and said, "Light, peace, and progress, Gran. Please look out for me, and keep me strong, keep me true." That is the only prayer I can remember in the book. And it is a primal supplication to a revered ancestor, not a prayer to the God of Abraham or even to Allah.

The plea "keep me true" referred to an allegiance beyond truth or the demands of the criminal justice system. Sharif had resolved to lie and even commit perjury if necessary. "But there were some things worth compromising his integrity over, and saving Ricky's ass was one. And he wasn't really compromising his integrity, he mused as he jiggled the ice in his drink. He was being true to his own roots." That is, I think, the core moral pronouncement of the novel. The Ida B. Wells-Barnett Tower, its inhabitants, and their web of life-sustaining -- often life-threatening -- social and familial connections, was a metaphor for "his own roots."

So Ida B. held center stage from the Prologue to her demise at the end of Chapter 21. The novel "Ida B." by the character Brenda Carver -- and of course Miller's novel, which both is and contains it -- is a eulogy to memorialize Ida's extraordinary life and lamented passing. The memories which Brenda "was afraid would become distant, and even surreal, once she moved away" are now captured for her posterity, and Miller's. They are not all good memories. Ida had as many faults as she did virtues; probably more. "Both a prison and a sanctuary," Brenda observed. "A place where everybody was trying to break out, and nobody wanted to leave." I thank Ms. Miller for letting me see from the inside a life I had viewed only from a great distance. I will remember Ida B.


Rating:
Summary: Interesting Book however...
Review: I have to totally agree with N. Powell. I didn't like the typos, and the story was similar to Satin Doll, which I also enjoyed. So if you read the reviews like I do, then my review would have to agree with the writings of N. Powell. I did enjoy Sharif and think he should get his own book. It's a page turner, Read it!

Rating:
Summary: MUST A READ!
Review: I knew once this book came out I just had to have it, I read an some of the book at the authors website and knew I had to have it. Karen kept the readers wanting more and once we thought we (readers) thought we knew what was going on the authors gave us something else....keep the books comin'

Rating:
Summary: Riveting
Review: I really, really enjoyed this book and the way it kept me glued to each page. when events started happening--they were told in such a vivid way that I had to re-read them. There are some humorous characters such as Mrs Harris, the fence who has a "store" in her apartment and Aunt Pat--who chooses who she wants in her extended family. I recommend this book highly!!!! At my job, someone wanted to read it. If by chance I don't get it back--I will order another copy--BELIEVE IT!!!!

Rating:
Summary: AWESOME STORY
Review: I truly regret not reading this book right after I purchased it as I was let the title mislead me. This is by far one of her best books yet. I cried as Rosa described the torture little Jimmy went through at the hands of his murderer. Ms.Miller has truly proven that "she's got the gift"!!! BRAVO!!!!!!!



Rating:
Summary: Good Story
Review: It's true form urban living in Harlem - true to the lifestyles of the characters and true to the nature of the characters. The plot is well developed.A good book for book club discussions. I think the book could have wrapped up better. Makes me think that Ms. Miller got a little weary or was rushed into a deadline to complete the book. Overall, a good book.

Rating:
Summary: I Truly Enjoyed This Book
Review: Karen's books are targeted by bad reviews many times. I just can't understand it. Because she is so talented. All her books that I have read have been phenomenal, they have been pageturners to the point where I can't put them down. She gives you memorable characters that stay within your soul. Ida B. for instance is real it is what is actually going on in the "hood". I know I grew up in a project much like Ida B. where everyone looked out for each other. Sure there were problems and life wasn"t full of apple pies but it was family. And as for the person who didn't believe the woman jumped off the roof with her children. Get this it happens in real life it happened when I was growing up. Karen keep bringing out these real stories with real characters. Also to you the reader I have bought three copies of Ida B. for Christmas gifts to support my sister and this good book. For bookclubs this is a great book for discussions.

Rating:
Summary: Family by situation not blood
Review: The tenants of Ida B. Barrett housing project are more like a family than neighbors. And like any other family they have their share of spats and disagreements. The one thing that is so wonderful about them is that they know how to pull together in hard times and right now there is no exception. There are rumors going around that Ida. B is going to be bought and made into condominiums. Needless to say that this doesn't sit too well with the family. In the midst of all the confusion a horrific murder takes place and the whole family is affected. Time is running out for the tenants and their biggest fear is that the murderer maybe someone that is a part of the family.

For so many, Ida B. is where they were raised and are currently raising their own children. This is the case with our main character, Brenda. Brenda is a single mother trying to take life as it comes. Not your typical Ida B. tenant, Brenda has real dreams. She wants to be a famous author but is unsure of how to make that dream a reality. Dealing with the harsh day to day reality of being a single mom Brenda longs for the day where she can have "more." When tragedy strikes Ida B, Brenda finds herself caught up in a struggle between right and wrong. But she realizes that everything isn't as black and white as she has taught herself to believe.

Sharif is the resident nice guy. He is always helping people fix their problems. Always looking for a cause to fight he rarely has time for himself. The tenants of Ida B are looking to him to find out if they are really going to lose their homes. The problem is when the murder takes place they are looking to him, but not for help. Sharif is put in a position where a man's life is in his hands. Making the right choice has never been so hard for him.

Rosa, is the actress/drama queen. Acting is her life's dream and she has finally done something about it. Enrolling in a drama group, Rosa is finally getting her opportunity to shine. She realizes that there is something better for her than Ida B. and she is going to seize her opportunity the moment it comes along. Like the rest of the tenants Rosa has grown up in the Ida B and she has a fierce loyalty to it. When she finds out that her director is part of the group that has interest in her home she has to determine just what it is she should believe. This combined with the pressure she is dealing with from knowing the truth about the murder is almost too much for her to bear.

Karen Quinones-Miller writes about real inner city concerns in her latest novel Ida. B. It has just the right combination of tenderness and drama to make your heart weep and your emotions laugh. Ida B. and its characters make you fall in love from the first page. Emotion filled and powerful Ida B. will show you how to stand for something when you are ready to fall for anything.

Angie Pickett-Henderson
Readincolor Founder/Moderator

Rating:
Summary: Whodunit?!
Review: This book wasn't what I expected but it was very good, Ms. Miller really came through on this one, with its drama/suspense ingredients.

I grew up in Baisley Park Houses in Jamaica, Queens and all the characters that were in the Ida B. was true to life. You had your nosey neighbors, bad behind kids and some real good people there. Even though some people thought it wasn't much it was home to a lot of people for a lot of years and I loved the way they all pulled together in the mist of a tragedy, a very cruel tragedy.

Only thing I wish Ms. Miller could of focused more on the main character Brenda, but I guess she wasn't trying to single one character out, she was trying to focus on the buidling as a whole.

This book is a very good fast read, with hopes and dreams of people just like you and me.

Later.......

Rating:
Summary: I disagree with most reviews here
Review: This story opens as a glimpse into the lives of the inhabitants of a subsidized housing complex but halfway through, morphs into a murder mystery. Vivid descriptions of poverty and despair, quickly plants the reader firmly into the story. That's in the first two chapters. By chapter three I felt like some evil ghostwriter with a grudge against the author had taken over the keyboard.
The main characters are pretty standard...Brenda Carver, the welfare mother with four kids by four different daddies. Rosa Rivera, the Latin spitfire aspiring actress. Sharif Goldsby, the gay male who's more man than the straight guys. And last but not least, Vincent Harris, the criminal.
The writing style and pace is fresh and keeps you turning pages. But the book is riddled with errors that slowed the story considerably. I didn't like the fact that the characters were stereotypical. None of the adult blacks had regular jobs, attended college or trade school. The white character lacked depth, and poor Rosa was portrayed as straight up trash. I quickly grew tired of her cussing "and sh*#" and I was glad when officer Lopez put her in her place for being so self-centered. Everyone who lives in the ghetto is not ghetto, as this novel seems to imply. The only character that wasn't run-of-the- mill was Sharif. Vincent was completely unbelievable. A black man who beats a cop nearly to death and lives to tell about it...yeah, right. I would love to have seen this compelling character developed more completely.