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Blanche Cleans Up

Blanche Cleans Up

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Why Johnny is terrified of reading
Review: "You are what most of the world considers you to be." Jean-Paul Satre

"There is an incredible amount of magic and feistiness in black men that nobody has been able to wipe out. But everybody has tried." Toni Morrison (who has held the eraser as well)

Your turn, Barbara Neely. With books like BLANCHE CLEANS UP not only is "reading fundamental," it can be downright masochistic. Nevertheless, I'll press on until I come across at least one black female author whose body of work presents a wealth of affirmation for the Black male. I haven't forgotten Shahrazad Ali, but that sister could use a good set of ballast tanks. In violation of personal principles, this third entry in the `Blanche' series is the first I've read. Evidently backtracking is desirable to determine if the rape she alludes to precipitated the animus she exudes towards men in general and black men in abundance. Prior knowledge is not essential to understanding and relative enjoyment of the story but it might assist by adding perspective to some of the fulsome wit. Ms. Neely can turn a phrase however acid reflux is also a turn of a sort, just not one I look for in rapt anticipation.

Everything here is politically correct; attitudes about feminism, abortion rights, homosexuality, self-determination, working mothers, teenage pregnancy, you name it, Blanche has the right opinion. Or, Neely thinks she does. The irony is the author devotes so much attention to climbing up and down the soapbox to pontificate about whatever issue strikes her at the drop of an ever present teabag, she neglects to notice the tacit biases and inconsistencies surrounding her protagonist. The book takes on the tone of a PSA for GLAAD with the extensive references to black opprobrium of homosexuality. To state a plurality of negative attitudes is an idiotic vestige of the slave mentality (don't ask it's too addled to explain) whilst her character voices vehemence towards black men, white men and white affluence is equally as illogical. She takes the opportunity, an easily avoidable one, to rail against insensitivity toward Native Americans as symbolized by the Jeep Cherokee, but a couple of paragraphs later the character laments about the "Gypsy" cab system. I guess Romani are insulated since Ms. Neely seems to be oblivious the existence of that ethnic group, or maybe she believes the name was taken from the moth. Yet, I would be remiss if I didn't give credit where it is due. Linking football and rugby to deviant sexual practices is as inspired an instance of absurdity as I ever remember encountering.

Blanche's moral positions do not preclude employee time theft, invasion of privacy, vandalism and adultery, among other gray areas and the author appears to have reserved a special little corner of purgatory for men, especially black men; in that sense she is in lockstep with prevailing representations in books and media outlets directed to a wider audience. Then Neely turns around and has the character seek support from the very same group she has denigrated when the situation gets a little too uncomfortable. Even then, she make certain to conclude that story arc with inferences of unmitigated violence, and the total inability of black men to conform to generally accepted civilized standards. Only two characters who dress left or right come out of this story reasonably unscathed, one is mentally challenged and the other is her 12 year old nephew. The first is too juvenile to know better and the latter I have to presume has benefited from Blanche's compleat tutelage, or hasn't reached the age where he is aware preferential dress is a question. Conversely, women receive universal reinforcement; those who may have appeared to gone astray, lead by a man naturally, are instilled with some redeeming attributes.

I applaud the concept of a mystery series from the perspective of a smart, resourceful, down-to-earth working class black woman. Why it is necessary to continually raise a corpulent knee to the collective groin of black men escapes me. I guess I just wouldn't understand. By the way, there is a story here if for no other reason than to serve as stanchion for the author's diatribe. It has as many holes as a Chinese checkerboard (is that politically correct?) but that aspect is comparable to a large complement of novels in the mystery genre.

If, and it is the BIG IF, you can ignore the imperious preaching the plot is passable.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: There is only one Blanche, and Neely's got her
Review: A blurber once wrote for the cover of an Amanda Cross mystery that she reads Cross's Kate Fansler series for the "conversation." That's how I feel about the Blanche White series: read them for the company. I fell off the dedicated mystery reading wagon years ago, so I'm out of the league when it comes to rating the whodunit part, except to say it did not seem too obvious or too illogical. This is the third in the series, the best to date. Blanche is so very fully realized, so complex, her voice so powerful that by contrast the other characters come off a little thin at times. I share Neely's glee in making evil drip from every pore of the right-wing political types and their bedfellows. Through Blanche, though, she also offers more evenhanded contemplations on the social realities of the working poor and race.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Delicious
Review: Barbara Neely made a tremendous splash in the mystery world a few years ago with her debut novel Blanche on the Lam. Though the mystery itself was weak, many readers fell in love with the main character. Blanche White wasn't like most other feisty feminist women sleuths: she was African-American, middle-aged, and a cleaning woman. From the vantage point of her class, her race, and her background, Blanche's observations about people and life were both pointed and highly entertaining. Small wonder, then, that Neely won two fan-based mystery prizes.

Unapologetically heavyset Blanche is a delightful change from the trim, caustic sleuths who are always jogging and taking self-defense classes to stay in shape. She has a mouth on her and doesn't put up with anyone's bull, but her real skills are insight into people and places and the connections between them, and a kind of intuition verging on ESP. Though Blanche has "done more work than she'd been paid for in her life," working in other people's homes has helped her raise her dead sister's two children and taught her a great deal about psychology.

Blanche isn't just insightful, however: she's industrial strength nosey and proud of it. Finding out everything she can about her employers isn't any different than helping solve murders. "She liked sticking her nose in where it wasn't supposed to be and finding out things other people didn't want her to know. She liked doing this the way some people liked jogging or dancing or going to the mall."

In her third foray into crime-solving, Blanche lands right in the middle of a potential political scandal working as a fill-in housekeeper-cook for a wealthy but unhappy Boston couple. They rouse her curiosity and ire: the wife's too dazed and troubled, the husband's a right-wing Republican running for Governor whose bigoted courting of prominent right-wing African-Americans infuriates Blanche.

Something is definitely wrong in this house, and it unexpectedly explodes in Blanche's face, bringing violence to her Roxbury neighborhood and threatening herself and her children. Her strong connections to the African-American community will help her save herself and those she loves, as well as bring some unexpected justice.

Though fairly predictable, Blanche on the Lam is a classic cozy in form: low on violence, high on humor, charm, and quirkiness. It's likely to expand Neely's audience primarily because Blanche is such a delightful, richly-drawn character. Blanche is human, warm, saucy, funny and believable as she struggles in herself or in her community with racism, child rearing, teen pregnancy, homesickness, self-hatred, romantic loneliness and even menopause. While Neely still doesn't write much of a mystery, the meal she lays out for you here is so tasty that it really doesn't much matter.

.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: BarbaraNeely has done it again!
Review: I am a 20 year old, African American college student and I work at a public library in Mississippi. While shelving books one day I saw "Blanche Cleans Up." This was rare to me because I very seldom see books by African Americans at this library, so I decided to read this one. I couldn't put it down! This book was awesome! I loved the way the author used politics and racial issues that almost all African Americans can relate to. After reading "Blanche Cleans Up," I read the two previous books in the series ("Blanche on the Lam" and "Blanche Among the Talented Tenth") and needlees to say, the were also great. I look forward to reading "Blanche Passes Go."

Keep up the good work Ms. Neely!

--Toni

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: BarbaraNeely has done it again!
Review: I am a 20 year old, African American college student and I work at a public library in Mississippi. While shelving books one day I saw "Blanche Cleans Up." This was rare to me because I very seldom see books by African Americans at this library, so I decided to read this one. I couldn't put it down! This book was awesome! I loved the way the author used politics and racial issues that almost all African Americans can relate to. After reading "Blanche Cleans Up," I read the two previous books in the series ("Blanche on the Lam" and "Blanche Among the Talented Tenth") and needlees to say, the were also great. I look forward to reading "Blanche Passes Go."

Keep up the good work Ms. Neely!

--Toni

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Positively Wonderful! We LOVE Blanche!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I had read Walter Mosley's mystery novels and was pleased to see African-American characters in a murder-mystery - a genre that seems to be sadly under-represented in our community. I enjoyed Mr. Mosley's treatments immensely, but alas, the undercurrent suggested that only men should be involved in the business of solving mysteries. Then just a week ago I was introduced to Blanche White. I'm in love!!!!!!! This is a wonderful introduction to an African-American domestic embroiled in a murder mystery invovling her employer which lends itself to startlingly candid observations on life from this perspective. While I readily admit that the mystery itself tends to sometimes take a back seat to Blanche's astute observations on American life, in time, Ms. Neely will hone her murder-mysteries with Blanche as the ultimate sleuth who ranks right up there with Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, Sam Spade, and yes, even Dirty Harry! I have already ordered all of the Blanche books because after reading one chapter, I knew one story would hardly satisfy my desire for a female detective like this one. A definite must. I applaud Ms. Neely's efforts, heartily recommend, and look forward to reading the others!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Unpractical
Review: I was unable to get into these characters and the mystery took too long to appear. Maybe next time, Blanche can keep my interest, however, I put this one down after the first few chapters, I lost patience.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: This is an intelligent, well-paced, witty mystery
Review: I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes intelligent, well-paced, witty mysteries. I found that Blanche Cleans Up had great pacing, characterization, and humour, combined with a sharp awareness of race, class and gender issues. I have not read the first two books in this series, but after reading Blanche Cleans Up, I think I'm going to look for them. I enjoy mystery novels, but because there are so many of them out there, there's a wide variety of quality. I think this is the first time I've read a mystery novel that wasn't afraid to take radical stands on race and gender issues. Blanche is a great, strong character, and Neely's insights on racism and sexism in North American society are dead-on, in my opinion. I look forward to the rest of her books.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Political Propaganda Thinly Veiled in a Story
Review: This is a good story that got bogged down in political commentary. Just as the story begins to flow, a political roadbump slows the story down again with the author's position on homosexuality and abortion (like a continuous whack on the head with a BIG stick! ), religion, white male dominance and oppression in society, men's domination of women, "ancestor worship," subjugation of blacks... the issues go on and on and on and on and one (kinda like this sentence - *wink*).

There are no positive black males in this book -- save a 12 year old child (maybe a symbol for hope for the future of black males?). Even the nice guy becomes subject for a discussion on situational ethics.

After several chapters, you begin to receive Blanche-like premonitions of the next political message on the horizon. I began reading past them to help with the continuity of the story.

It is not a broad leap to to surmise that the Blanche series is either a platform for Barbara Neely's political views or an outlet for her frustrations.

Less politics, more story...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Breaking barriers and taboos
Review: This is my first Barbara Neely book and as I was thoroughly enjoying it I was ever aware that there are many more boudaries being pushed back in genre fiction such as this than in main stream fiction which has become so self-observing that I am put in mind of the tail-swallowing snake. Barbara Neely, you are a brilliant writer and observer and I will look forward to meeting up with Blanche again really soon Thanks


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