Rating: 
Summary: I wish I had a Red Dress-Pearl Cleage
Review: Love the flow of the story. Greatly inspired
Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful sequel to "What looks like Crazy. . ."
Review: I LOVED Cleage's "What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day," and while I didn't like this one quite as well, it still has the same wonderful humor and well-developed, interesting yet realistic characters as the first book. If you like "Crazy" you're sure to like this one!
Rating:
Summary: Loved It!!!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Ms. Cleage is a great storyteller and creates characters, settings and storylines that keep you riveted. I started reading this book yesterday while getting my hair done and got up early this morning so that I could finish it. Now, I love to read and it usually takes me a couple of days to get through the best of books - but I could not wait to see what would happen in this one! And I was not disappointed. If you like a good story (and a good love story to boot), don't miss this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Fair
Review: The book displayed mediocre writing. I kept waiting for Joyce to get the red dress for the book to be completed. The author does offer some high points in the book such as the showdown between two lovers. True acts of friendship and the answer to a subdued prayer for love is answered.
Rating:
Summary: ALL WOMEN NEED A RED DRESS!
Review: In I WISH I HAD A RED DRESS, widowed Joyce Mitchell, a struggler, a survivor and an overcomer, is dedicated to improving the lives of the young women in economically depressed Idlewood. All of her charges are in varying degrees of being abused by their partners. She has acquired a safe house for them and they congregate there daily, learning skills and improving their self esteem.
While working with these women, Joyce has neither time, energy nor inclination for any other social life. Then the new assistant princial, Nate Anderson, comes to Idlewood and Joyce helps him find a house to rent. Nate is more than Joyce bargained for in every category. He's intelligent, handsome, patient, and he believes in the work she's doing.
Then Nate buys Joyce a red dress. The red dress is a symbol of freedom, happiness and relaxation for Joyce. The picture is made complete when she realizes it means the same thing for Nate. He then becomes irresistable.
This is a good book. Most of it is about the antics of the young girls and ther "baby daddies." One young man, in particular, is a threat to the safety to both Joyce and the girls.
Rating:
Summary: Warm and Amazing
Review: Pearl Cleage is truly amazing. Her writing is so genuine and her ideas so prolific I'm in awe. She's also one fantastic storyteller. Cleage is what I call a "Gentle Feminist" she believes in women learning to think for themselves and becoming independent but unlike most staunch feminist she wants the boys along for the ride. She loves men (we have that in common) and knows women cannot survive without them nor should we try.I Wish I had a Red Dress is a testament to her philosophy. If your not interested in the messages you will still enjoy the story. Joyce is the older sister from "What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day". She's a widow and resident social activist in a little black town called Idlewild. Joyce's husband was the love of her life, it's been years since his death and she is
still grieving. Nate Anderson , a former cop, and newcomer to Idlewild has taken a job as a counselor at the local high school, he too wants to make a difference in the lives of young people. Of course they meet and Nate is one of those guys people should warn you about, so you don't stare. He is big! I'm talking 6'8" and big and as far as Joyce is concerned absolutely gorgeous. At one point while talking about Nate, Joyce says "he laughs and shakes his big ole head" and I'm thinking only Cleage could make that sexy. He's not perfect or flawless, but he's wonderful just the same. Can these two socially aware, beautiful people find love? Of course they can but this is Cleage and not a romance novel, so a zillion things are going to transpire between point A and B and if you're not careful you may learn something from each of them.
Rating:
Summary: Red Dress
Review: Nice tale of two sisters. Certainly not as good as the earlier novel, 'What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day." It is a good story of family, love and believing in yourself. Since I'm from Michigan it is especially nice to read about a place so close to home. Idewild has long been viewed as a very romantic little place where black socialites gathered. After reading this book. I can hardly wait to go see for my self.
Rating: 
Summary: I've Read Much Better Books
Review: This book was pretty tired! While Joyce, the protaganist, has noble motives about "freeing" the young black women of Idlewood, the book's short time span doesn't provide the opportunity to observe much development in that regard. I liked several characters, including Tee (the smart, strong young woman with great potential), but Tee was resourcful from beginning to end; Joyce did nothing to contribute to her sassiness. I also liked Sister (Joyce's unorthodox minister friend) who had a consistent calming influence, but there was not much character development; you never know how she came to be the person who she is. I was most turned off by the fact that most of the young ladies had babies, used foul language, were insecure and immature, and the young guys were mainly thugs. There was also too much exploitation of black actors, actresses, films and music. It seems that Cleage would not have been able to write this book or develop themes if she hadn't relied upon these familiar items as filler. The only thing that turned me on about this book was Nate, Joyce's new-found, tall, bald, well-defined, hunk of a man. Looking forward to an encounter with him kept me turning the pages.
Rating:
Summary: I think I'll buy a few red dresses!
Review: Cleage has done it again! In this book, she reminds us of the satisfaction one attains when involved in work you truly believe in. Moreover, she reminds women of what every "free woman" should know. And lastly, she helps women to remember the importance of being true to yourself before you can ever be true to a man, and once you are, you may find your soulmate.
Rating:
Summary: A Reader reviews Red Dress...
Review: While the author states this is not a sequel to "What Looks Like Crazy on An Ordinary Day", she returns us to Idlewild Michigan and a familiar main character named Joyce. The story is one that many women face; that inability to let go of past hurt and open themselves up to be free. The characters are all very colorful and well-described. However, the town minister kind of throws the reader for a loop, completely contradicting what one would imagine a 'Southern Baptist Minister' to be. This minister takes some of the credibility away from an otherwise believable story, by HER radical New South approach to ministering to her congregation. All in all the book is a very good read and certain to lead to great book discussions. A definite RECOMMEND.
|
