Rating: 
Summary: ENJOYABLE AND EXHAUSTING
Review: Breathing Room was an o.k. read. The author is a mature author, with a mature writing style. It did take me a long time to get into the book. She doesnt do alot of he say she say style writing. This book consisted of alot of journal entrys by Zadi a teenager in the book. That was interesting reading from a childs perspective, or point of view. But her mother Moxie wanted everyone to have her beliefs on everything, she was the one kinda silly in a sense. She was to overprotective about Zadi. The book has many lessons in it, for parents raising kids and teenagers. Norma, Moxies best friend is having problems with her son, Miles (a preschooler). Get a belt, put your foot down, stand your ground or something, she really got on my nerves. But overall the book was ok. Good Luck Ms. Elam on your future books. I will support you.
Rating: 
Summary: Different type of book
Review: Breathing Room was an o.k. read. The author is a mature author, with a mature writing style. It did take me a long time to get into the book. She doesnt do alot of he say she say style writing. This book consisted of alot of journal entrys by Zadi a teenager in the book. That was interesting reading from a childs perspective, or point of view. But her mother Moxie wanted everyone to have her beliefs on everything, she was the one kinda silly in a sense. She was to overprotective about Zadi. The book has many lessons in it, for parents raising kids and teenagers. Norma, Moxies best friend is having problems with her son, Miles (a preschooler). Get a belt, put your foot down, stand your ground or something, she really got on my nerves. But overall the book was ok. Good Luck Ms. Elam on your future books. I will support you.
Rating:
Summary: More Like 4.5 stars but Definitely Mesmerizing, Captivating!
Review: Breathing Room,Patricia's Elam's debut novel delves into family & secrets, friendship & strife, redemption & forgiveness, tragic & hope.Breathing Room is an emotionally rich and powerfully written story about two middle-age, middle income, professional women coming to terms with self and struggling with the consequences of their actions. Norma & Moxie have been friends since college and have always been there for one another no matter the circumstances. Although parenthood, marriage and professional careers might sometimes be more than they can bare, their love and respect for each other has always weathered the storm, until Norma decides to stray and embark on an illicit path. Moxie, full of self-pride and self-righteousness can't seem to control her judgement or impression of others when they dare to be different from her. As a result, she finds herself at odds with best friend, Norma, as well as, her teenage daughter, Zadi. Breathing Room is a story that grows on you quickly as you experience the sub-plots and twist and turns. The beginning was a little slow until I reached a comfort zone with Ms. Elam's writing style; however, the more I read the more engrossed and caught up I became. I liked that Breathing Room captured the essence of so many middle-aged, middle-income, professional women who're striving to do it all but sometimes fall short. One of Ms. Elam's greatest strength and sometimes weakness was the character development; at times I did not feel the main characters were created equally. While Moxie often got on my nerves, as I thought she took everything to the extreme, I felt like I personally knew her and that she was a sista I could kick it with. On the other hand, after I finished the book, I didn't quite feel that I really knew who Norma was. I knew her professionally and I knew her as a wife...sort of...but I didn't understand her feelings as a mother. I didn't really know much about her earlier background or her emotional makeup. I really wanted to know more about her childhood. I wanted to know what made her tick. Instead, I walked away slightly disappointed and not completely satisfied. Now the character who really captured my heart...and I felt should have been a main character...was Moxie's daughter, Zadi. I loved living vicariously through her via her sistagirl diary. Breathing Room sometimes appears to be hard to follow and unfocused, however, real life is often like this and Ms. Elam's does an outstanding job of capturing what women in this target segment (i.e. the mature AA female) often go through. The storyline is a refreshing change of pace and will capture your attention. I finished the book in one sitting and felt like I had lost my best friends when I got to the end. Breathing Room made me think and wonder what I would do if I were in Moxie, Norma or Zadi's shoes. I felt Breathing Room...I lived Breathing Room...and I felt like I had lost my best friends when I got to the end. I really enjoyed Ms. Elam's debut novel and she's a writer that I hope will be around for a long time to come.
Rating:
Summary: More Like 4.5 stars but Definitely Mesmerizing, Captivating!
Review: Breathing Room,Patricia's Elam's debut novel delves into family & secrets, friendship & strife, redemption & forgiveness, tragic & hope. Breathing Room is an emotionally rich and powerfully written story about two middle-age, middle income, professional women coming to terms with self and struggling with the consequences of their actions. Norma & Moxie have been friends since college and have always been there for one another no matter the circumstances. Although parenthood, marriage and professional careers might sometimes be more than they can bare, their love and respect for each other has always weathered the storm, until Norma decides to stray and embark on an illicit path. Moxie, full of self-pride and self-righteousness can't seem to control her judgement or impression of others when they dare to be different from her. As a result, she finds herself at odds with best friend, Norma, as well as, her teenage daughter, Zadi. Breathing Room is a story that grows on you quickly as you experience the sub-plots and twist and turns. The beginning was a little slow until I reached a comfort zone with Ms. Elam's writing style; however, the more I read the more engrossed and caught up I became. I liked that Breathing Room captured the essence of so many middle-aged, middle-income, professional women who're striving to do it all but sometimes fall short. One of Ms. Elam's greatest strength and sometimes weakness was the character development; at times I did not feel the main characters were created equally. While Moxie often got on my nerves, as I thought she took everything to the extreme, I felt like I personally knew her and that she was a sista I could kick it with. On the other hand, after I finished the book, I didn't quite feel that I really knew who Norma was. I knew her professionally and I knew her as a wife...sort of...but I didn't understand her feelings as a mother. I didn't really know much about her earlier background or her emotional makeup. I really wanted to know more about her childhood. I wanted to know what made her tick. Instead, I walked away slightly disappointed and not completely satisfied. Now the character who really captured my heart...and I felt should have been a main character...was Moxie's daughter, Zadi. I loved living vicariously through her via her sistagirl diary. Breathing Room sometimes appears to be hard to follow and unfocused, however, real life is often like this and Ms. Elam's does an outstanding job of capturing what women in this target segment (i.e. the mature AA female) often go through. The storyline is a refreshing change of pace and will capture your attention. I finished the book in one sitting and felt like I had lost my best friends when I got to the end. Breathing Room made me think and wonder what I would do if I were in Moxie, Norma or Zadi's shoes. I felt Breathing Room...I lived Breathing Room...and I felt like I had lost my best friends when I got to the end. I really enjoyed Ms. Elam's debut novel and she's a writer that I hope will be around for a long time to come.
Rating:
Summary: Breathing Room
Review: CONGRATULATIONS to Ms Patricia Elam for this astounding first novel. It is a wonderful and insightful story of a friendship between two women. The story successully allows us to peak into how our differences and limitations lead us to hurt each other to often. Most women will recognize some aspect of themselves, if they are honest, in these two women. However, the surprise bonus of this book is Zadi, the 15 year old daughter of one of the women. Ms Elam has so creatively chosen to introduce us to this character via her daily journal, which she addresses as sistergirl. Her tale is rich, timley, and extremely relevent to the joys and pitfalls of youth. You will want every young person you know to read it. I recommend that everyone who loves to read fiction that mimics real life, buy this book. You will not be disappointed
Rating:
Summary: Breath Taking
Review: Excellent Debut. The story will captivate you from the begining a true story about the meaning of freindship, and how we must not play GOD, Judge and Jury!!!!
Rating:
Summary: A powerful Must Read for 2001
Review: Have you ever just held on to the last page of a book cause you did not want it to end. Well when you pick up your copy of Breathing Room, you will feel this way. In the debut novel by Patricia Elam, she explores not only the importance of friendship, but unresolved grief and coming of age.Her writing is lyrical and flows very smoothly throughout the book. She is descriptive enough for you to feel a part of the story. You will meet Moxie, the very afro-centric probation officer. Norma the photographer who is having problems in her marriage. Then there is Zadi, Moxie's teenage daughter. You get to see her coming of age in her journal. These 3 women make for very interesting reading. You will not want to put this book down!!
Rating:
Summary: A must read...
Review: I absolutely loved this book! As a single African American woman raising a young daughter, I can certainly identify with Moxie and the trials and tribulations that accompany raising a young tenacious girl. The book portrays real life delimas with one being my most important, which was how Moxie had to heal from past hurts and learn to overcome those pains. Meanwhile Moxie continued in her struggle to be a good mother to Zadi. Zadi was a teenage girl (and not to mention a daddy's girl) who in my opinion was in search for the love she felt she lacked in her home especially from her overbearing mother. Zadi then ran to the comfort of her rough neck boyfriend Octavious who provided Zadie a chance to walk on the wild side which was a world of difference from her comfortable middle class lifestyle. Zadie's near death accident allowed several indviduals examine their relationships in the near the end of the book; Norma and Moxie's, Moxie and James, and Norma finally admitting to herself that she might have inherited her mother's mental illness. Patricia Elam does an fantastic job of weaving several stories into one each with their very own unique issues yet all of the relationships lacking one very important component; communication. I'm looking forward to reading her next book.
Rating:
Summary: So Much More Than the Average Fiction!
Review: I enjoy reading just about every genre. However, it was refreshing to read a novel that I can relate to. The story forces you to evaluate your friendships and concentrate on issues that are most important in life. I can not wait to read the follow-up.
Rating:
Summary: THAT'S IT?
Review: I highly recommend this to all mothers. Regardless of how smart our children are and how much we talk to them. This book shows how powerful peer pressure can be. I realized a lot was left to the imagination. I really wanted to know how things turned out between Haleem and Moxie. I really enjoyed the story.I just wish It was a bit longer.
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