Rating: 
Summary: The Review
Review: "Ms. Phillips, thank you." Delores Phillips in her literary debut set the bar with "The Darkest Child" as this book is a literary masterpiece.This book made me feel and I am forever grateful for that experience as she also created dialogue that I feel needs to be answered before I leave this Earth. I cried, I laughed, I had to stop at times as it was getting to be too much, but, in the end "The Darkest Child" is a book that needs to be read by every Black person. Ms. Phillips though is wrong on one account as this book is real. The protagnoist, Tangy Mae Quinn, exists, as do Rozelle, Tarabelle, Sam, Harvey, Hambone, Martha Jean, Mushy, just to name a few. These characters are real. The situations are real. Reading this book gave me a peek into what it must have been like living in the segregrated South as a Black man or rather being Black period, and the anger I felt at white people in their view and treatment of Blacks, and how the effects of that time still carry on today. I encourage each of you to purchase this book and buy an extra one and give it to someone. --Juss
Rating:
Summary: The Review
Review: "Ms. Phillips, thank you." Delores Phillips in her literary debut set the bar with "The Darkest Child" as this book is a literary masterpiece. This book made me feel and I am forever grateful for that experience as she also created dialogue that I feel needs to be answered before I leave this Earth. I cried, I laughed, I had to stop at times as it was getting to be too much, but, in the end "The Darkest Child" is a book that needs to be read by every Black person. Ms. Phillips though is wrong on one account as this book is real. The protagnoist, Tangy Mae Quinn, exists, as do Rozelle, Tarabelle, Sam, Harvey, Hambone, Martha Jean, Mushy, just to name a few. These characters are real. The situations are real. Reading this book gave me a peek into what it must have been like living in the segregrated South as a Black man or rather being Black period, and the anger I felt at white people in their view and treatment of Blacks, and how the effects of that time still carry on today. I encourage each of you to purchase this book and buy an extra one and give it to someone. --Juss
Rating:
Summary: A Simply Breath Taking Novel...
Review: "The Darkest Child" is an excellent dubet book written by Delores Phillips. Her descriptive writing enables you to feel like you are currently present during that time. Her story line is well written. I became very emotional during the reading of this novel. Her description of the horrible descrimation and hate in the South made my skin crawl. Everyone should read "The Darkest Child" no matter what race you are...you can become inspired to know that through the hardships of life you can overcome anything with a touch of "hope". I applaud Ms. Phillips for a writing job well done!
Rating:
Summary: FANTASTIC FIRST NOVEL
Review: AFTER READING THIS BOOK AND I HAVE READ VERY MANY.............THIS IS BY FAR ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ.............BEING RAISED BY A MOTHER VERY SIMILAR TO TANGY MAE'S MOM I COULD REALLY RELATE TO ALOT OF IT.....ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT IT WAS VERY WELL WRITTEN AND I HOPE THERE WILL BE A MOVIE AND I WILL READ EVERY THING ELSE DELORES PHILLIPS WRITES.............GREAT JOB...
Rating:
Summary: Angry
Review: An awesome read it will make not only keep your eyes open but it will keep your mouth open in disbelief. From page one to the end, I have never been so angry with a character than I have in this book. I don't want to give anything away other to say READ IT.
Rating:
Summary: THE YEAR'S BEST
Review: AS THE NEW YEAR IS UPON US, I OFFICIALLY OFFER YOU MY LIST OF THE 10 BEST BOOKS THAT I'VE READ IN 2004. THIS IS OUT OF ABOUT 84 BOOKS THAT I'VE READ THIS YEAR. EVERY SINGLE BOOK ON THIS LIST IS A MASTERPIECE WORTH BUYING. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED WITH GREAT LITERATURE LIKE THE FOLLOWING:
"THE DARKEST CHILD"--Delores Phillips
The finest, most dramatic debut I've read in years. Top notch and gut-wrenching. This is by far the best book of 2004.
"BRICK LANE"--Monica Ali
Superb entry into a world foreign yet all too familiar. Flawless, beautiful writing.
"HOTTENTOT VENUS"--Barbara Chase Riboud
A True Story. Which makes this book all the more shocking and tragic. By now you've heard of the kidnapped and dehumanized South African woman paraded in the 1800's Europe as a "freak" because of her huge posterior and the apron over her genitals. Chase Riboud chronicles the tale perfectly and makes it far more interesting than just history. The fact that "Sarah" was like a Pop Superstar of her day makes it all the more chilling in my opinion. A definite Must-Read.
"FLESH AND THE DEVIL"--Kola Boof
Totally original, unexpected black love story. Chock full of African history, U.S. black history, fantastic plot twists, pulsating sex, equally dazzling "lovemaking", brilliant observations about race, color and sexism and plenty of risk-taking by the sensational Sudanese-born Kola Boof, truly a NEW STAR in the "epic" sense. Fabulous!
"DOUGLASS' WOMEN"--Jewel Parker Rhodes
If ever a fictionalized story of a real person's life/real events makes you totally believe inch and detail of the fiction writer's imagination--this one is it!! Jewel Parker Rhodes is turning out to be one of our most ardent writers of historical fiction, her brevity and flair for honest human emotion making her just a little BETTER, in my opinion, than the queen of historical black fiction--Barbara Chase Riboud. You can't go wrong with "DOUGLASS' WOMEN", it's sensational.
"ERASURE"---Percival Everett
I know. I'm late reading this one. But it's classic, fantastic, the greatest book ever written about being a "black" writer today. SUPERB. 10 Stars.
"A DISTANT SHORE"--Caryl Phillips
Great novel about "human beings" ripped apart in their own world and then thrown together in new equally dreadful surroundings. A black man and a white woman are juxtaposed in England with terribly beautiful insight by the writer. It's a hard book to explain, except that it's about human beings finding their real true minds. Superb!!!! I give this one 10 stars.
"DRINKING COFFEE ELSEWHERE"--Z.Z. Packer
The breakout debut of the new Alice Walker and Toni Morrison rolled into one. Z.Z. Packer is outrageously talented and brilliant. These sparse, witty, intelligent, insightful short stories will bring you to tears, make you laugh and truly astonish you.
"THE KNOWN WORLD"--Edward P. Jones
This book starts off kind of "slow", but once you get into it, it's quite shocking, easily one of the most important stories told in a decade. Jones deserves all the accolades and awards he's received for this masterful masterpiece of the new century.
"LOVE"--Toni Morrison
Still the undisputable greatest writer writing. Toni Morrison offers up one of her very best novels, the most underrated and overlooked novel of the year. Absolutely meszmerizing, a bute.
Rating:
Summary: A Mother's Love
Review: Come to Pakersfield, Georgia and meet the Quinn family. Told from the point of view of Tangy, who happens to be "The Darkest Child" in the family. This family truly follows the "blood is thicker than mud" motto. Not only do they share lineage they are all victims of their mother's cruelty. Unfortunately we also find that not all of them have the ability to survive. Growing up a Quinn child is a terrible burden to bear. Tangy's siblings all have a little of their mother in them and it's frightening. Her sister Tarabelle carries her mother's hatred. Mushie, the eldest who has moved away carries a love for drinking and other womens' husbands. Her brother Harvey is determined to beat his wife into submission. Martha Jean carries her mother's jealous streak. Laura is a master thief. Roselle, their mother, is undoubtedly the most complex character you will meet. She is an entanglement of hatred, bitterness, evilness, craziness and cruelty wrapped up in the package of a beautiful woman. She is determined to keep her children under her reign of terror. But they have other plans. A string of events will cause her children to fall away in a domino effect; and even "the little metal box under the floorboards" won't be able to keep them in her grasp. Delores Phillips' debut novel, The Darkest Child is nothing short of a masterpiece. Her writing style puts you in the mind of Toni Morrison and J. California Cooper. The Darkest Child will force emotions from you that are indescribable. Just when you think you can't cry anymore or when you finally feel that there is hope you realize you were wrong. Dark yet enlightening. Cold yet touching. Never before has a novel been written that finishing is required and no longer a choice. Angie Pickett-Henderson
R.E.A.L. Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: Bravo! Outstanding!
Review: Delores Phillips has outdone herself. Her debut novel left me stunned. Her vivid descriptions of her characters had them jumping of the pages directly into my living room. Reading alone, I found myself laughing and crying aloud for the members of the Quinn family. Ms. Phillips definitely drew on her experience as a nurse in a psychiatric hospital when developing the psychotic character of Rozelle. I am so appreciative that we now live in a time where child protection laws are enforced (to a degree). I cannot imagine myself enduring the physical, verbal and emotional abuse that Tangy Mae and her siblings were subjected to. If Oprah's Book Club were still reading contemporary fiction, this would definitely be one of her selections. However, since it is not, I have chosen it as my book group's featured selection for the month of August, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Brown V. Board of Education ruling. I hope Ms. Phillips will consider a film adaptation of the book and I cannot wait for a sequel. Readers of this book will not want it to end. A definite must read! P.S. Does anyone know where I can find a reading guide/discussion questions for this book?
Rating:
Summary: Talk about honoring yo mama......
Review: First of all bravo to Ms. Phillips I am speechless. I haven't had a great read since Warriors Dont Cry. I talked about the each character as if I knew them, I told people in my family about my emotions. I related to Tan strength to be so young and mature for her age. I went through sleepless nights wanting really bad things to happen to the mama Rosie, but it did. The saying is true God don't like ugly! I notice how Tan was full of hate and anger, but it is like after Junior's death and the farmhouse she grew up and forgiving. I love how the book wasn't totally based on the civil right movement, but it was mentioned. Coming from a signal parent home I loved how Crow showed his love for Tan (don't want to tell the story). I just finished the book at 9:45pm at work and just so speechless. I could go on and on bravo, bravo, and thank you. God bless
P.S. I am going to write Oprah because this is an excellent novel
Rating: 
Summary: Mommy Dearest!
Review: Great story, first book, good job. I just couldn't put it down, you really can get caught up in this book. I passed it on to more than one person. I hope your next books are just as good. We really need some new blood.
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