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Summary: Upper Room by Mary Monroe
Review: The books was excellent and caught my attention from the moment I opened the book. I'm now reading "God Don't Like Ugly." I'm looking forward to more great books by this author.
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Summary: I loved Upper Room
Review: The first time I read Upper Room was about ten years ago. I read it again in Dec. 1999 and I enjoyed it just as much. Each page had me wondering what was going to happen on the next. The many characters and their shenanigans made me say over and over, "Un-huh..yeah..hawhhh..oh, no!" It's out of the ordinary reading; you may have to set aside your ethnic sensitivities. I really enjoyed this outrageously rowdy, kind of wacky, let it all hang out fun to read novel. Who knows, a story like that just might be true. Uh-uh,yeah,nawh! How about it Mary Monroe. How did you come up with "characters like those? "
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Summary: Character Driven...and filled with colorful ones!
Review: The Upper Room by Mary Monroe is filled with colorful characters from the rural, backwoods of Florida down in the Everglades. Characters with names like Sister Mary's Sister, Fat Jack, Yellow Gang, and Catty. Characters who believe in voodoo, roots, tarot cards and a big woman weighing over 400 pounds named Ruby.Ruby had always wanted a baby daughter and usually what Ruby wanted she got even if it meant she had to take it. When Ruby's friend, Ophelia, had a daughter that was supposedly stillborn she asked Ruby to take the baby and bury it for her. On the way to a burial site, Ruby realized the young girl had a heartbeat so with her "healing hands" she nursed the baby back to health and named her Maureen. Not wanting to return the well-baby to her friend and wanting a daughter anyway, Ruby packs up in the middle of the night and leaves with her son ,Leo, and baby Maureen. They would make their home in Goon, FL. Goon was a place where Ruby was perceived as a Giant, an Amazon, a God-fearing woman and one not to be reckoned with. Ruby didn't take any stuff from anyone and if you valued your life you stayed on her good side or you made sure your paths didn't cross. Afterall, Ruby was just as likely to smile at you as she was to kill you and bury you for crossing her. Since she was friends with the white sheriff he would more than likely not acknowledge that Ruby had committed a crime. As Maureen and Leo grow up they realize that all is not right with Mama Ruby. Leo decides to sign up for Vietnam and he never returns. But Ruby worships Maureen and so she doesn't encourage her to leave home and tries to keep her close by ...in the Upper Room. The Upper Room is Maureen's room. It's located upstairs and the only folks allowed to enter the room are Maureen and Ruby; no man should ever set foot in the room because Ruby says its a holy spot. Maureen tires of Ruby and country living and sets her sights on leaving one day but will she be successful? The Upper Room by Mary Monroe is a energetic and spellbinding read. The colorful characters keep you turning the pages especially Ruby who keeps you guessing about what will she do next. If you're looking for a creatively crafted read and enjoy stories about folks that are a little bizarre then pick up The Upper Room today and settle in with Mama Ruby and company.
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Summary: UNIQUE!!!
Review: The Upper Room was a complete joy to read. All the components in the story were very deep, but not once did I feel heavy reading through all the MESS that went on because of the humor. This book is SHO NUFF HILARIOUS! The dialogue had me CRACKIN' UP! Mary Monroe has birthed a creative cast of characters: MAMA RUBY, MO'REEN, VIRGIL, FAST BLACK, YELLOW JACK, NO TALK, OTHELLA, BIG RED, SLIM, and a host of others. The characters are definitely people you don't want to mess with, especially that MAMA RUBY, who possesses supernatural powers. I can't begin to describe some of the savage activity these people indulge in. Let's just say it's worth the purchase and the laugh. I'll definitely be reading God Don't Like Ugly in the near future. Story above well done Ms. Monroe.
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Summary: AWESOME BOOK!!
Review: This book is a true page turner. The UPPER ROOM is funny, scarey, sad and just plain great! Ms. Monroe's writing skills are unlike anyone that I have read. This book was first published in 1985 and I wish that I had known about it then!
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Summary: HILARIOUS!!!
Review: This book is definitely a "must read." The story is so funny. I couldn't put the book down until I finished. The book was out in 1985 and I'm sorry I wasn't aware of it sooner. I can't wait for her next one because God Don't Like Ugly was good also. She has an amazing writing style. Zora Neale Hurston would have loved this story.
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Summary: Don't Make Mama Ruby Mad!
Review: This book is simply amazing. Mama Ruby is a character that will live in my memory for a long time. She's a healer and a "Christian" but she doesn't hesitate to kill or damage anybody who get's in her way. She's a victim and an avenger. She's a loving mother to her "adopted" daughter Maureen but she's also a smothering force that Maureen has got to get away from. This book is sad, frightening and incredibly laugh out loud funny. If you enjoy Zora Neale Hurston's Florida stories you will fall in love with "The Upper Room". Kimberley Wilson, author of 11 Things Mama Should Have Told You About Men
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Summary: Upper Room ups in Status
Review: This book scared the mess out of me this was a real good story with an excellent plot that scared the baJesus out of me.
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Summary: Chile! Don't Nobody bring her no bad news!
Review: This book was fantastic. I enjoyed it from the first word to the last period. This book is about a big ole black psych-pathic woman. You wouldn't want her as a neighbor, but she sure would be useful if you ever found yourself trapped in an alley with a bunch of goons cause she would most definately have your back. We all know the horrors of dealing with annoying bill collectors, but not Ruby when bill collectors come to calling she just kills them. Its not a practical way of dealing with a nuisance, but it sure stops the harassment. I only wonder how a mind could ever conjure up such a wacked out character. I like Ms. Monroe's style because her characters are interesting and her storylines keep me hooked. I have read all the Monroe books I could get my hands on. All I can say is don't bring Big mama no bad news!
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Summary: Wild!
Review: This book was interesting. The book is about a woman called mama ruby, who is over weight and bossy. She has her whole town including her children scared of her. This story was funny, sad, happy, and scary all in one. Mary Monroe was written an enjoyable book, this is a must read, go head people buy this book.
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