Rating: 
Summary: Definitely readable
Review: I have found that with McMillan's books, you either love them or hate them. I have read all of her work and found them to be enjoyable, for the most part. The only problem that I have is that some of the situations that the characters find themselves in seem a little too unbelievable. For instance, Isabelle's hatred towards Anne and the others seemed a little far-fetched. However, this was a pleasant read and will do very well for the author, I think.
Rating:
Summary: This Side of Eternity
Review: I have read all of Ms. McMillan's books and generally enjoy her stories. However, I can't say that I really enjoyed this one as much as some of the others. Part of the problem may have been in the editing of the book. I think her editor could have done a much better job. The storyline was fine, but with a few corrections here and there it could have been even better. I think that with all of the obvious research that she did for this book, it should have been so much better. Sure, it's fine for people who are not familiar with the historical facts she presented and who know very little about Memphis, but I am a native Memphian and I lived through most of the events she described in her book. I think it's in bad taste when you choose to write about people who made important contributions to history and then, however unintentionally, misspell their names. Basil's character should have been developed more and often some of the story seemed to be rushed. He starts off as a little boy who is aware that his father savagely beats his mother and is apparently in total agreement with his father. He enjoys hurting animals and tormenting his sister and his mother, yet other than his gambling and illegal activities he is a relatively sane adult with no tendencies toward violence. He is never allowed any real closure in his relationship with Bette. Then, Holly who's described as her mother's "best friend," suddenly comes home from school married and obviously pregnant and her mother/best friend never even had a clue and had obviously never even heard of Daniel. Also, we are never told how the relationship between Isabell and Reo began to disintegrate. Not to mention that we were never told what happened when Isabell dressed as a creole looking woman left the man in the red vehicle and he followed her. Where did she go? What did he see? Basil saving the man's life in jail and him coming out with the whole story to basically wrap things up was too contrived. Maybe, I was looking for too much or maybe I am just not a part of Ms. McMillan's target audience. I just thought that for a storyline with so much potential, it just left me thinking about how great it should have been.
Rating: 
Summary: Emotionally draining but wonderful
Review: I just dont know where to began. This book was just good. This historical aspects of this book had you wondering how could all this happen and someone still manage to survive. I think it is a must read for the younger generation as well. You heart just went out to this family with other their struggles and the wrongs that cast on them. But even though all this was going on they never stopped trying to do better and follow their dreams. This book made you feel like you were a part of the family. You shared in their highs and even their lows. Rosalyn has her own style and cant help but commend her on a job well done. Our book club will have a heated discussion about this book I am sure.
Rating:
Summary: Emotionally draining but wonderful
Review: I just dont know where to began. This book was just good. This historical aspects of this book had you wondering how could all this happen and someone still manage to survive. I think it is a must read for the younger generation as well. You heart just went out to this family with other their struggles and the wrongs that cast on them. But even though all this was going on they never stopped trying to do better and follow their dreams. This book made you feel like you were a part of the family. You shared in their highs and even their lows. Rosalyn has her own style and cant help but commend her on a job well done. Our book club will have a heated discussion about this book I am sure.
Rating: 
Summary: Loved it
Review: I liked this book because the history in it. Although confusing at first, I quickly understood the nessessity of it. Excellent characters and situations. I'm not a avid reader of novels, but this is one book I couldn't put down.
Rating: 
Summary: This Side of Eternity
Review: I must agree with the review by Janis Jones. In addition to her her comments, I thought this book had a slow start and poor editing in my opinion. The potential to make this a great novel was truly missed by not "connecting the dots" or following through with patterns/behaviors that were detailed earlier in the novel (Basil's tendency for violence in childhood but not adulthood, Anne's concern for her nieces/nephews, etc.). I thought this made for inconsistent character behavior. As far as the history lesson goes...obviously she did a lot of research; but other than the parts relating to Memphis and the Russell family; I couldn't relate the other historical events (timeline) to what was happening to the characters in the book. If there was a correlation; it was light or I missed it. I, too, felt it was a hurried rush to close the novel and in doing was left with many unanswered questions and a lack of closure on some minor issues. I couldn't help but feel as if this novel were pushed out to meet some type of deadline. This was my first book by Rosalyn McMillan. I am willing to read others by her.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing To Brag About
Review: I think Rosalyn should take a tip from her sister Terry and not try to write a book every 3 or 4 months. I found several errors in this book the spelling of names, double negetives, not to mention the fact that the story jumped from person to person and back again. The story of Walter Russell children, nephew, and nieces,trying to make it on their own after his death was a good plot who needed the murders, abuse and rapes both physically and emotionaly. Not a book I would read a second time. Maybe because of where I come from, growing up doing the civil rights era it was hard to get into.
Rating:
Summary: GOOD READ
Review: I thought this was a good read, however, I have to agree with some of the other readers that it did start out slow. The history timelines could have been left out completely. Other than that the book was very good. I think too many peole compare Rosalyn with Terri, they have 2 different writing styles! Both are excellent writers, with different styles
Rating:
Summary: Too Many Issues for Eternity
Review: I usually really enjoy Rosalyn McMillan's books, and is the case with this one, but there were really too many issues in this book! There was counterfeiting, day care; including brokers, child tragedies, dreams, mental illness, civil right, Parkinson's, spouse abuse, politics, etc. The best part was the connotation of guidance, and what that means spiritually. The explanation of why a woman was trying to destroy an entire family was still not explained understandably. Get it from the library!
Rating:
Summary: I thought there was going to be a history test on Memphis!
Review: If Rosalyn could have kept to her story line in this book without all of the dates and historical information on Memphis I maybe could have given this book 4 stars. But just when she gets into the story line, she takes a sharp left and starts throwing dates, political names, famous names, monuments, hospitals and stuff that has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the story line! I don't care what hospital Elvis was born in and how did it relate to the story! I read a review here on Amazon.com where a reader said that she literally through it across the room... I FEEL YOUR PAIN!
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