God Don't Like Ugly

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Summary: God Don't Like Ugly and Ain't Crazy About Pretty
Review: Monroe's novel is set in the 60's and 70's Midwest and focuses on the life of Annette Goode. Annette is an impoverished, intelligent, obese, lonely, fatherless child who is often left alone with Mr. Boatwright, a seemingly innocent, bible-quoting, one-legged boarder taken in to help her mother financially. She's basically an outcast who suffers from ridicule, racism, and low self-esteem inflicted from adults and children alike. The tale starts with Mr. Boatwright using Annette's weaknesses to molest her constantly throughout her childhood. Her life is turned around when her beautiful and popular neighbor, Rhoda Nelson, embraces her as a friend. The plot thickens as Annette and Rhoda's stories trace the progression of their friendship and the sharing and revelation of family secrets. The novel had some unexpected twists and a surprise ending (at least it didn't end the way I thought it would) which added to the appeal of the story. Overall, I enjoyed the book - the author exhibited expert handling of the music and historic events of the era and seemed to have left the story open for a sequel....I hope she follows through...I'd like to revisit Annette and friends.

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Summary: IT'S TRUE.......GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY
Review: I enjoyed this book so much that right after I was finished I ran to my local bookstore to pick up the second book by Mary Monroe, "the upper room".

The story begins in the 1950's with Annette, who is seven years old, at the time. She isn't like other seven year olds because she is intellegent, inquisitive, overweight not that easy on the eyes.Her daddy left her and her momma when she was young, so she really didn't have a male role model in her life. That is until Mr. Boatwright arrives at her house. He turns out to be Annettes worst nightmare when he begins to sexually abuse her and starts to control her life. When Annette gets into her teens she meets her neighbor, Rhoda, who is beautiful and rich. Annette is surprised that Rhoda wants to be her friend. Rhoda was the first person that looked past Annettes looks and saw how beautiful she was inside. Together they face some hard times.

This is an excellent book about friendship, love and strength. From reading this book I understood how children think when they are molested and how much it effects their lives. I laughed at Annettes sense of humor and I cried during the horrible times of her life.

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Summary: Missed opportunity!...and that was ugly.
Review: I personally love reading books that take place in the South in the early to mid 1900's of the African American experience. There's just something about it that I find so humbling. This book may not be for everyone as it really touches on the subject of child sexual abuse. The description was quite ronchi I didn't expect all that. The book was good but also frustrating. I'm disappointed that the author did not take the opportunity with this book to "out" the abuser. Instead she chose to keep the crime a secret and the shame remained on the victim. A huge aspect of this book was also on friendship. The development of the friendship was really nice, makes you remember that best friend you might have had back the school days. Good times:) the book ended with (once again!) some over the top drama. (...) I'm hoping that in the sequel, the secret of the crime will finally be revealed.

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Summary: gdlu review
Review: Overall, I absolutely loved the novel God Don't Like Ugly by Mary Monroe! I think this book was funny because the characters loved to gossip and talk about people. This book was also poignant and enjoyable because it left an indelible mark on me that changed my view of the past. Annette Goode, the main character and narrator is a shy, overweight girl who is troubled because she is sexually abused daily by Mr. Boatwright, a boarder from her church who her mother has taken in. Trying to find friends, Annette finally gives up all hope until one summer, when she turns thirteen. She meets Rhoda Nelson, a rich, powerful, beautiful, slim, green-eyed, light skinned, black girl. Soon after they become the best of friends and Annette reveals her shocking secret about Mr. Boatwright. As Rhoda tries to help Annette survive her teen-age years, Annette begins to find out a revelation of things she never knew about her best friend. People should definitely find this book interesting. I would definitely recommend this book for teens, young adults, adults, and seniors, especially those who like books by Mary Monroe or fictional books about the 1950's or 1960's. This book made me laugh, cry, and actually feel what the characters were feeling. The way Mary Monroe describes her characters is fascinating and completely fantastic. The settings which took place in Miami, Florida , Richland, Ohio , and Erie, Pennsylvania during the early 1950's through the late 1960's were absolutely perfect for the plot and the different chapters. Also, the story itself could be related to any time or era.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Waste Your Time Reading
Review: I found the book to be utterly boring, and completely unbelievable. I don't recommend this book for readers that enjoy reading. The title leads you to believe the book will be good. The characters are believable to an extent, but Rhoda and her family was completely unrealistic. A black man good friends with a wealthy Italian in the 1960's? Yeah right. I don't care if they were middle class blacks or not. And Annette as far as a friend to Rhoda was absolutely ridiculous. They had nothing in common. The entire storyline was corny.

Rating:
Summary: Good read
Review: Once you get over some of the "shocking" parts the book is a good read. Deals with being strong, self esteem, goals, secrets, find love within self, and growing up. We get to see Annette as a young person, and flower to adulthood. You will cry with her, scream at her, and want to hug her. The book was really good. Plan to read the second book ASAP.

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Summary: Slow, but what an ending!
Review: This was a very good book and highly recommnend it to all! Maybe there was too much detail, but a was totally surprised. Also glad that the heroin was a plus size woman!

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Summary: Award Winner!!!
Review: I saw this book every time I went to the bookstore, but was reluctant to buy it, being that I had never heard of Mary Monroe. Also no one I knew had read it. After seeing 'God still don't like ugly' I decided to take the plunge! I am so glad I did. I really appreciate Ms. Monroe's writing style and the depth of her characters. I like that although Annette was abused, she was not portrayed as dumb and helpless. And even after forming a bond with Rhoda, Annette knew when to let go of her coat tail, and stand alone. I would recommend this story of abuse,friendship, and secrecy to anyone who appreciates a good novel. I enjoyed reading this book and was sad when it ended. The only good thing about it is... now I can read 'God still don't like Ugly"!!!

Rating:
Summary: GOOD READ!!!!
Review: I LIKED THIS BOOK, ALTHOUGH I HATED TO READ ABOUT THE TRAGEDIES THAT ANNETTE SUFFERED THROUGH AS A CHILD. WHAT DOES NOT KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER AND THAT IS EXACTLLY WHAT IT DID WITH ANNETTE. IT ALSO HELPED THAT SHE HAD THE SHOULDER OF HER BEST FRIEND, RHODA, TO LEAN ON. THEY STUCK TOGETHER WHEN THEY NEEDED EACHOTHER THE MOST. THIS BOOK HAS IT'S SHARE OF DRAMA AND IT KEEPS YOUR ATTENTION WONDERING WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT!!! THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPEN THAT YOU HAVE TO READ IT TO FIND OUT!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: PRETTY GOOD!!!
Review: THIS BOOK WAS REALLY GOOD! I HATED THAT ANNETTE HAD TO GO THROUGH SO MUCH AS A CHILD, BUT SOMETIMES THE THINGS THAT DO NOT KILL YOU MAKE YOU STRONGER. THE FRIENDSHIP THAT SHE HAS WITH RHODA PROBABLY WAS WHAT SAVED HER LIFE, BECUASE SHE HAD A SHOULDER TO LEAN ON. THIS BOOK IS REALLY WORTH READING BECAUSE IT KIND OF GIVES YOU ENCOURAGEMENT TO STAND THROUGH YOUR TRAILS. IT'S WORTH THE READ!!!!!