Rating: 
Summary: Fun and fast-paced!
Review: A wonderful tale of a couple of friends growing up in Alabama and the joys and pains that come along with it: from experiencing that first crush, doing "it" the first time, and falling in love, until jealousy mixed with frustration leads to murder! I enjoyed this one and can't wait to read Monroe's previous and future works.
Rating: 
Summary: WASN'T FEELING THIS NOVEL
Review: A wonderful tale of a couple of friends growing up in Alabama and the joys and pains that come along with it: from experiencing that first crush, doing "it" the first time, and falling in love, until jealousy mixed with frustration leads to murder! I enjoyed this one and can't wait to read Monroe's previous and future works.
Rating: 
Summary: Everyone's Keeper
Review: Carmen Taylor has her own worries and problems, but she is too busy shouldering everyone else's problems to handle her own. As a teenager, Carmen often pulled pranks and got into trouble with several tragic events occuring during this time. These events later play a key role throughout most of her adult life. Chester Sheffield has always been the man that Carmen has coveted, but her sense of obligation and guilt may cause her to miss out on her one true love. Mary Monroe's Gonna Lay Down My Burdens is a deeply emotional book and is a good example of what guilt can do to a person and those around them. This is a beautifully written book and is on my top ten list for 2002. Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks
Rating:
Summary: Great Read!!
Review: Gonna Lay Down My Burdens is a great drama that opens strong and keeps the reader hooked until the very last page. We are introduced to the story's central character, Carmen Taylor, on her wedding day when she has an eerie, apprehensive moment prior to receiving an urgent telephone call from her maid of honor, Desiree. Desiree, Carmen's best friend and drama queen, is having yet another domestic episode with live-in policeman boyfriend, Chester, and frantically asks Carmen to come rescue her. When she arrives, a scuffle ensues and Carmen delivers a fatal blow to Chester's head. As they flee to escape capture for the murder of a cop, Carmen relives her life in a series of flashbacks where we meet the primary characters of Chester, Burl (Carmen's fiancé), Desiree and many other funny, interesting townsfolk of Belle Helene, Alabama. Monroe skillfully allows us to experience the development of friendships, meet the town's dysfunctional families, and witness childhood crushes evolve into adult romances. As the story progresses, we clearly understand how the strong-willed Carmen with the big heart ultimately becomes so heavily burdened by guilt and shame to the point that she neglects her own happiness and nearly self destructs. I think this book will fare well simply because it is a good story that is told very well. Monroe's writing style is easy to follow and the book exhibits solid pacing. With this being her third novel, I can say Monroe has earned a place on my favorite author list. Phyllis
APOOO Bookclub
Nubian Circle Book Club (Orlando, FL)
Rating:
Summary: Gonna Lay Down my Burdens
Review: Gonna lay Down My Burdens
("The best book I've read so far") "I kept my tears and my weakness to myself." That is so true because in this book one of the character's, named Carmen keeps all her feelings to herself. She always tries to help others. Mary Monroe's purpose of writing this book was to create a image in the mind, And make it feel like you're there, or your one of the characters. The setting is very overwhelming ; It created a wonderful mood for the reader. The language has dialect. This is truly a fascinating book.
In Gonna Lay Down My Burden, there are two best friends and one man. When Carmen has a night to remember with Chester, she doesn't tell Desiree about it. So, this creates a problem when Desiree starts dating him. Also, when Carmen interferes with a fight between Desiree and Chester, she does something that will change her and Desiree's life forever.
The story setting is very detail and it makes it feel like the reader is there. " The rain, hammering down out of the north, thumped on the windows of my dependable old Nissan like rocks" This lets the reader know how fast the rain was coming down and it kind of make the reader feel like they were in the rain as well. Mary Monroe did a great job at creating the mood.
The characters of the story are childhood friends. Carmen is the type of person that keeps her troubles to herself and everybody knows a person like that. Where on the other hand Desiree is that type that always get herself in trouble but can't get herself out of it and have to call her friend to help her out.
The plot is the important part of the story. It gets kind of confusing at the begin because it jumps from the present to the past and then back to the present. Once the reader get use to the plot it is wonderful. It tells all the way up unto the present day.
Language is another important part of the story. It is a narrative its told in third person. It has that southern kind of talk because it is set in Alabama.
To close, this book receive five stars from every aspect. The only thing it can be confusing and keeps the reader wondering till the end.
Rating:
Summary: Gonna Lay Down my Burdens
Review: Gonna lay Down My Burdens
("The best book I've read so far") "I kept my tears and my weakness to myself." That is so true because in this book one of the character's, named Carmen keeps all her feelings to herself. She always tries to help others. Mary Monroe's purpose of writing this book was to create a image in the mind, And make it feel like you're there, or your one of the characters. The setting is very overwhelming ; It created a wonderful mood for the reader. The language has dialect. This is truly a fascinating book.
In Gonna Lay Down My Burden, there are two best friends and one man. When Carmen has a night to remember with Chester, she doesn't tell Desiree about it. So, this creates a problem when Desiree starts dating him. Also, when Carmen interferes with a fight between Desiree and Chester, she does something that will change her and Desiree's life forever.
The story setting is very detail and it makes it feel like the reader is there. " The rain, hammering down out of the north, thumped on the windows of my dependable old Nissan like rocks" This lets the reader know how fast the rain was coming down and it kind of make the reader feel like they were in the rain as well. Mary Monroe did a great job at creating the mood.
The characters of the story are childhood friends. Carmen is the type of person that keeps her troubles to herself and everybody knows a person like that. Where on the other hand Desiree is that type that always get herself in trouble but can't get herself out of it and have to call her friend to help her out.
The plot is the important part of the story. It gets kind of confusing at the begin because it jumps from the present to the past and then back to the present. Once the reader get use to the plot it is wonderful. It tells all the way up unto the present day.
Language is another important part of the story. It is a narrative its told in third person. It has that southern kind of talk because it is set in Alabama.
To close, this book receive five stars from every aspect. The only thing it can be confusing and keeps the reader wondering till the end.
Rating:
Summary: WHAT A GREAT BOOK
Review: I ENJOY THIS BOOK VERY MUCH. IT WAS SO GOOD. I DIDNT THINK I WOULD LIKE THIS BOOK. BECAUSE HER SECOND BOOK I DIDNT CARE FOR BECAUSE I DIDNT LIKE WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT. THIS BOOK WAS SOOOOOOOO GOOOD.
Rating:
Summary: KUDOS To Mary Monroe!
Review: I have not read a book this good since reading Sista Souljah's The Coldest Winter. This book had it all. The only thing I can say is WOW!!! I don't like to give up details if you have'nt already read this book please pick up a copy. Ms. Monroe is exsplosive in her story telling. Truly a GREAT READ!
The rating should go past 5 stars, this book is off the charts.
Rating:
Summary: It is official Ms. Monroe is one of my favorite authors!
Review: I have to let you know that this review may be bias because I just love this author's style. Her characters are funny, interesting,& realistic. I have however noticed this pattern in her books. She always seems to have at least one character in her book that solves their problems by committing murder. I wanted to read more about the love interest in this novel, I hope that she has a part two to this novel like she did God don't like ugly.
Rating:
Summary: nice nice nice
Review: i liked the book alot. i lovedddddd all the twists that it had to offer. I would tell all what happened but im not finna do that to those who haven't read the book yet. it is a must read. it will definately have you sayin, "what?" and things like, "she's crazy/stupid". But this book is a definite must read. holla
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