Rating: 
Summary: A great way to spend an afternoon...
Review: I wonder if there are words that will illustrate the feeling I received from reading Jenonyne Adam's first book,Resurrecting Mingus. Well, I will have to try.Adam's transends you physically and mentally into lives of these characters. The primary character Mingus, is the voice of reason or the gel that holds this fragile family together, until it is broken with her father's infidelity. These elements of betrayal, rverbrate throughout the story making it a reoccuring theme. But, it is not the forbidden acts alone, that make this novel worthwhile, it's the overcoming of the antagonist that makes this a sure-fire read. Plot aside the authors writing is style is extremely fresh and honest. Her metaphors and beautiful way of unfolding the characters,events, and storyline, is her true talent. I know it is pretty early to say, but this is one of the best books I've read all year. I can't wait for her sophomore effort!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Personal Foul: unnecessary roughness
Review: It could easily have rated five stars if my feminine side wasn't on hiatus. If the following phrase: "trips right, z countermotion, all fly, on second color, break," makes sense to you; if your chromosome distribution includes an identifier other than X, put down the book, quickly back away and nobody gets hurt. When Jenoyne Adams opened the first chapter with the onset of menstrual discomfort, backing away is exactly what I should have done. Now I have a barely controllable compulsion to find books about socket wrenches and muscle cars to neutralize this screed. Here is the thumbnail: Ambitious black Louisiana farm boy meets Tar Heel trailer trash white girl. Due to strong moral values instilled by his mammy of a mother and her ancient condom, child and marriage ensue. By virtue of those good 'ole' bootstraps, they make a life of it, raise two dysfunctional hybrid daughters: the older, feral and feckless; and the younger, ambitious but adrift. After 35 years, he longs for his own kind. Parvenu, rejected soon-to-be ex-wife is dejected and vindictive. Daughter number one is completely supportive of mother while continuing to dance to beat of a stereotypically described urban drummer; daughter number two, consumed with the hunt for "Dark Gable," is conflicted although estrogen affinity wins in the end. Her greater obsession is with what it all means to her life. Written in competent prose but diminished by desultory constructed first and third person narration. An absolutely bilious characterization of black men. Dross. RESURRECTING MINGUS is focused on dissolution and meltdown of: marriage, people, and beliefs. The book's insights to the challenges faced by racially mixed families are occasionally moving and somewhat informative. Other concepts suffer from underdevelopment or incomplete elucidation. The major character, Mingus Browning is the 29 year old younger daughter of Carl and Elaine (called M'Dea by her children), a couple who had been married for 35 years when Carl finally reaches a crossroad where he feels unfulfilled, overwhelmed by latent animosity for the course his life has taken, and finds himself no longer willing to bear the incumbent stresses of mixed marriage. Mingus, who grew up as daddy's princess is torn by compassion for her mother, and barely contained anger regarding her father's actions. In reality, she has more emotional issues than there are registered certificates in a Dow 30 2 for 1 stock split. She is totally incapable of sustaining an intimate relationship with the opposite sex, and from all indications she doesn't have much better luck with women since with the exception of her secretary, the only noted relationship is of love/hate with her sister. The author seems to infer trust is a wasted commodity since the final analysis you may only depend on yourself; betrayal may come from any direction including those you hold most dear. Besides the above-mentioned, other significant characters are the aimless and obstreperous older sister, Eva; Eric, Mingus' primary love interest; and her father's home-wrecking trollop, Glenda. Each family member seemed isolated, not only from each other but from any meaningful external relationships whatsoever. Eva's enmity with her sister transcended mere jealousy or competitiveness for parental favor, with implications of deep-seated roots that begged for explanation but Ms. Adams only sketched the outline, without completion of the portrait. The author was inconsistent in the attention to detail. In realms typically construed feminine, she was fastidious whereas nuance or sublety that may have offered greater balance were incorporated in disjunctive fashion, to the degradation of overall quality. There is lingerie fixation; allusion to comfort foods; journal entry laments about the biological clock; gut wrenching confessionals to near strangers; overwrought emotional states; irrational insecurities; fantasies of mythical knights arriving on white horses; the american dream of picket fences, rug rats and cocker spaniels; intrusion into the lives of others; hip envy/hip obsession; weight gain and booty calls. The only thing left out was a half-gallon of Ben and Jerry's ice cream - I'm guessing butterscotch flavor - and a tablespoon. The only male character she attempts to provide with three dimensionality is the father. At least, throw the ball in my direction once in a while to keep me interested. I don't think the story would have suffered by infusion of a few masculine references. While most major characters are portrayed in predominately uncomplimentary terms, it is black men who are subjected to the a series of sucker punches. Ms. Adams pulls off a neat parlor trick by portraying a white police officer Mingus dates a couple of times as the most positive male image. The remainder of the motley crew she created were libido-controlled manipulators or marginalized ornaments to the core storyline. It was suggested to me first time novelist Adams had a style reminiscent of Toni Morrison. I'll chalk up that misinformation to confused identity on the part of the referrer since I ended up on a reconnaissance mission to Terra McMillana. In one area, Ms. Adams did digress from the contemporary black writer crowd; she failed to portray women in cumulatively favorable light either. They are manipulative or manipulated, self-serving and self-interested, pusillanimous and in a couple of cases, just plain pathetic. Ms. Adams has credible skills but there are different horses for different courses; I run best on a dry track and this book calls for a mudder. On the positive side, I'm prepared to describe the effects of menstruation and associated discharge with vivid imagery. In summation, the author does a decent job in illuminating I what I perceive as a decidedly female point of view, but missed the mark with some one-dimensional views of men, and generally, I didn't care for that one-dimension. She articulated a rather dystopian view of heterosexual relationships with males at the root of all "evils." ...
Rating: 
Summary: [SIGH]
Review: It took me forever to get through this book and I'm still trying to figure out the point of it all. I didn't feel anything for any of the characters and the plot was just all-around boring. Hopefully, Ms. Adam's future works are more appealing.
Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful first book
Review: Its an interesting first book. i got to read it after reading Raising Fence in which the writer's husband keeps talking about this book. So I found it pretty interested, it had too many strong story line that if they were limited to a few and explored deeper it could have been an enriching story. For example, the rejection of Ma Dear's family upon her pregnancy was an interested twist that was not explored further, the psychology behind a white woman trying to trap a blackman during times when it was extremely socially unacceptable is quiet intriguing but once again it was not explored deeply... so the book went on and on like that, touching a lot of deep topics but saying a whole lot of nothing!!! I did not know enough about the father a few times we heard his voice, so in turn, Jenoyne Adams left me wanting more... So as a first book, it was good, please pick one of the character and build them up... into a deeper richer story..... Expecting more work from you Ms. Adams....
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully Written
Review: Jenoyne Adams debut novel is a tale of love, hate,& deceit. The main character Mingus Browning has alot to deal with....she has just found out that her parents' are splitting up her sister hates her, and she's getting ready to turn 30 and there is no man in sight. Ms. Adams's tells the story through three different perspectives...Mingus', her mother's and her father's. I truly enjoyed this first work by Jenoyne Adams' and am anxouisly waiting her next book. Continued success and blessings. Peace!!
Rating:
Summary: Page Turner
Review: My boyfriend had read this book and sent it to me to have a look at. I enjoyed it immensely, could not put it down from Page 1. Since this is a first I can't wait until her next. I agree with someone had written earlier, this book had me emotionally engaged with all parties from feeling the pains of divorce, sibling rivalry, the doubt of that rebound love to the frustrations of being in a interracial family. I reccomend this highly to anyone who enjoys good books that don't neccesarily end up tidy to placate the general "reading-happily-ever-after" public. Brava' Ms. Adams... and I am looking forward to your next book.
Rating:
Summary: Honest
Review: My intesrest in this book stemmed from reading Michael Datcher's "Rasising Fences" where he mentioned this book. I read it in 3 nights. It was a real page turner-a must read!! I kinda got the feeling though, that it was to be continued...
Overall, it was a touching, honest story and I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: AN EXCELLENT BOOK!
Review: Not since Sugar by Bernice McFadden have I read a book that lingered with me like Resurrecting Mingus. Follow the story of Mingus Browning - a beautiful successful lawyer whose world begins to crumble when she learns her African American father is leaving her Irish mother for a black women. A daddy's girl, she has never had the kind of relationship her sister Eva shared with their mother, so when she offers to defend her mother in her parents pending divorce things get really sticky. After years of dead end relationships Mingus meets Eric Simms, a handsome television producer and her family troubles seem less important as she embarks on this new passionate relationship. As her parents 35 year marriage reaches its cross road, and the discovery of secrets that the two most important men in her life have tried to keep from her, Mingus must decide whether to choose between her man, her sister, and the truth.
"Skillfully crafted, heartfelt and altogether refreshing". Reviewed by: Simone
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Summary: This book is greatttttttt !
Review: Now out of all the books I read this one is one of the best so far this book has everything a book should have. It is well written it has a nice plot. The writer will have you liking and disliking alot people in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Debut Novel
Review: Resurrecting Mingus is an amalgamation of insight, delivery, and intense emotions. Never before have I read a novel that explored multiple sides of so many unchartered issues. Adams' candor is simply intoxicating and effulgent. This novel oscillates between Mingus Browning and her family. The author conceptualizes the affect that divorce has on adults, the damages of surpressing desires, and the anguish that secrets and lies can cause. Now, one might say they've read novels with similar storylines. But, Jenoyne Adams wasn't the author. This author has a magnetic way of opening her characters' souls, exposing their fears, intentions, and inner demons. The story is not one sided at all. As readers, we receive all of the participants and affected parties' points of view. Besides the explosive characters and stellar storyline, Resurrecting Mingus is also brisk and eloquent. It's a quick, yet engulfing read. Adams is extremely voluminous providing just the right amount of lucid descriptions and toxic lyrics. This blistering novel will grab your attention and interest and hold it until your eyes reach the last page. Enjoy!
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