Rating: 
Summary: FANTASTIC!
Review: "This Bitter Earth" picks up almost right where "Sugar" ends. Considering I have finished both books in the same week, I'm going to try to not get them confused!! If you read "Sugar," then you MUST read TBE. TBE explains many things that occurred in "Sugar." Sugar Lacey has been running from or ignoring the truth about her life for more years than she'd like to remember. However, the time has come, she realizes, to turn around and face those truths that she has been running from. To do that, she must go back to the beginning and places she thought she had long since left behind her. When Sugar returns to Short Junction and the house where she was raised, she learns some shocking secrets. From Short Junction, her journey to discovery leads her back to St. Louis. What she finds there is enough to tempt her to run again, but she stays for a while in an effort to help a young girl who can no longer help herself. Sugar decides to return to Bigelow as part of her plan to save the girl who doesn't want anyone's help. In the process, Sugar, who sometimes feels that she is walking on just this side of madness, may finally find the peace she has always craved but felt she never deserved. Ms. McFadden has written a book that so completely draws you in, that I highly recommend reading it on a weekend when you can sit down and not have to worry about getting up until you are finished. Like a fine wine that lingers on the tongue, long after it is gone, so will this story linger in your mind. I was blown completely away with this book. Having to interrupt my reading by something as mundane as going to work frustrated me to no end. And while I couldn't wait to finish the book, I was saddened when I did. I wanted to know what happened AFTER. You'll have to read it yourself to find out what the AFTER is! LOL My hat is off to you, Ms. McFadden. You are a writer's writer. Your use of imagery, language and plot is just outstanding. I have now read every book you have written and I can't wait to read your next book!
Rating:
Summary: Equally Riveting!
Review: All I can say is if you read Sugar, you have to read This Bitter Earth. It answered a lot of questions and it also introduced a new character, Mercy. Mercy was almost at the hands of Lappy, Jude's murderer, but Joe and his son's heroic efforts saved her life and also saved them from the grief of yet another lost child. I wish I could give it 10 stars. All praise to Bernice Mcfadden, new talent in the literary world, but definitely here to stay.
Rating:
Summary: "Lappy Did It!"
Review: Amazing and wonderfully written. I was mesmerized after reading Sugar and anticipated reading the sequel This Bitter Earth. All I can say is... Bernice L. McFadden is EXTREMELY one talented writing sister.
This Bitter Earth was powerfully written. The imagery in this story as with Sugar, is beyond words. Yes indeed, Lappy did it. But, BLM wrote it and brought all of her characters to life via the minds of her readers. 5 stars just ain't enuff for this excellent read. I look forward to reading all of BLM's books. Ms.McFadden, Keep the Creativity Flowing!
Rating:
Summary: Just as Sweet as Sugar!!!!
Review: Bernice does it again and answers all the unanswered questions that rose in Sugar.....read Sugar first before reading this one though or you won't get alot of this story....Bernice is one of the best contemporary writers out there today, black, white, red or yellow. Vivid and riveting, you won't put this down until you are finished!!!!
Rating:
Summary: SHE DID IT AGAIN!!!
Review: Bernice McFadden has concluded the issues and problems of SUGAR in this book. I won't tell the story - but buy this book!! It's worth all the money! The family jealousies, decept, greed, love, faith and incests are all mixed up in this magnicent plot. I have never read a family book so powerful as this..WHEW!!! I strongly suggests this book for all book clubs. Hot conversations over this book! (make sure you read SUGAR, but after reading this book, you'll be running to read SUGAR anyway!)
Rating:
Summary: SHE DID IT AGAIN!!!
Review: Bernice McFadden has concluded the issues and problems of SUGAR in this book. I won't tell the story - but buy this book!! It's worth all the money! The family jealousies, decept, greed, love, faith and incests are all mixed up in this magnicent plot. I have never read a family book so powerful as this..WHEW!!! I strongly suggests this book for all book clubs. Hot conversations over this book! (make sure you read SUGAR, but after reading this book, you'll be running to read SUGAR anyway!)
Rating:
Summary: Another Excellent Novel by Ms. McFadden!!
Review: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK UNTIL YOU READ SUGAR!! I absolutely love Ms. McFadden's writing style and this book captivated me in the same way her previous two (Sugar and The Warmest December)did. I can't wait until she puts out something else.
Rating: 
Summary: Not up to her usual brilliance
Review: I adored Sugar and The Warmest December, but had read Sugar when it was first published. I found that the author presupposed knowledge of reading Sugar beforehand. Because of the time that had passed,many entries became confusing to me as I couldn;t recollect all that had happened. That being said,it is a good read,but a quick perusal of Sugar would make it a more enjoyable experience.
Rating: 
Summary: Semi-sweet sequel
Review: I loved the book, Sugar. It was really off the charts for me. I felt that I knew the main character and understood how she came to be and who she was. There was a plot that really moved forward and progressed. This Bitter Earth was truly a postscript of Sugar. It was all about filling in the blanks and tying up loose ends from the first book. So in a sense, nothing new really happened. Everywhere Sugar went was just retracing her steps from the first book. The question running through my mind was not "what is going to happen next", but "what is she going to find out or hear next"? Pretty much all of the characters and locations were the same. This Bitter Earth seemed to be more about people around Sugar and historical information, as opposed to being about Sugar herself. All of the characters were oddly interrelated, and after a while that good tiring. It seemed a little pat and almost lazy. Why keep using the same character over and over? Or in other words - was Lappy Clayton the ONLY bad guy in Arkansas? I finished reading This Bitter Earth in one day, so it definitely held my attention. However, I just felt like something was missing. It just was not as satisfying as Sugar. It was like a meal that has a seasoning or ingredient missing that you can't put your finger on. The meal is okay, and you eat all of it. But it's not "slap yo mama" good. Bernice did not put her foot in this one, if you know what I mean. That being said, there were some great scenes in the book. When Sugar left Bigelow and went to Short Junction, I felt like I walked that road with her and showed up on the Lacey porch with her. I was right in the middle of everything that happened. Also, Sugar's encounters with racism as she traveled back to Bigelow were so real and raw. They really captured the essence of segregation at that time. In summary, if you read and liked Sugar, you have to read This Bitter Earth. It might not be quite as sweet, but it's worth it. And at least nothing else catastrophically horrible happened to Sugar. It was time for my girl to get a break. :o)
Rating:
Summary: BERNICE DID IT AGAIN
Review: I LOVED THIS BOOK IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD HAVE READ IT IN 1 DAY ...
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