Rating: 
Summary: Rock Blooms
Review: Ms. Bandele's latest novel, Daughter, is quite the spell. From beginning to end, Daughter mesmerizes. The book also enlightens readers to the vast murders by policemen. You hear about these horrors or read about them in papers or maybe you've witnessed one at your door step. Ms. Bandele shines a light on the aftermath, the raw emotions left on the surface when a loved one is shot down under the guise of "the officer was just doing his job," or "he felt threatened." And while this non-fictional truth about law enforcement plagues the nation, Ms. Bandele brilliantly remains focused on the residue. The novel never once reels off into the path of anger-writing, but pans on love, maternal trials and rituals of grief.
The novel interestingly deals with motifs that run throughout black life. The language is precise---you are sure to find motifs that run throughout your own life in this book: the way Mama speaks, one truth about black Vietnam vets, the smells of food, the way grief unfolds in the mind and body, how the furniture sits.
Daughter tells the story of how death robs one mother of affection, not responsibility, but affection. Miriam's character is highly complex. You feel pity for her parents who take sheltering their daughter too seriously. They often cross the line of "do-good, too-good." Their lifestyle might take you back to "Leave It To Beaver," but with a strong twist of black reality. It is this upright, dangerous behavior that sends their daughter to look for love elsewhere. Love that listens, love that doesn't overly protect, overly instruct, love that has a little slack in its spine. We see Miriam move away from the false pretenses of her family at the tender age of 16 into a life with an older man who teaches her what she has already felt. The novel argues in truth that children pay attention more than we'd like to acknowledge, they listen when we least think they are not, and they are definitely affected by our actions as parents. We see this in Miriam's response to her own daughter who starves for her mother's deepest affection and for her mother to listen: one of the most important gifts a parent could ever give a child. Daughter reminds us of that funny, critical thing that happens between generations: stories passed down.
Perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects in the novel is Aya's construct of her own father. She mythologizes his life given the fragments Miriam has told her. And because the young mother cannot bear to reveal the truth, she often tries to prevent Aya from feeling the inevitable.
This novel packs in history, the ignored reality about dirty policemen, and complex mother-daughter relationships. Mostly, Daughter laments to its readers: do not wait to love your daughters diligently, thoroughly, wholly, fully, and always do so remembering that they have their own thoughts, desires, and souls.
A fine project! Highly recommended!!
Rating:
Summary: Never a Disappointment
Review: Once again asha bandele has made words lyrical and caught readers up in her characters from page one. This is a lovely and compelling novel about the relationship between mother and daughter and how everyone makes mistakes. Definitely a must read for those who can appreciate fine literature.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Excellent
Review: This is probably one of the best books I have ever read. I mention it to everyone I know. I love her writing syle and I could identify with the characters. Could not put it down. Excellent. I can't wait to read another of her books. Fan for life.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Excellent
Review: This is probably one of the best books I have ever read. I mention it to everyone I know. I love her writing syle and I could identify with the characters. Could not put it down. Excellent. I can't wait to read another of her books. Fan for life.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: This is the best book I read in 2003, without a doubt! It is basically a simple tale, no fantastic plot twists, nothing special, or so you think. The line is simple- a woman's only daughter is shot by the police in a case of mistaken identity. After this tragedy, Miriam (the Mother) flashes back to incidents in her life that have shaped the person she is today, and in her thinking, have lead to this unimaginable tragedy. It is a wonderful journey! THe story is told with clarity and grace, and the wisdom of one who has seen and heard far too many horrible things. The narrative is poetic, the dialogue beleivable and the characters are multidimensional, even the ones we only meet briefly.This book made me cry. Very few novels move me like this. I was transported into Brooklyn, into Miriam's life. I felt her anger, her rage, her fear, her hopelessness. I have one very minor criticism though- the character of Bird uses dialogue that is beautiful, and intelligent, and thought provoking, yet he uses the slang terms of "Cat" and "Brother". I realize this was the vernacular at the time these scenes were supposed to take place, but it doesn't fit in with the rest of his speech. But please read this novel. It is so wonderful!
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: This is the best book I read in 2003, without a doubt! It is basically a simple tale, no fantastic plot twists, nothing special, or so you think. The line is simple- a woman's only daughter is shot by the police in a case of mistaken identity. After this tragedy, Miriam (the Mother) flashes back to incidents in her life that have shaped the person she is today, and in her thinking, have lead to this unimaginable tragedy. It is a wonderful journey! THe story is told with clarity and grace, and the wisdom of one who has seen and heard far too many horrible things. The narrative is poetic, the dialogue beleivable and the characters are multidimensional, even the ones we only meet briefly. This book made me cry. Very few novels move me like this. I was transported into Brooklyn, into Miriam's life. I felt her anger, her rage, her fear, her hopelessness. I have one very minor criticism though- the character of Bird uses dialogue that is beautiful, and intelligent, and thought provoking, yet he uses the slang terms of "Cat" and "Brother". I realize this was the vernacular at the time these scenes were supposed to take place, but it doesn't fit in with the rest of his speech. But please read this novel. It is so wonderful!
Rating: 
Summary: I really liked this book
Review: This lyrical, well-written story is one of the standout novels of the year. Set in Brooklyn, a mother tries to cope with the tragedy of losing her young daughter, Aya. When Aya daughter was alive, she and her mom Miriam shared an awkward relationship, but Miriam always worked hard and wanted the best for her child. The story paints a vivid picture of Miriam's loss and pain, and ventures back in time so we may return to her childhood when we get to meet Bird, Aya's father; this section is awesome and depicts a passionate love that develops between a man and a woman. Lovely, earnest, and breathtaking, daughter is a gentle yet pragmatic journey. Asha Bandele has a rare gift of making a reader truly believe in what she is reading. Her lyrical style is touching, beautiful, and cleansing almost. Great literature.
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