Rating: 
Summary: Triumph over Tragedy
Review: If you are looking for a carbon copy of her sister Terry McMillan...this is not the book for you. Rosalyn definitely has her own style and voice in her literary works. A lot of historical facts were researched to set the stage for Anne Russell's story to come alive in Memphis during the 1960s.I enjoyed this book although it was a slow read. However I can appreciate it being a slow read due to the intense details of the past, the complicated lives of the characters and the thick plot. My heart was breaking as I read about more tragedy than any one family should have to bear, but at the end I was able to breathe a sigh of relief and close the book at peace because it ended on a positive...somewhat triumphant note. This book also creates a lot of detailed discussion for Book Club members. Also, don't miss this author's book signings. As I stated earlier she has her own style in more ways than one. I enjoyed the promotional chewing gum packs and t-shirts that she gave away in support of this book.
Rating:
Summary: OK
Review: If you're looking for an easy read, pass this one by. Though this book had some page-turning moments...those few moments were drowned out by her overuse of her "moments in history." This book was a toss-up between a novel and history book. Towards the end, I found myself skipping over the majority of the pages to get to the actual story which was somewhat like a soap opera. Not one of the books that will make my all-time favorites list but I would recommend to someone to read.
Rating:
Summary: OK
Review: If you're looking for an easy read, pass this one by. Though this book had some page-turning moments...those few moments were drowned out by her overuse of her "moments in history." This book was a toss-up between a novel and history book. Towards the end, I found myself skipping over the majority of the pages to get to the actual story which was somewhat like a soap opera. Not one of the books that will make my all-time favorites list but I would recommend to someone to read.
Rating: 
Summary: Did Not Enjoy This Book
Review: It was good if you wanted a history lesson on Memphis. It wasn't a good fictional novel to read. I read all of RM's books. I'm am truley disappointed in this one. There first three novels were great books but the last two weren't great novels by a long shot. I would not buy this book. If anyone is interested in reading this book, check it out from the library.
Rating: 
Summary: Like reading in the wind
Review: McMillan's latest novel about family tragedy and perseverance moves like the speed of light. With so many characters and their respective issues, I found it hard, at times, to keep track of what was going on and with whom. However, the importance of race, society, government, and family manages to shine through. Greater character development with fewer central characters, or another 100 pages, would have made the novel a five star read. Nevertheless, this is worth buying and reading. Overall, the story comes together and you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Surviving the times
Review: Memphis, Tennessee from the 1960's to the year 2000 is the backdrop for Rosalyn McMillan's "This Side of Eternity." The Russell family is one of many Black families living in Memphis during the 1960's, they are struggling to make it day by day, when unspeakable tragedy strikes the family not once but twice. To compound the stress on the family, the city's sanitation department goes on strike, and the family is in an even more precarious situation because the oldest boy Kirk works in sanitation and is the primary breadwinner for the family. Ann Russell, one of the books main characters is the youngest daughter. Kirk fails to handle things and because her oldest sister Mae just doesn't care.... as a result Ann is thrust into the position of caregiver and breadwinner for the family. She makes sure that everyone is taken care of and she tries to hold her family together. Included in the Russell family are nieces Nikkie and Bentley and nephew Wesley. "This Side of Eternity" covers a span of almost 40 years and decades and years are marked by the major events of the times. I really enjoyed this about the book because as a reader it took me back to that period. However, the book did not move very fast. The flow of the book is hurt because the storyline goes off in so many different directions that at some points during the story, I was trying to figure out what McMillan was trying to say. On the RAW scale this book is a 3. Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks
Rating:
Summary: VERY INTERESTING
Review: October 2003...Pages Readers group chose as their selection, This Side of Eternity, by Rosalyn McMillan. Readers are presented retrospective views of life in Memphis, Tennessee during the civil rights movement intertwined with one family's history of survival. While some members felt the story line was frequently overshadowed by the news accounts of that era, the mystic behind each character's actions kept you turning the pages. The overall epic is that of race, city, character and a family surviving the hardship of being poor and Negro during an age of tumultuous change. The Russell family's struggle begins early on with Anne, the youngest of her siblings, vowing to get through this, realizing they have to do more than survive the injustice - each one has to change it. As the reader, you share in their pain the loss of loved ones because of racial injustices, ignorance and poverty. You cheer the successes, no matter how small as each person is irrevocably changed because they "finally" looked inward at themselves and changed. This all happens against the backdrop of a great city also surviving what it needed to face ... change, progress. In conclusion, Martin Luther King once said, "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by God, Creator, with certain inalienable rights; that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. This is a dream. It's a great dream." And, for Anne and the Russell family ... their great dreams do come true.
Rating:
Summary: Pages Readers Group Reviews "This Side Of Eternity"
Review: October 2003...Pages Readers group chose as their selection, This Side of Eternity, by Rosalyn McMillan. Readers are presented retrospective views of life in Memphis, Tennessee during the civil rights movement intertwined with one family's history of survival. While some members felt the story line was frequently overshadowed by the news accounts of that era, the mystic behind each character's actions kept you turning the pages. The overall epic is that of race, city, character and a family surviving the hardship of being poor and Negro during an age of tumultuous change. The Russell family's struggle begins early on with Anne, the youngest of her siblings, vowing to get through this, realizing they have to do more than survive the injustice - each one has to change it. As the reader, you share in their pain the loss of loved ones because of racial injustices, ignorance and poverty. You cheer the successes, no matter how small as each person is irrevocably changed because they "finally" looked inward at themselves and changed. This all happens against the backdrop of a great city also surviving what it needed to face ... change, progress. In conclusion, Martin Luther King once said, "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by God, Creator, with certain inalienable rights; that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. This is a dream. It's a great dream." And, for Anne and the Russell family ... their great dreams do come true.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!! Edgy, Racey, true Page-turner....
Review: Over the Thanksgiving holidays, I had the opportunity to read Rosalyn McMillian's This Side of Eternity and I have to say WOW!! This book keeps you on edge and shocks you in the process. I tried to guess what would happen next and oftentimes couldn't. The story is set in Memphis,TN. during the late 1960's. The era was during the Sanitation Workers Strike and the assassination of Dr. M.L.King. Two powerful moments not only in American history but, also the history of the city and state. This is the first book Rosalyn has written that wasn't centered around Detroit and she did a wonderful job.She pays so much attention to detail and makes you feel as though you're a part of the story. She focuses on the Russell family and their cursed lives so, it would seems. They struggle to overcome pain, heartache and tragic situation after situation, only to be faced with another. It's enough to make you scream. The family shows great strength and courage as the book progresses and you become overjoyed for them. I was pleasantly pleased with the book and enjoyed the mix of romance, fiction and mystery.
Rating:
Summary: A good read-despite the errors
Review: Overall, I thought Mrs. McMillan's latest novel was very good. I thought it was a quick read that was written in a "soap opera story-line" style, somewhat representative of her earlier works-"Knowing, One Better, and Blue Collar Blues". Even though I thought the novel was good, I do agree with some of my fellow reviewers, there were too many writing/editing mistakes which I would expect from a novice author, but a seasoned one? For example characters names were spelled inconsistently, Erik vs Eric (ch. 4); Bette vs Betty (ch. 29) and simple editing mistakes were not corrected (pg. 230) "That night they didn't MADE love..."-And of course, the inclusion of all these historical dates and (overly)detailed medical facts-I didn't understand the relevance. Still with the errors, "This Side Of Eternity" is a great book and for those of you who this is your first R. McMillan novel-try her others, they are great reads and you won't be disappointed!! Good work Mrs. McMillan.
| 
