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Summary: The Dynamic Duo of literature!
Review: Deberry and Grant are the dynamic duo of African-American literature. Far from the tree is right up there with A Day Late and A Dollar Short. The authors paint a picuture of family that describes the love, pain, heartache, and forgivesness that most families experience. This book was a slow and savoring read. A refreshing story and detours from the fast paced novels we've grown accustomed to. I highly recommend it to readers. Go out and buy this one for sure. Anfra - Author/Poet/Speaker
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Summary: Good Reading!
Review: I absolutely loved "Tryin to sleep..." This book, however, was more realistic which could be why some felt it moved slowly. The characters and situations were people you could find in your own home or next door. Once I got into the book, I found it to be good, interesting reading and I was sorry to get to the last chapter. Keep up the good work ladies! I'll be waiting for the next one!
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Summary: Not what I expected
Review: Thank God someone finally did it! If I have to read one more book with African American women following behind men and with all of their lives revolving around men I will scream. Thank you Deberry and Grant for breaking the vicious cycle. I was pleasantly surprised that this book was about family and stayed about family. Sure, romance enters the picture in all of the women's lives, but the authors smartly did not make "having a man" the center of the womens lives. The book did move a bit slow, but it was based on a span of forty years and time moves slow, overall I think it was a very good read.
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Summary: You never know what's going on in other peoples lives.
Review: I just finished this book last night, and was upset that I had to work and could not finish it earlier. I will agree with another review I read: This much is better than "Tryin......" I appreciated how the authors kept a tight lid on the problems that Della thought she had until the end. By the time Della told the story of her childhood, I was holding my breath and ready to exhale for her. These characters show you that not all sister relationships are great, but a little time and work the relationship can be repaired. This book also showed me that there is ALWAYS another chance for love right around the corner, just wait on it, it'll come to you. EXCELLENT BOOK.
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Summary: Far from the Tree
Review: I was very excited when I first bought this book. Trying to Sleep in the Bed You Made was so good, I couldn't put it down! I knew this would be a good book too. Well, it has taken me 2 months to finish it. It was very slow in the beginning. I put it down and read other books in the meantime. Finally, it started to pick up. Della, Celeste, and Ronnie are characters who I can empathize with. Everyone has a story, some we share, some we don't. I like the lesson: As family, we cannot afford to keep things hidden from one another. The past affects the future, and greatly affects how we grow and develop as individuals. My favorite quote: "If you don't shake up your life, all the good stuff will stay at the bottom." All in all, I would recommend reading the book--just be patient, it will be worth it.
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Summary: A Very Tightly Written Book ... Don't Sleep On it!!
Review: I am FEELING this book!! I really LOVED this book. It's about Ronnie and Celeste (sisters), their mother (Della) and Celeste's daughter (name escapes me) and their relationship with each other. The death of the father brings them together at the beginning of the book. The sisters find out that they own land in Prosper, North Carolina, which is where their parents are from. The mother refuses to talk about her life in Prosper, so the sisters are forced to go to Prosper with intentions of selling the land. Something brings the mother to Prosper and together with the sisters, all three are forced to face the reality of who they really are and why each of them is miserable. The characters were SERIOUSLY flawed and their lives weren't happily ever after at the end of the book - more so on the road to recovery. This book is tightly written! Drama starts from page one and continues up until the very end. I found myself hating the book to end.... Don't miss out on this book....
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Summary: This one left me disappointed
Review: I consider myself a big fan of Virginia Deberry and Donna Grant. I read and loved "Tryin to Sleep in the Bed You Made". I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of "Far From the Tree" but I wish I had checked this one out from the library. The story moved so slow until I had to force myself to finish. The ending was good and I couldn't wait to find out what was the big secret that (Odella) Della was trying very hard to keep hidden. Celeste was such a control freak until she almost lost her family in the mist of it all. Ronnie was searching for a dream that never came. Niki was the only character that I really cared for. She didn't allow her mother to control her life. I also feel that the book was too thick. With that being said, I wish these ladies the best. And I will support future work. God's Blessing.
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Summary: Unique Reading!!
Review: Virginia deBerry and Donna Grant have done it again! I thought that this book was captivating and refreshing. Also unique because it was about family relationships instead of male/female relationships exclusively. Some of the plot was difficult to believe though, like if Lester really cared that much, i can't see him not trying to contact Odella at some point over the years. I definitely recommend this book
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Summary: GOOD READING
Review: My girls have done it again. I love the way these two write. Their stories really hit home. I must say that "Tryin' To Sleep In The Bed You Made" is still my favorite, but this is close behind. The story of how Celeste and Ronnie come together as sisters is so heart warming. Family is so important and this book brings this out. Anyone interested in family and family secrets will be very interested in reading this book. I can't wait for their next one.
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Summary: Hmmmm....let's see....
Review: First of all - I TRULY enjoyed their very first book, Trying to Sleep in the Bed You Made. I was disappointed with this one (VERY). It was too slow - it took me a month to finish it. The first book I finished in a couple of days, it kept me attention from start to finish. Far From the Tree is good...but I feel that it could have been better and more exciting. I must admit that the book does pick up in the end...close to the end. The book has good characters, a good plot but still something was missing for me. I will wait anxiously for the next one!
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