Review--Far From the Tree by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant

Far From the Tree by Virginia DeBerry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoy the way, Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant capture the true essence of African American female relationships in their books.  Far from the Tree was no exception.

Ronnie and Celeste are sisters that have never really gotten along.  Odella, their mother is also not the easiest to get along with.  When the three are brought together in the same house after many years of being apart, their relationships start to take on a whole new meaning.  Following the death of Will, the husband and father who had always been around to love and support them, the women are forced to examine their lives and make some hard decisions in order to move forward and grow.

Celeste, married to Everett, who is a doctor, has never been satisfied with their simple lifestyle.  She has always wanted more for them even though she has never had to want for anything.

Ronnie, who has been a struggling actress in New York and fools herself and her family into thinking that she has it all together and is doing great.  She actually has had more addresses than acting roles.

Odella, who had run from her past for so long that when it comes rushing back at her, she is overwhelmed by it all.

Together these women learn to love themselves and one another again. And they learn that keeping secrets is never a good idea.

There are talks that this book may be made into a major motion picture.  I would be the first in line for a ticket.  I would love to see who they get to portray the characters.


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Review - Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made by Virginia DeBerry & Donna Grant

Tryin' To Sleep In the Bed You Made by Virginia DeBerry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made is a story of three friends.  It traverses their lives from childhood to adults.  And we get to see all the fun, joy, and pain that goes along with it.

Pat, Gail, Marcus, and Freddie are inseparable.  They are classmates and best friends.  One day when Freddie finds a gun and decides to share it with the rest of the group, the most tragic thing happens.  This changes the lives of the other three forever.  Pat is taken from her mother and temporarily put into foster care until Gail and her family take her in.  Marcus, who was Freddie's brother feels he has to fulfill Freddie's life dreams instead of pursuing his own.

As they graduate high school and spread their wings to find new things, they are torn in different directions and their friendship is never the same.

I love reading books about friendship.  Friendship lost and found.  It makes me feel good on the inside and that is exactly how this book made me feel.  It made me laugh and it made me cry, but overall, it made me want to call all of my friends and rekindle what we once had.

The DeBerry/Grant team are great writers.  This is the second book I have read by them and I can't wait to read the next.


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Review--Better Than I Know Myself by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant

Better Than I Know Myself by Virginia DeBerry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Did you ever have a friend who was more like family? For Regina Foster, Jewel Prescott, and Carmen Webb this is exactly true. Better Than I Know Myself starts in the late 70's when the girls are seniors in high school and making the decision on where to go to college. Three different girls from three very different backgrounds.  Jewel, a former child star. Regina, the daughter of two college educated parents and little sister to older brothers who had all attended and graduated from college. And Carmen whose parents had left her at a young age.

The story progresses through their meeting in New York at Barnard and continues through their graduation. Regina and Jewel were already roommates when they met Carmen at the university library.  They all got stuck in an elevator together and as they say, "The rest is history." They lived together through the early 80's as they grew into women and started to become independent.
The book covers twenty years of friendship and sisterhood and all the trials and tribulations that entails.

This book made me laugh out loud and brought a tear or two to my eyes.  It also made me want to get together with my closest girlfriends.  This is a book that you have to read until the end.

I listened to this book through the iPod and Overdrive.  The audio was read by Lisa Renee Pitts.


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