Rating: 
Summary: Realistic work of Fiction
Review: It took me a while to actually finish reading this book. I don't regret having to wait. This is one of the best TM books I have ever read! The characters in this book are so realistic that you can relate to them in your own life. This family had so much drama going on in their life.The heroine and mother, Viola Price has an ongoing struggle with her asthma attacks. Through all of her ups and downs she has to be the backbone of the family, even if they don't all appreciate her. Cecil, their father, has had it up to here with Viola's complaining and non-affection attitude with him. He discovers love on the other side of the track with a woman half his age, on welfare living in the projects, and raising three kids. The oldest daughter Paris reminded me of Vanessa William's character in "Soul Food", just not as nagging and as stuck-up. The family sees Paris as the person to run to when ever they are in a financial bind. Paris was one of the better children of the Paris family because she did what she could to help all of her younger siblings, even if they didn't appreciate it. Paris went out of her way and pocket to help her mother receive everything that she deserved. However, Paris was lacking in her own personal life, but was unwilling to let anyone know that she was fighting her own demons. The second child, Charlotte, thought the world was against her. She was spoiled and selfish and choice to run away from her problems rather than face them like a woman. She hung up one to many times for me on people. Her favorite word for a female is to assume that everyone in the world is related to or is a female dog. She felt she was treated unfairly because she choice not to go with her family to the West Coast but remained in the east. She needed to take a look at her own life before judging others. The third child, Janelle had much drama in her life. She choose to look toward a man for comfort and life's answers to her tough question. She consulted with psychics rather than within herself and believing that she had the answers all along. It took a tragedy with her daughter to finally realize that she had put too much trust in a man for guidance in her life. The last child, but certainly not with the least problems and the only boy of the family, is Lewis. He has a son that he doesn't take care of, an ex-wife that's been saved and remarried, and a drinking problem along with mass medical problems. His choice of comfort is beer, whisky, or just about any kind of alcoholic drink that he can find. He's at least 30 something doing various odd end jobs, license revoked due to DUI's, and not paying any amount of money for child support. It takes a fatal tragedy to pull this family together. They must realize that family is the only one that will be with you when the times are good and when the times are tough. If you can't relate to someone in this book you are lying. This is a great book! Well done TM!
Rating:
Summary: A Winner!
Review: Terry MacMillan has finally done it again. This book's a winner from the first line until the last. I read it from cover to cover in one sitting. The characters were real, as were the issues that she brought to the surface. It appeared that she took her time and entered into the world of the asthmatic patient, to the point that I could identify with Viola, the main character. I loved the way she shared the thoughts of each character throughout. It helped me to identify with them. This is a book that I will treasure. It was a pleasure to add this one to my collection.
Rating:
Summary: FORGET WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD!!
Review: I have NEVER in my life had a book make me CRY THROUGH out the whole book. This book is so very touching. The PRICE family is very real. It's so sad that it takes a tragady to draw a family close together and make them realize what they actually have, each other. I have always been a believer that bad things don't just happen to bad people, but they happen to a reason (sometimes a positive reason). The Price family is faced with one of the toughest situations that can happen to a family and it draws them all toghether. In the beginning, we are introduced to the heart of the family, Miss Viola Price. She is suffering from an asthma attack in the hospital. Viola has a different and sometimes harsh outlook on her children and her estranged husband Cecil. Cecil I didn't have anything bad to really say. He was a man that loved his wife (honestly) but their being in love type of situation had just fallen apart. He loved her he just wasn't in love with her. He moves in with a much younger woman on welfare with three other children looking for the love that he lost with Viola. The oldest daugher Paris was my favorite charater. She reminded me of Vanessa Williams' character in Soul Food but not as harsh and demanding. She wasn't as fussy and mean as Williams' character, but she was looked as a responsible one and the person that the family runs to when in a financial crisis. Paris felt she had to be the one that couldn't do any wrong. She forged having a man in her life and in her bed b/c she couldn't trust men after her estranged husband. Charolette, the second child...oh, god! She had some MAJOR DRAMA IN HER LIFE. She hung up the phone one to many times in people's face for me. If I had been her mother she would have gotten more than a casual cursed out spat every once in a while. It would have only taken once. She is VERY jealous of her siblings especially Paris. She's dealing with her grown-acting teenage children plus a husband that she can't trust. Not to mention that every other word in her mouth is profanity and her favorite word for calling a female is a (female dog). No wonder she didn't have any female friends. Or the case could be that she didn't know how to talk w/ women b/c she didn't have any female bonding friends. The third child,Janelle, looks for a man for all the answers to life's questions. She meets her match when she married George. Boy, he takes the cake. She looks toward him so much that she doesn't even notice what's going on in her on household under her nose. She gave him too much control, then she finally decides that she has to gain the control that she has been giving other's in her life. Poor thang, she book smart but not common sense. Then there's the youngest child Lewis, (and only boy). HE HAS WAY TOO MUCH ON HIS PLATE. He is a dead-beat dad that really is trying for more in his life but doesn't know how to go about the right way. He has given up on himself and his family and turned to drinking. He is the prime example of an educated smart man that is too smart for his own use and therefor rather than accept his knowledge he opts for displaying ignorant and plain stupid decisions for his life. The characters in the film made me relate this to people in my life. WE ALL CAN RELATE TO PEOPLE IN THIS BOOK, if you disagree then you are telling a lie. I CRIED THROUGHOUT THIS BOOK!! IT WAS GREAT.
Rating:
Summary: Touching, Surreal, Heart-warming Family Story..Bravo Terry
Review: Yes, Terry is back in what has to be the most touching, heart-warming story about family and the relationships we build and sometimes destroy within them. Terry does a wonderful job describing the realtionships Lewis, Janelle, Paris and Charolette each have with their mother and how it has molded them into the people they've become in their adult lives. What I truly loved is how Terry gives you the opportunity to see each of her children through her eyes. You find out how she feels and thinks about each of them on a personal level. Somepeople never know how their parents truly see and view them. I found that refreshing and a rare treat. She also shows how a father, Cecil can become lose and looked over in a family. But, he comes to see that it's not too late to build new relationships with each of his children and to start a new. I found Viola, the mother to be strong, sometimes overbearing and a "true" pistol. What's even funnier is the fact that, my mother-in-law bares the same name and some of the same qualities. I felt as though, I had lived this story before. It was simply surreal. She(Vy)surely added flavor to the pot. It was like reading about my in-laws and then some. I knew exactly who was who, in this turner. I laughed, cried, shouted and gave my amen's for sure and even found myself reaching for tissue. A Day Late and A Dollar Short, helps you see, what matters most in life and why. It pulls at your heart strings and makes you want to reach out to people and cherish what you have. This latest McMillian book was well worth the wait, though I pray it doesn't take her as long the next time around. Yes, I'm a "BIG" Terry McMillian fan and always will be. She and her sister have a way of doing for me. Though their writing styles differs, that's what makes it all the better. I'm eagerly awaiting the next bestseller,Terry and continued success as always.
Rating:
Summary: A Day Late and A Dollar Short
Review: As an Black female - this book was so touching. Everything that my mama and grandma told me was in this book. How you should be treated, what not to take from a man, even the quotes I have heard throughout my lifetime (A Day Late and A Dollar Short and many others) and in the text that Ms. McMillian used it in was just like my grandmother was talking to me. I really enjoyed the book - it made me look at my own life, made me want to get my life straight and makes me want to reach for more (if they can do it - why can't I), because you never know what is going to happen next. Viola is the true head of the family, I think even Cecil knew that. Wonderful work Ms. McMillian, I can't wait to read the next one. P.S. I looked through all my receipes to find the "Sock It To Me Cake" I'll be making them more often now. Thanks
Rating: 
Summary: A Brilliant Read
Review: As a first time reader of Terry McMillan I thought this book was fantastic. Every character is well written and has a "real person" feel about them. A real insight into families and their misconceptions about each other. Couldn't put this down and can't wait to get a hold of more of McMillan's work.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: I've read all of Terry's books and I have to say that this one of her best !! The characters are real, everyone knows someone like Cecil and Viola. The title was truly fitting since so many of the Price family problems were solved "a day late and a dollar short". Our book club selected this book and we gave it wonderful reviews. A must-read !!
Rating:
Summary: OH MY GOSH!!!!! YOU'RE GONNA LOV' IT.....
Review: THE INNER GUTS OF A FAMILY..... EVERY FAMILY GOES THROUGH THESE UPS AND DOWNS.....EVERYONE IN THIS FAMILY HAS "SOMETHNG"....THE CHARACTERS ARE SO BRIGHT AND UNFORGETTABLE,,WE ALL HAVE A SISTER AND A BROTHER LIKE THIS, WE ONLY CAN WISH TO HAVE A MOTHER LIKE VIOLA WHO CAN CAN TELL IT LIKE IT IS,,,AND WE ONLY HAVE TO REMEMBER TO APPRECIATE "ALL" WHATEVER THEY'RE FAULTS ARE...LOVE THEM NOWWWWW!!!!!!, DON'T WASTE A MINUTE..... READ THIS NOW,,,LAUGH NOW,,,THIS IS A BOOK TO BE SAVORED,,,AND NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN!!!!!!! DP
Rating: 
Summary: An insider's view to an american family....
Review: Mcmillan has an awesome talent for character development and displaying human emotion in her latest novel that takes place circa: 1994. Matriarch Viola Pryce is a no-nonense, controlling middle aged woman who's life revolves around her adult children. Each child has problems in their own right and Viola exacerbates their issues with her own personal involvement- but her intentions are good. She still speaks her mind regardless of their objections. Firstly, her husband Cecil has left her for a younger woman, who has three young children and lives in the projects. At first we hear Viola's take on the situation,she's noticeably bitter, painting a flawed picture of Cecil. To McMillan's credit she soon gives Cecil a voice and we soon find out that their two sides to this coin. Viola's mid-life transformation was too much for him to bear, her constant ragging and unappreciation forces him to leave and bestow all of his attention on his new love, Brenda. This is a true family tree introspective on each member. Down to the smallest member of the Pryce family- we are given a birds-eye view. Paris, the oldest and Charlotte, the middle child are at war, due to an overblown ongoing sibling rivalry at it's zenith. Paris, the single mother of Dingus is a virtual superwoman who battles her own internal demons and is always quick to stand judgement of her younger siblings. Lewis, the super-intelligent underachiever is constantly in trouble with the law, while regretting his divorce from his ex-wife Donetta, who's since married and has custody of their teenage son Jamil. Charlotte, who in my opinion is the most troubled of the bunch still feels past transgressions like they were yesterday. Once she becomes overwhelmed with emotions she slams down the receiver during heated arguments with her mother. Janelle, suffers from low self-esteem, that her daughter picks up on, this eventually leads into a tortuous ordeal that affects both parties involved.. Viola suffers from asthma which places her in the hospital. This alerts the children and they deliberately fall into their typical characters........ Eventually each character gets on the same page and is given individual insight on their lives. Of course Viola Pryce is the torchbearer..... Support this novel..McMillan obviously took her time to develop this story...Great story teller......This movie will eventually be a full-length movie...Guaranteed.......Not enough stories about black families and real issues.......
Rating:
Summary: Good book but not her best!
Review: I loved this book! All the characters were real, and if you don't have them in your family, I'm sure you know someone who does. Every character was well developed, however if she did a sequel to this book, it would give it more closure. Not that the book ended on a bad note, but I felt as though there were a few questions that should of been answered. I recall someone's review of this book and they mentioned Janelle not ever giving birth, well I read a scene in the book that I sorta of pieced together why she never gave birth. I won't reveal it to those who haven't read it, but pay attention. This was a good book and a great read, but she's done better.
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