Rating: 
Summary: Searching for Family
Review: Mother of Pearl is a luminous novel of the 1950's South that intermingles race and racism, degeneracy and prejudice, magic and love. With characters whose names came from real estate and road signs such as Even Grade and Valuable Korner, the story races and rambles through a search for meaning, love, and family. As often happens, when someone has no real family, they satisfy their needs in unconventional ways. Here we find a girl, Valuable Korner, who is set adrift by her mother, the town hooker, who takes off for California one night never to return; Valuable goes to the only refuge available, a lesbian aunt and her companion who live in a large Victorian mansion on the river. When her boyfriend moves to Georgia with his family, she is truly cut adrift until she finds comfort and compassion with a Black conjure woman and her lover, Even Grade, an orphan who is also looking for a family. The complexity and variety of the plot moves the novel along at a rapid pace as the author reveals the pettiness and prejudice of 50's Mississippi while at the same time allowing the essential human needs to take precedence as an unusual family of mixed race begins to form. There is also a touch of the outrageous that accompanies many Southern novels and that is certainly a part of Southern culture, as well as the humor that erupts from such situations. Overall, Mother of Pearl is a thoroughly tender and heartrending story of a few individuals in troubled times who overcome their despair in ways that are unexpected and influence their lives forever.
Rating: 
Summary: Extraordinary First Novel!
Review: This is one of those books that at first takes time and patience to get into. It's dreamy, lyrical quality and left of center characters take some getting used to. Stick with it. This is one of those books to buy in hardcover because you won't want to let it go. You'll want to keep in a place of honor in your library. That this is Melinda Haynes first novel is fantastic. Haynes creates a world so real you can taste the red dirt. If at first it moseys along, as you begin to love and identify with the characters, it picks up speed. This is a powerful reminder that love prevails -- in the book amidst poverty, racism and hatred. It's simultaneously mystical, magical, and brutally realistic. Surrender and mosey along with Haynes. You won't be sorry.
Rating: 
Summary: I am totally confused
Review: I bought "Mother of Pearl" a couple of weeks ago, but only got around to starting it a few days ago. I normally like the books that Oprah chooses for her book club, so I was excited about this one. Well...I just couldn't get into it. I found it extremely confusing, I did not like the writing style. I kept reading, just to see if it would get any better, but it never did grip me. So I finally decided to give up on it, about 1/3 way through. I can only remember doing that with 2 other books.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: I've been reading the reviews from some other people about this book and am not surprised that some might not enjoy it. But I am writing this before I've even finished reading it; I feel that strongly that this is a wonderful book regardless of whatever the outcome. To be honest, I'm not a big fan of Oprah's book club just because her picks tend to be so full of angst, depression and abuse. Not to say that this one doesn't have those elements in it but, wow, I've been so enthralled I have a hard time getting anything other than reading done. It is not a quick read but in my opinion it's WELL worth the effort. I almost died laughing at the part Joody gives Even his "gift". I really feel that those who thought the situations were impossible or that it was boring are really missing the point. I think Ms. Haynes has nailed racial tensions and feelings. I say she has done a fabulous job and would definitely recommend this book to any discerning reader. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Surrealism gone wrong
Review: This book is full of prtences.A group of poor uneducated rural folk in Mississippi carrying on like at a cocktail party at the Museum of Modern Art.Simple black people quoting from Greek tragedies.Unfathomable prose with no respite.The author has an obsession with bodily fluids and every imaginable effuents.Four letter words galore.Stereotyping based on color,profession and religion.To focus on the deep south, the author casually mentions lynchings,Klan and not being served soon at a paint store et al.Impossible situations,meaningless theories,irrelevant characters and pretend pop psychology. Perhaps the author wanted to do a Salvador Dali in a novel form.But it is gone wrong.Perhaps she should return to her vocationand resume painting.But I have lost faith in book clubs and best seller lists.
Rating:
Summary: sad, but good
Review: I read this book, because the author is from the town where i attend college now, and a lot of the setting's took place in this town of Hattiesburg. I learned a lot about the town by readin this book. I must say that this was a good book, although i was shocked about some of the things that went on, such as what happened with valuable and jackson. It was sad what happened to valuable, i wasen't expecting that at all. I felt for all the characthers in the book.
Rating:
Summary: Don't give up on this one!
Review: I'll admit, like some of the other reviewers, I thought the story got off to a slow start. There were alot of characters to keep track of and the author seemed to jump from one line of thought into a completely different plot line. I listened to the book on audio and had to really pay attention as it was a little hard to follow at times. But I'm glad I stuck with it, because all the characters did eventually tie together and I found myself loving this story. I liked the way Valuable got along with the black people in her community, and especially liked Joody Twoson (I hope I'm spelling it correctly as I didn't see it in print.) She was able to "read" people and I thought it added a lot of interest to the story. I would recommend that those who gave up at page 100, go back and try it again. It turned out to be one of the best books Oprah has picked in my opinion and I've read most of them.
Rating:
Summary: First 70 pages are brutal--then it clicks!
Review: I tried to read this several times but couldn't get past the first 70 pages. Then, I listened to it on tape and stuck with it--and was amazed at how much I cared about the characters. It is a pretty brutal story, lots of death and anguish, but told in such a surprising and real way. I can't figure out why this book starts off so bad--but it does. Force yourself through the first part and you will be pleasantly surprised to find yourself thinking of these characters Even when the book is not in your hands. It will prove Valuable to you! Marlene
Rating:
Summary: Hard on the eyes? Try your ears instead!
Review: The mannerism of Nana Visitor's reading style on the audio version of this book literally breathes life into these wonderfully, diverse characters. Her intelligent technique of knowing when to ebb and when to flow, and her flawless presentation of each character's personality and "voice", gives well-earned justice to Ms. Haynes unique writing style. Admittedly, even on audio, there were parts of the first chapter that were so full of metaphor and prose that it took a while to find the rythmic niche... but only momentarily. The story was so intriguing, and Nana so adept in her presentation, that I began to marvel not only at its unfolding tale, but at the way it was read. The story of the relationships between these wonderful, interesting characters... full of diversity, twists, and insight, is one I'll not soon forget.
Rating:
Summary: BOOOOOORING!
Review: I never leave a book unfinished, but I finally threw this one down in disgust the other day. It's going in the Goodwill bag with my bookmark still in it around page 100. I tried but I just can't like this writing. Wish I'd read the reviews before I wasted my money.
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