lraven13's review
3.0
Abrupt ending and all..
I had a hard time with this one. Deedee was painfully stereotypical in a lot of ways that are troubling. I know not every character can be likeable all the time, but in the end the only character I did like through out was Jade.
It's a well written book and not inaccurate for the time.
I had a hard time with this one. Deedee was painfully stereotypical in a lot of ways that are troubling. I know not every character can be likeable all the time, but in the end the only character I did like through out was Jade.
It's a well written book and not inaccurate for the time.
alaiyo0685's review against another edition
3.0
"Coffee Will Make You Black" was the first "grown-up book" I ever read as a child. I've always been a titles girl, and that one certainly grabbed my attention at the age of 11 or so. As such, April Sinclair was my literary introduction to sexual exploration and queerness, and probably one of my first novels that dug deep into race as well. So I have a soft spot for her as a figure, even if as an adult sometimes the characters and tropes feel a wee bit stiff.
equalopportunityreader's review against another edition
1.0
This was just way too much. Within the first 50 pages the author hits you with incest, eating disorders, office harassment, coming out of the closet in middle age, being an orphan and the of course the most tired of tired tropes, the lonely fat broken middle-aged black woman in search of a good black man.
It's actually emotionally draining to read all of this, especially since the narrator is totally devoid of humor, wit, warmth, or even more than the most basic and immature interests in everything including her own life. The plot is routine, the writing is boring and just...don't read this one, okay? Read "Coffee Will Make You Black" instead. It's also not that good but its iconic and broke major ground in it's day, unlike this.
It's actually emotionally draining to read all of this, especially since the narrator is totally devoid of humor, wit, warmth, or even more than the most basic and immature interests in everything including her own life. The plot is routine, the writing is boring and just...don't read this one, okay? Read "Coffee Will Make You Black" instead. It's also not that good but its iconic and broke major ground in it's day, unlike this.
equalopportunityreader's review
1.0
This was just way too much. Within the first 50 pages the author hits you with incest, eating disorders, office harassment, coming out of the closet in middle age, being an orphan and the of course the most tired of tired tropes, the lonely fat broken middle-aged black woman in search of a good black man.
It's actually emotionally draining to read all of this, especially since the narrator is totally devoid of humor, wit, warmth, or even more than the most basic and immature interests in everything including her own life. The plot is routine, the writing is boring and just...don't read this one, okay? Read "Coffee Will Make You Black" instead. It's also not that good but its iconic and broke major ground in it's day, unlike this.
It's actually emotionally draining to read all of this, especially since the narrator is totally devoid of humor, wit, warmth, or even more than the most basic and immature interests in everything including her own life. The plot is routine, the writing is boring and just...don't read this one, okay? Read "Coffee Will Make You Black" instead. It's also not that good but its iconic and broke major ground in it's day, unlike this.
More...