Just Plain Folks Abridged

Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary!!
Review: As a librarian, I come across, almost daily, many exceptional literary works of art. This one is currently at the top of my list. Any book that takes you through a wide range of emotions should be read by all. As a black woman having spent some time with relatives down south, I could relate big time with Ms. Johnson-Coleman's stories about her family. Somehow, we must be related because she described my relatives to a tee. I laughed out loud at some things because I lived almost the exact same moments myself. I also cried when I read the story about the "colored" fountain. That was probably the most powerful story for me in the entire book. I must admit that having grown up in the Midwest, I didn't have much exposure to my southern roots. With the author's "Afterthoughts" section, I now understand a lot about why things are the way they are. For that, I thank her. One thing we must never forget is that these "ordinary" people made extraordinary sacrifices and endured unimaginable indignities so that I, and those of my generation, could live a better life. We must continue to learn from them and thank them for their efforts. Most of all, we must not ever take for granted the good fortune that was obtained through the blood, sweat, and tears of those who came before us. I will pass this book on to all, no matter what race they are, who are willing to learn about where I come from.

Rating:
Summary: just plain amazing!!
Review: i enjoyed the book.and i saw you on oprah and i knew right then that you were gifted.to be able to put together this book.the details and reality of it all.i wish you much sucess!and please write me back i would like to talk with you.we have so much in common, even down to being homeless before.that's why i say JUST PLAIN AMAZING!! God bless

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Look into Family Life
Review: I first heard the author on NPR and was able to get the audio version of her book. I have listened to it many times and have shared it with many of my friends. I particularly enjoy hearing the generational stories that Ms. Coleman tells so well. It is great insight into another culture that is different, yet so much the same.

Rating:
Summary: A true feel for the black experience.
Review: I have always felt that since my ancestors never had slave or any involvement in the African American oppression that it(the oppression) really wasn't my fault. I read "Just Plain Folks" the one short stories that got to me was the Colored fountain. I realized that that little girl didn't have any responsiblity for what had happened to her, but it did happen. I just can't shake the feeling I got for that little girl that thought that colored fountains would be water with rainbows. Someday I hope that there will be rainbows for her. I can't understand why this book isn't a number one best seller.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: I laughed and cried listening to Down Home Blues. I will buy the audio for our library and give it a ringing endorsement.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Look into Family Life
Review: I read this book over the course of a couple of months, and I enjoyed having the short stories to read one at a time. There is a mixture of happy endings and not so happy endings, and stories about rich folks, poor folks, old folks, young folks, and even white folks. I would reccomend this book for a good enjoyable and thought provoking read.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Variety of Stories
Review: I read this book over the course of a couple of months, and I enjoyed having the short stories to read one at a time. There is a mixture of happy endings and not so happy endings, and stories about rich folks, poor folks, old folks, young folks, and even white folks. I would reccomend this book for a good enjoyable and thought provoking read.

Rating:
Summary: great story tellers
Review: I'm just loving this book. I bought it because I liked the artist, Johnathan Greene, that designed the book cover. What a wonderful surprise. The story telling is so discriptive that I wish I were in that little town and knew the people in the stories.

Rating:
Summary: So much is in the delivery
Review: I've heard Loraine Coleman-Johnson apeak, and when I did, I rushed to buy her book. For those of who haven't heard her on NPR, she's a jovial and frank commentator on black culture. I was hoping to get hours of the same entertainment which I'd heard from her directly, but unfortunately, the written pearls of wisdom are fewer and farther between. Perhaps, too, there is something about her personality which is infectious, which doesn't quite come across in her writing. My recommendation is to buy the tape, which I haven't heard, rather than the book. Then maybe her engaging personality will bring the prose to life in a way that the written word did not.

Rating:
Summary: History returns to The Story
Review: I've read the book twice - so there's no doubt that I love it! I've read or heard some of the stories prior to reading them here (or a similar version - I think many of us may have.) But what makes this collection of stories special is the afterthoughts. The afterthoughts provide foundation for the stories, help us see the bits of wisdom in them and aid us in understanding why the stories have endured.