The Sweethearts of Soul

Rating:
Summary: As you stated on the back cover about your "careers"-
Review: "...the less said about that, the better". That's how I feel about your book. This could have been... the realistic story of a well-known 60's female singing group. This could have been... a semi-autobiographical account (or maybe the alter ego) of Ms. Evelyn "Slim" Lambright-notice the similarity in the description of Ruthie and the back cover photo of "Slim". This could have been... a good book, but it wasn't.
Ms. Lambright is 0 for 2 with me. Even though she does an excellent job in bringing her characters to life with vivid descriptions of their lives and appearances; the writing style in her both of her books (the other being "The Justus Girls") is too detailed, rendering it, well, boring.
Admittedly, I didn't finish reading "The Sweethearts of Soul" because I found the endless flashbacks, details, and story of how the group got started and why they are no longer together/friends/sisters on speaking terms just uninteresting and mind-numbing. Although a few of the anecdotes were somewhat humorous; the journey for me was long, painstaking and ended somewhere around 1/2 of the book. I did find myself skimming the remaining half to understand Birdie. Ms. Lambright's analogy of Birdie to the story of the Hummingbird was hauntingly beautiful but nevertheless, it was a book I wish I had not invested my money. "Slim", your pockets will no longer get "fat" from me!


Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Sophomore Release...
Review: Author Evelyn "Slim" Lambright's latest release, "The Sweethearts of Soul," returns to Philadelphia and chronicles the trials and tribulations of five sisters who compose the fictionalized 1960's singing group by the same name. Legs Diamond, a reporter for Black Music Magazine, has been tasked to write a feature article on the all girl group in honor of their receiving the Rock and Soul Foundation's Pioneer Award that will be presented to them in a few months. Legs soon discovers that the group has fallen apart and the sisters are estranged from Fanya, the oldest sister, and haven't spoken to her in over 30 years.

Legs, guided by reporter instincts, suspects there is more beneath the surface and digs for the hidden story. In a series of one-on-one interviews which evoke a series of flashbacks, she learns of each woman's humble beginnings, hopes, lost loves, joys and disappointments. The main characters are colorful and vibrant - each has a distinct voice, personality and clear-cut role to play in the novel. For example, Fanya, the original front woman for the group, was the most driven and determined to make it to the top regardless of who got in the way, or what it took. As a result, she's a modern day superstar and drama queen. Ruth, a fighter, still dreams of making a comeback, performing whenever and wherever she can - even in local bowling alleys. Adeline (Addie), a glamour girl who wears fur coats in the summertime, is a successful realtor and realist. Venus, plumpish and practical, now a successful seamstress and business owner, is the most level headed of the group and serves as the peacemaker of the family. Brenda (Birdie) is the baby of the family who harbors a tormenting secret that drives her to a point of desperation and madness.

Though entirely fictional, Lambright blends in actual 1950's and 1960's musical hits, Philadelphia dance hall locations, and celebrities of the day to give the novel validity. The Sweethearts of Soul could be any girl group of the 1960's - however, one famous group instantly comes to mind. In a scene eerily reminiscent of a certain real life group, Fanya, the lead singer, breaks away from the group, dates the manager, goes solo, and hits the big time with mega hits, recording contracts and movie deals. The remaining members recruit their baby sister, Birdie, to take her place. The group enjoys moderate success until the Disco Era emerges and pushes them off the charts onto the history pages. The demise of the group leads to anger and bitterness that stews among the sisters for years. As they age, the Sweethearts deal with forbidden love affairs, mismanaged money, unpaid royalties, issues with their children, drug use, and heated sibling rivalry. A subplot involving their children and Legs's childhood friend, Roe, heightens the intensity of the story - however, the central theme to the book is the inescapable bond of sisterhood, as evidenced in their united efforts to help a sister in crisis and push pettiness aside to allow their family wounds to heal, just as they had done throughout their childhood.

This is a witty, reflective, nostalgic novel that transports the reader back to the glory days of the Motown Era, complete with warm doses of sisterly love and girl group internal squabbles. Unfortunately, The Sweethearts of Soul does not reclaim the glory and wonder of Lambright's debut novel, The Justus Girls, but it has enough clever dialogue and suspense surrounding the buried secrets of the group, as well as the modern day secrets concerning their children and Birdie to keep the reader interested until the end.

Reviewed by Phyllis
APOOO BookClub
Nubian Circle Book Club



Rating:
Summary: Let's hear it for the girls...
Review: OK, I loved it; I loved to read about the 60s girls groups and this book brought it down home for me; Here you have these ladies who first started singing in church, then branch out and become stars in the 60s to 70s, but when disco hit, their stars fade and each of the girls go into their own thing; Ruth, always looking for othe stardom in bowling alleys and bars; Addie, the real estate queen, whose son, the rapper gets prominent; Venus, the seamstress, who raises a daughter who seems to be going down the same road she is going; and Birdie; Sweet, fragile yet tragic; Of course, we can't discount Fanya and the hurt and stuff she caused; Anyhow, The Rock and Roll Foundation decides to honor the ladies with a Pioneers Award for their contributions and Leggs Diamond starts a story on these ladies; digging up old memories and secrets; But learning a few things as well; Always wear red panties(the color of power) Check it out and don't be disappointed

Rating:
Summary: Classic divas
Review: Slim Lambright first won me over with her debut novel, The Justus Girls, when she brought the multiple protagonists to life and gave them their own voices and styles. Lambright revisits this theme in her sophomore release THE SWEETHEARTS OF SOUL, the story of a female singing group comprised of sisters, each of whom are very much her own woman.

When the Sweethearts of Soul are honored with a prestigous award, reporter Legs Diamond is charged with telling the real story of this famous group for a prominent music magazine. Legs knows that there is a lot of speculation surrounding the lives of Venus, Ruth, Fluffy, Addie, and Birdie, but she really has no idea as to the multitude of both stories the women are willing to openly share and the stories that they refuse to disclose. Narrated by Legs, the book flows through time with both blasts from the past and harsh truths from the present. While invloved in these interviewing ups and downs, Legs forms a bond with the women and finds out what sisterhood is all about.

Evelyn "Slim" Lambright is one of the best when it comes to lovable characters and exceptional stories. She weaves fun and exciting, yet poignant, tales about characters who we may or may not relate to directly, but people we have perhaps once known or wished we knew. For those readers who enjoyed her first effort, it is doubtful that you will be disappointed by her second. (RAW Rating: 4.5)

Reviewed by CandaceK
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers


Rating:
Summary: Excellent Story Telling....
Review: This book is about a singing group back in the 60's. Four young sisters who started out singing in the church and moved into secular music. The story is narrated by a female music magazine journalist whom was hired to interview each member of the group "The Sweethearts of Soul" and in the end became their friend. This book will take you through their lives, and tells a story of their becoming of age, recognizing their talent, and most importantly dealing with the challenges and obstacles that comes along with stardom.
Evelyn "Slim" Lambright is an exceptional writer who knows how to capture ones attentiveness and embrace it throughout the story. Each character has their own story to tell, but you can bet, at the end of the story, "Slim" will leave you with your mouth open, just as she did with "The Justus Girls". Excellent Story telling....