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Summary: awesome, magnificent, captivating
Review: Colin Channer's writing is sensual and magical. It's a treat. Like hot chocolate in front of a fire place on Christmas; like butter pecan ice cream on the 4th of July.eric jerome dickey :-)
Rating:
Summary: Waiting in Vain: A Must-Read!
Review: One day while rushing to the cashier at B&N, I picked this book up because of it's eye-catching cover. I was in a hurry, so I gave it a quick scan and decided it was going to be that week's 'train reading'. I was pleasantly surprised by this book: Channer did an excellent job of capturing the complexities of the transnational experience. The Brooklyn/Jamaica/London backdrop adds richness to the text -- this is not the typical boy-meets-girl-they-have-a-fuss-and-make-up-and-live-happily-ever-after story. Instead, I found in Waiting in Vain an honest treatment of the multiple influences on the relationships of people who cross cultures, and the very real push/pulls of the home and people they leave behind. My only point of dissatisfaction? The erotic scenes were, not surprisingly, too heavily influenced by the author's male perspective. I would have preferred if they were written with more emphasis on the way the female protagonist experienced them. Overall, Waiting in Vain is a must-read for someone in search of a text that provides an excellent view of living and loving away from 'home' and an honest description of the way culture (in this case, Jamaican) is more than what the people around you do, but can become a strong factor in determining what one finds ultimately satisfying. This story is realistic, yet entertaining and I found myself sad to leave the lives of the protagonists when the story ended.
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Summary: well rounded romantic novel
Review: enjoyed the development of characters and the suspenseinvolved with each character.how fire pursued sylvia was very interesting and is what most romantics aspire to be. i have recommended this book to alot of folks.
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Summary: CAN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT IT
Review: Colin Channer's book "Waiting in Vain"is Saucy, Tantalizing,Nostalgic Provocative & Poetic but mere words can not describe it. Waiting in Vain is A MUST BE READ FOR THE YEAR!!!! Colin gives you harsh realities while romancing the very core of your soul. Parts of this book made me want to just hop on a plane,fly home, to experience Caribbean Life again. The "SWEET TALK, LYRICS" (as we islanders call it)between Fire & Sylvia made me wish I was getting the calls from London.As for shopping for Mangoes.....IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. Thank you Colin Channer for not being ordinary. CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK......MEH WANT MORE NAH BOY!!!!!!
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Summary: Waiting in Vain was REFRESHING!
Review: I am Jamaican and loved de book. The song by Bob Marley, Waiting in Vain, is listened by me in a totally new light. Waiting in Vain had diversity in characters yet spiritual and funny. The patois was beautifully written. "Waiting in Vain" is no Waiting to Exhale! "Waiting in Vain" is non-fiction but had realistic situations which persons of all races could relate to. I fell in love with the main character. In conclusion, my last two words to describe this book are beautiful and intense!
Rating:
Summary: Music to my ears
Review: Colin Channer's writing style is music to my ears. This man has a way with words. From the opening sentence you feel as if you're caught up in a Bob Marley concert. I had the pleasure of catching one of his readings at the Brooklyn Moon in his neighborhood, Fort Greene. Before his reading he rocked with his reggae band for about an hour. He could really work a bass. And I guess that's where the musical quality to his prose comes from. He's connected to something spiritual, man. You can see it in his face. And after speaking to him and watching him for a whole evening I realized that he is Fire. He has the same sense of humor, the same easygoing way, the same Jamaican earthiness, the same cosmopolitan air. And come on, he's a novelist who teaches fiction writing in London! When he signed my book he called me, "Darling." I thought I was gonna die.
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Summary: Bring on the next one
Review: E. Lynn Harris is one of my favorite authors. So I bought the book because of his endorsement. In his words, Waiting In Vain is "a stunning debut." Lynn is right. Colin Channer writes as if he's been doing this for a while. His style is so smooth and his characters are so real. And there is so much depth to the way he explores a lot of his ideas such as love and class and faith and infidelity. I can't wait to read his next novel. Take note people, a star is born.
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Summary: Worth its wait in gold
Review: I had to order the book because my local book store couldn't keep it in stock. Every time I went by it would be gone. I finally got a copy last week. And let me tell you, this novel is certainly worth the wait. The love stories between Fire and Sylvia, and Ian and Margaret are really insightful and intense, but that's not what got me though. I was hooked by the suspense. I have never read a love story with so many twists and turns. Every time I thought I was sure I knew what the author was about to do he would surprise me. This book outplots some of the best detective stories I've ever read. It really works your deepest emotions. The suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat and the sensuality makes you want to recline. This is a really great book for single women--especially on a chilly night.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Book, BUT.....
Review: Waiting in Vain is a good book, but at times it was overwritten - giving way too much detail. Many times I found the "foreplay" too drawn out and therefore, the characters', Fire and Sylvia, relationship development unbelieveable. The flowery prose did not make the payoff better or believable. I also hope that you do not have to be Jamaican to understand the underlying references. Sometimes the dialect and accompanying references were difficult to understand - do/did Jamaicans understand it better? Overall, I found the story interesting, but I "waited in vain" too often to get to the point - Fire and Sylvia's relationship.
Rating:
Summary: Well written, complete story!
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I read it for my book club for the month of November. I was impressed at how well written this novel was and how well developed the charecters were. I actually felt as if I knew them and understood how interconnected they were. I enjoyed the globe trotting that took place and actually felt I was in each of the places as the story took you there. This was one of the best books I have read this year and recomend it highly. Kudos!!! Colin Channer.
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