Rating: 
Summary: Brown GIrl's Silence Speaks UP
Review: A terrifically heartwarming story about a young girl's coming of age as first generation American from Barbados. The "silence" of Marshall's main character, Selina, resounds in this coming of age child of immigrants tale unfolds. Partially based on Ms. Marshall's own life, the story holds warmth, humor and tragedy for almost anyone willing to explore the human condition.A definite must-read for post-modernists.
Rating:
Summary: Brown GIrl's Silence Speaks UP
Review: A terrifically heartwarming story about a young girl's coming of age as first generation American from Barbados. The "silence" of Marshall's main character, Selina, resounds in this coming of age child of immigrants tale unfolds. Partially based on Ms. Marshall's own life, the story holds warmth, humor and tragedy for almost anyone willing to explore the human condition. A definite must-read for post-modernists.
Rating: 
Summary: my gosh!
Review: Could the book move any slower? Or should I put that statement in words the author would use? " The heartbeat of the book was buried under an ever so faint pile of descriptive nonsense that tore away at the very lining of my soul and left me empty, with only remnants of an unbridled fear of a sequel to bide me..." And really, no matter how you look at it, the book is just that, descriptive nonsense. It was so hard to follow that I felt like I was reading a book that was written in French. The characters? Flat, each and every last one of them, especially that misguided Selena. There was no exploration into the motives of the characters whatsoever, for the life of me I can't understand the relationship between Selena and any of the characters, it was almost like the whole thing was a rough draft, and none of the characters and their paths were clearly established. And talk about boring! What exactly was the point in reading this? What in the heck was Paule trying to say through her novel? That Barbadians are similar to this? That this novel was somehow representative of Barbadian adolescent girls coming of age in New York? I sure hope not. I have written better things in my sleep. In the end I've read better, try The Bearnstein Bears, that is literary art at it's finest, this chick and her story can't compare. Oh yeah, the ending... What ending?
Rating:
Summary: my gosh!
Review: Could the book move any slower? Or should I put that statement in words the author would use? " The heartbeat of the book was buried under an ever so faint pile of descriptive nonsense that tore away at the very lining of my soul and left me empty, with only remnants of an unbridled fear of a sequel to bide me..." And really, no matter how you look at it, the book is just that, descriptive nonsense. It was so hard to follow that I felt like I was reading a book that was written in French. The characters? Flat, each and every last one of them, especially that misguided Selena. There was no exploration into the motives of the characters whatsoever, for the life of me I can't understand the relationship between Selena and any of the characters, it was almost like the whole thing was a rough draft, and none of the characters and their paths were clearly established. And talk about boring! What exactly was the point in reading this? What in the heck was Paule trying to say through her novel? That Barbadians are similar to this? That this novel was somehow representative of Barbadian adolescent girls coming of age in New York? I sure hope not. I have written better things in my sleep. In the end I've read better, try The Bearnstein Bears, that is literary art at it's finest, this chick and her story can't compare. Oh yeah, the ending... What ending?
Rating:
Summary: This is the WORST book I have ever read
Review: For those of you who have not yet read this book: this book is about a white-wannabe black girl who pays way too much attention to her friend's puberty. I have never read a worse book in my life. This book is shallow, boring, and completely pointless.
Rating:
Summary: Oh my God- What a wonderful book
Review: I just finished the last page of this book and my goodness it was wonderful. There were many things this book explored. West Indian Blacks in America. Relationships between older and younger generations. Race relations. The list is endless. Silla the mother (THE mother) was an absolute gem of a character. I kept wavering on my feelings toward her. Love, hatred, sympathy. All of these emotions swelled up as I became better aquainted with her character. Some of her actions left me shocked and angry but at the heart of all of her deeds (some an aliance with Satan himself), she did what she had to do for her family. I also loved Deighton. Actually I felt so bad for him. My heart felt all of his frustrations and grief. Ina and Selina, two such very different women. Ina more like her father and Selina a carbon copy of the mother. I wanted Ina to develop a backbone and do what would maker her happy. Selina, my goodness what a complex young lady. I could relate to her and her desire to be her own woman. I only wish Ms. Marshall could have made the ending a little different. Maybe have an epilogue in which we find out what has happened to everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Brown Girl Brownstone = 5 stars
Review: I really enjoyed this book. Marshall proves to me once again what an excellent author she is!
Rating:
Summary: Brown Girl Brownstone = 5 stars
Review: I really enjoyed this book. Marshall proves to me once again what an excellent author she is!
Rating:
Summary: great, great book
Review: i'm black and of caribbean origin, and i could really relate to this book. i dont usually read books by black authors but this book has me wanting to search for more of paule marshall's books.
Rating:
Summary: great, great book
Review: i'm black and of caribbean origin, and i could really relate to this book. i dont usually read books by black authors but this book has me wanting to search for more of paule marshall's books.
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