I Wish I Had a Red Dress

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Summary: What looks like crazy is sometimes called a red dress.
Review: Very good story. What looks like crazy was a good story as well, but this one gives you more. I loved the connection between the generations, the younger sisters and the older sisters coming together to share ideas, laughter, conversations, and babies.

The story made me ask where are the men? What happen to the men in the community who use to have your back? Who would take care of the women and the children, what happen to the brothers? I like how she made them take responsibilty.

Some things were a tad be over discriptive, however, she's the writer and she told a great story.

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Summary: Definitely, an AWESOME chick book!!!
Review: I love Pearl Cleage. She knows and translates to the readers the very heart and soul of what a woman wants. The characters in this book are wonderfully real, sensitive, caring and sassy. And as for that Nate Anderson--what a hottie!!! Whew! I had to fan myself a few times reading those romance scenes. He gives tall, dark and handsome a totally new meaning!!! He's one of the best fictional men I've seen in a long time. Thanks, Pearl, for another unputdownable read.

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Summary: I Wish I had a Red Dress
Review: This book was very well written. She does an excellent job at keeping your attention. Sometimes, Joyce was a bit too much it seems that the other characters seemed to balance it out. This makes a great bookclub book it's easy to discuss and read. Great Job.

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Summary: Deeper within the Soul
Review: "I Wish I had a Red Dress" is an excellent form of "look within" reading. I purchased the audio version of this novel and was touched by the depth of the characters. Ms. Cleage does a wonderful job of exhibiting the desires of young women and single mothers to create their own happiness and successes through adversity. The concept of being a "free woman" provides the avenue of being true to oneself, others and their community. The "Circle" of friends demonstrated honesty, tolerance and respect amongst each others. Ms. Cleage also brought to light how an individual can be there for someone else and tend to forget about their own needs and desires such as "Ms. J." Yes, I too, love to wear black because of the sleek sophisticated lines I associate with the color black. And I too love to wear that "red dress" which enlightens my soul and those around me. There were many other issues exhibited through Ms. Cleage's writing such as the ability to speak one's opinion among friends, no matter how different and remain true friends and to have a meaningful relationship with a black man without sacrificing yourself.
I recommend this writing not only because it is well-written but also because it will touch your mind and soul. It may awaken a desire to become active in our communities, with our young men and women or to pursue a dream hidden behind a cloud. "I Wish I Had A Red Dress" definitely sparked my determination to pursue, attain and maintain balance and happiness in my life and my family's life.

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Summary: A nice sequel that stands alone.
Review: Are you a free woman? Can you grow your own food, raise a child, maintain abudget, and have spiritual and physical fitness? These and other traits are the basis of which Joyce Mitchell bases her Sister Circle. Joyce, sister of Ava in What Looks Like Crazy On an Ordinary Day, has been a widow for five years and is content in her state, so she thinks. She is mentor to a group of young women who have been steeped in low self-images and esteem. When she applied for a grant and is asked to compromise her principles, she is more determined than ever to put her social worker skills to work. Then a new man comes to the small town of Idlewood. Former cop, Nate Anderson, has changed careers and after teaching for some years has accepted the vice principalship at the high school. He doesn't quite know what to make of Joyce, who in his mind, was wearing a red dress because she seemed free and happy dancing to salsa the first time he met her even though she was wearing black. The best part about it he doesn't try to pretend that he understands her.
Meanwhile Joyce's group led by Tomika are forging their way trying to learn to live their young lives with dignity.
There is a great cast of secondary character including the new woman minister Sister and her husband, Bill a teacher and prolific poet.
No, Joyce's sister, Ava and Joyce's adopted daughter are not in this sequel, but this book stand alone.

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Summary: Moving On
Review: Pearl Cleage's I Wish I Had a Red Dress, was a warm, sensitive story about wanting to live again. Joyce's heart froze some five years ago when her husband fell through the ice and drowned. She still missed him and she still dreamed about making love with him, but Joyce was finally realizing that life goes on. Her heart was beginning to thaw and her thoughts were on her loneliness and her wardrobe. What she really wanted to do was meet a nice man and get herself a daring RED dress.

All the men in Idlewild were either old enough to be her father or young enough to be her son. But maybe dinner with her best friend and her husband, would change all that for Joyce, there was a new a coach at the local high school and her friends wanted her to meet him.

Along with Joyce's desire to live again was her dedication to the young women whom she lived for at the Sewing Circus, this was a group she started for young women to meet and learn different skills. She was trying to teach them how to be free women. Most of them had started adult life much too soon and Joyce was trying to slow them down or at least show them a better way.

Ms. Cleage's gift for telling a story made this tale of Joyce's rebirth so sweet and she again reminded us how Joyce handled drama with such ease. Pick up this book for a nice quiet read and find out if Joyce really had the nerve to wear a 'Red Dress'.

Reviewed by aNN

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Summary: Joyce's Story!
Review: Pearl Cleage newest novel is written in the voice of Joyce, Ava's sister. This is not the sequel to What Looks Like Crazy..., but a follow up to the story. The reader gets to read about Joyce and see how she views the world, in her voice. The story re-introduces us to the Sewing Circus and some of the townsfolk of Idlewild. Again, the author describes the town with a rich vibrancy. It was nice to see Joyce tackle the dating scene after such a long hiatus. The male character is taught several lessons by Joyce. I was impressed that Joyce never compromised her beliefs and her strengths as she embarked on the relationship.

This story tackles issues such as domestic violence, feminism, and love.

Although, Ava, Eddie and Imani were not in this story their absence was explained early in the novel. Having actually spoken and heard from the author her reasoning for leaving Ava out of the story, I understand.

This is not What Looks Like Crazy..., but it is a wonderfully written novel that should give hope and inspiration to all women whether young or old.

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Summary: Nice Follow Up To "What Looks Like An Ordinary Day"
Review: I Wish I Had A Red Dress is a nice follow up to Ms. Cleage's previous novel. Joyce is a young widower juggling her career mentoring young women. She also has a budding romance after a 5 year period of being alone. In my opinion, the book addresses the difficulty of women and men to hear and respect each other;s opinion. This is evident by the dialogue Joyce has with her best friend's husband Bill as well as her interaction with the newcomer, Nate. It is definitely evident in the interactions between the young women at the Sewing Circus and their various boyfriends/lovers. The book also examines how young women define their independence and sexuality. The young women Joyce helps are encouraged to redefine themselves as free women and to review their lives and their relationships with men. My only critique of the book is that some reference should've been made to Joyce's sister Ava, the main protagonist of the previous book. How can Joyce talk about all the people and characters in her town and totally ignore her sister Ava's whereabouts? Despite that minor flaw, this new novel stands on its own. Ms. Cleage's writing style is straightforward and refreshing and I highly recommend this new book.

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Summary: Delightfully Haunting
Review: "I Wish I Had a Red Dress" is a delightfully haunting, and more importantly, well-written book. With her lyrical, but to the point, writing, Ms. Cleage delivers poignant material for discussion groups. "I Wish I Had a Red Dress" is ideally suited for young women (teen-aged and up), not necessarily as a read-alone book, but one whose issues should be discussed in a group. I'd suggest this book for any group that is involved with women,young and old, who need to learn about respecting themselves first. "I Wish I Had a Red Dress" is also a good read for older women who may, at some point in their, life also wished for a red dress.

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Summary: Calling All Free Women
Review: Calling all free women, or those that want to be free. What is a free woman? A free woman is a woman that is independent and self-sufficient. She can raise her children; she can seek higher and further; and most importantly, she can take care of herself and her own, through a host of skills that 'The Circus' will teach.

The Red Dress, symbolizes the strength and independence for which women strive. The reader will watch Joyce and many young women as they search for their red dress.

Joyce Mitchell who we first met in 'What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day', is back. She continues to work at 'The Circus' teaching young women how to live and be free. Joyce is a strong woman in search of more for herself. The reader will follow Joyce as she raises the standard for young women and herself. We will watch Joyce as she interacts with her core group of friends in Idlewood. We will experience Joyce's emotions when she meets a man ~ the first since her beloved Mitch passed away years ago.

With a group of likeable, and sometimes quirky characters, the reader will become engrossed in Joyce's daily life. Joyce is a stong and intelligent woman. I would have liked to see her character developed more, I know Joyce has an even greater story to be told.

Congrats to Pearl Cleage for creating this dynamic novel. I would recommend that you read both, "What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day" and "I Wish I Had A Red Dress."