Rating: 
Summary: Coming Of age tale that works
Review: After living in Germany as the son of a military officer, Sarge watches the break-up of the marriage between his parents. His father remains overseas while his mother returns to Kentucky where Sarge's maternal grandmother, Ruth still owns a farm. On the former tobacco plantation lays an old slave cemetery that Ruth tenderly cares for as if it is her own special garden. For several generations, slaves were buried in the cemetery. Ruth begins to tell Sarge the stories behind each graveside. However, Ruth is either unable to or refuses to tell Sarge the story behind one particular stone that marks the birth and death of baby Kate. Sarge who has handled his parents' separation rather poorly turns to the deceased slaves for solace. He needs to know the story of Kate if he is to get past the pending divorce. As Sarge seeks the truth, he concludes that some secrets are better off buried. THE COLORED GARDEN is a tremendous but different type of coming of age tale that will thrill readers who relish their fiction to contain something entertaining yet different. The story line centers on the stunned Sarge as he listens with earnest to the tales about the dead slaves while seeking something new to believe in. Oscar H. Bennett has written a winner that digs deep into the essence of human nature in an articulate and intelligent novel that is worth reading. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Coming Of age tale that works
Review: After living in Germany as the son of a military officer, Sarge watches the break-up of the marriage between his parents. His father remains overseas while his mother returns to Kentucky where Sarge's maternal grandmother, Ruth still owns a farm. On the former tobacco plantation lays an old slave cemetery that Ruth tenderly cares for as if it is her own special garden. For several generations, slaves were buried in the cemetery. Ruth begins to tell Sarge the stories behind each graveside. However, Ruth is either unable to or refuses to tell Sarge the story behind one particular stone that marks the birth and death of baby Kate. Sarge who has handled his parents' separation rather poorly turns to the deceased slaves for solace. He needs to know the story of Kate if he is to get past the pending divorce. As Sarge seeks the truth, he concludes that some secrets are better off buried. THE COLORED GARDEN is a tremendous but different type of coming of age tale that will thrill readers who relish their fiction to contain something entertaining yet different. The story line centers on the stunned Sarge as he listens with earnest to the tales about the dead slaves while seeking something new to believe in. Oscar H. Bennett has written a winner that digs deep into the essence of human nature in an articulate and intelligent novel that is worth reading. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: A reminder how the past shapes our present.
Review: I finished this novel reawakened to the power of the past to shape our present. The novel focuses on the experience of a black boy who lives with his mother, sister and grandparents for a summer in Kentucky. Slavery, his grandparents' secret and his parents' dissolving marriage propel him to experience the world in a unique way. I liked traveling along with this boy on his summer journey. His pereceptions were amusing and his honesty compelling.
Rating:
Summary: A reminder how the past shapes our present.
Review: I finished this novel reawakened to the power of the past to shape our present. The novel focuses on the experience of a black boy who lives with his mother, sister and grandparents for a summer in Kentucky. Slavery, his grandparents' secret and his parents' dissolving marriage propel him to experience the world in a unique way. I liked traveling along with this boy on his summer journey. His pereceptions were amusing and his honesty compelling.
Rating:
Summary: Reading this book was like reliving a past memory.
Review: I grew up in Kentucky and remember riding in open horse carts, model T Fords, dancing till dawn and tent revivals. Reading this book has brought back memories of my first heartbreaks and the how I felt when I found out about my families "unspoken" secrets. I strongly recommend this book to young, middle aged and older readers. O.H. Bennett has captured the essense of three generations in his lovely book.
Rating:
Summary: Family History Come to Life
Review: I really enjoyed this book. Parts of it were painful because I related them to my own growing up in the South during the same time period. The main character, Sarge, is a melding of my brother and a couple of his friends and the grandparents in the story evoked memories of my long-dead uncles and aunts. This is a touching story that emphasizes how important it is for families to cherish each other.
Rating:
Summary: Where we have been can determine where we need to go.
Review: In the Colored Garden we are led through a bit of history in the stories Grandma Ruth relates to her Grandson Kenneth or Sarge as he is known. The tales of the slaves and family members lain to rest in a small plot, maintained as a garden, tell us a lot about our collective past, and where we need to be going in our future. I laughed and I cried at these telling stories, more way they were told, and why, than the historical truths they relay. This is a wonderfull book for all generations, colors and creeds. We all have heros like Cakes, Bobbycat, and the Major. We have known the fears life brings us. The author, Oscar Bennett, takes us through the steps of life in one memorable summer. You must read this book, it is a blessing.
Rating:
Summary: READ TO ENJOY
Review: O. H. BENNETT'S "THE COLORED GARDEN" IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS AVAILABLE TODAY. IN THE SPIRIT OF ZORA NEALE HURSTON, THE AUTHOR BRINGS YOU INTO THE HEART OF THE CHARACTERS AS WELL AS THE SLAVES OF WHOM THE STORIES ARE BEING TOLD. AN EXCELLENT WRITING STLYE THAT PAINTS THE PICTURE PERFECTLY. SARGE AND HIS FAMILY AND THEIR EXPERIENCES BRING HOME THE IMPORTANCE OF EXTENDED FAMILIES AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY WERE DURING THIS ERA AND STILL ARE TODAY. WHAT A PLEASURE TO READ A GREAT BOOK. I BOUGHT TEN COPIES TO GIVE AS GIFTS THROUGHTOUT THE YEAR AND MY MONTHLY BOOK CLUB HAS DECIDED TO READ "THE COLORED GARDEN" AS OUR CHOICE FOR JULY!
Rating:
Summary: READ TO ENJOY
Review: O. H. BENNETT'S "THE COLORED GARDEN" IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS AVAILABLE TODAY. IN THE SPIRIT OF ZORA NEALE HURSTON, THE AUTHOR BRINGS YOU INTO THE HEART OF THE CHARACTERS AS WELL AS THE SLAVES OF WHOM THE STORIES ARE BEING TOLD. AN EXCELLENT WRITING STLYE THAT PAINTS THE PICTURE PERFECTLY. SARGE AND HIS FAMILY AND THEIR EXPERIENCES BRING HOME THE IMPORTANCE OF EXTENDED FAMILIES AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY WERE DURING THIS ERA AND STILL ARE TODAY. WHAT A PLEASURE TO READ A GREAT BOOK. I BOUGHT TEN COPIES TO GIVE AS GIFTS THROUGHTOUT THE YEAR AND MY MONTHLY BOOK CLUB HAS DECIDED TO READ "THE COLORED GARDEN" AS OUR CHOICE FOR JULY!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful new African American fiction voice
Review: O.H. Bennett follows in the best tradition of Black fiction writers. His use of language is inviting to the reader while evoking amazing imagery. The characters are well-developed and familiar, yet with unpredictable twists. I enjoyed that fact that characters were flawed with no apologies or need for "conversion" in order to end the tale. Well done, Mr. Bennett. I can't wait for your next one!
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