My Fine Lady

Rating:
Summary: New spin on an old story
Review: Imani has a voice that can make the birds in the trees jealous. She also has a boyfriend, Taz, who wants desperately to see her succeed in her musical career. There is just one catch: Taz wants Imani to succeed on his terms. He knows that rap is in and he wants Imani to be the next great star. Enter Professor Hobson who wants very much to prove his theory that music can change a person, no matter how old they are or under what circumstances they labor. He takes Imani under his wing and begins to tutor her in jazz singing and in how to be a lady. He teaches her table manners as well as how to ballroom dance along with giving her lessons in speaking proper English. At first Imani resists and then begins to fall in love with the professor. Uptight Professor Hobson is also falling in love with Imani but refuses to acknowledge it as he pushes Imani towards his goal.

There is suspense and intrigue as the plot moves relentlessly forward. Who will win Imani's affections? What path will Imani take: jazz or rap? Imani's ghetto buddies throw twists into the plot, as do Professor Hobson's upscale friends. The chairman of the department doesn't believe that Professor Hobson can pull it off and so he leans hard on the professor. Meanwhile, hairdresser Shari, who has been Imani's best friend for years, tells her to stop putting on airs. Imani is torn and confused.

MY FINE LADY was a delightful book and even though the plot is well known, a take off on My Fair Lady, I was still compelled to rush to the end to see who would win - upscale professor or downtown Taz. I highly recommend MY FINE LADY as a delightful escape from the mundane for all readers, no matter what their favorite genre is.

Reviewed by alice Holman
of the RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Rating:
Summary: Romance Sprinkled with Urban Flavor
Review: In the sixth book from Yale graduate and author Yolanda Joe, she introduces us to Imani, a twenty-something young woman in love with hip-hop and her childhood friend, Taz. Taz had been the poor neighborhood kid who gladly exchanged giving Imani piano lessons for an occasional meal at the request of Imani's father Maceo, a failed jazz musician. Having lost her mother, a wonderful singer in her own right, Imani is left with her memories of her and an unfinished song she left behind. Maceo would love for Imani to follow in her mother's footsteps but Imani would rather set her own course, rapping over tracks that her boyfriend has put together to cut a CD.

While freestyle rhyming at the local black university, Imani meets Professor Hopson, an uptight but brilliant twenty-five year old professor of music. The meeting sparks a bet between Hopson and his boss, Chairman Perkins. Perkins wants Hopson to change Imani from a raw, hip-hop street girl to a classy, jazz vocalist. If Hopson wins, the chairman will enter Hopson's paper for the local grant competition. If he loses, his rival's paper will be entered.

Not only does Hopson school Imani in song but he also teaches her diction, ballroom dancing, and other forms of etiquette. As Hopson and Imani work closer and closer together, it is inevitable that they begin to fall for one another. After this occurs, Imani must choose between Hopson and Taz, hip-hop and jazz.

"My Fine Lady" is a good read. While the plot of this Cinderella tale is not that original and the story is somewhat predictable, it is not difficult to fall head over heels with the author's style of writing. Nearly every chapter is introduced with exquisitely written, thought-provoking prose giving the book a unique and inviting style of its own. ("Envy the sun that has horizons to brighten. Envy the bird that has wings to soar. Envy the lion that has the power to roar. But envy most the person who has the courage to seek change.") If you like romance sprinkled with a bit of urban flavor, then this book is definitely one not to miss.

Rating:
Summary: Good concept-poor execution
Review: The story starts like a cross between Drumline and My Fair Lady.
The idea has promise, but is executed poorly. The backstory doesnt adequately explain the rest of the story. We meet the characters as adults with only a smattering of info on their pasts and history.
The language is horrible. Its one thing to have characters speak colloquial english, but the narrative is too "slangy" as well. Some of the metaphors make absolutely no sense. Its like the author is trying to be "deep" but it comes across as a big mess. After reading 3 pages that were so bad that I just laughed, I put the book down.
I am saddened because it seems that in AA fiction, readers will accept anything. The quality of the writing was horrible, as if no one had edited it.
Bah

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Read
Review: This was the first book I read by the author, but it definitely won't be my last. My Fine Lady is an inspiring story of a young lady, Imani, trying to find her true self and talents. Initially, she is content with the aspirations she shares with her boyfriend Taz of becoming a rapper--a dream her father Maceo insists she pursue as well, but then a new man enters her life. Professor Orenthal Hopson is a music director at a well known black university. Although, his initial intentions are experimental in nature, his involvement with Imani awakens a new love--for Jazz, which is against the wishes of her boyfriend and her father Maceo, but Imani realizes that she needs to follow her heart with music, which is something her mother never did. And following her heart might also bring her to a new love with the professor as their relationship begins to develop. My Fine Lady was an enjoyable read. It was a book that I picked up in my spare time and one I read very quickly because it kept my interest from beginning to end. I highly recommend My Fine Lady to others and look forward to reading more from Yolanda Joe.

Reviewed by Dewhana Jones for www.avid-readers.com

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Remake
Review: Yolanda Joe has another hit with her latest novel, MY FINE LADY. In the tradition of such literary and cinematic treasures such as Pygmalion and My Fair Lady, Joe presents the dilemma of transforming a young hip-hop artist into a refined jazz singer.

For as long as she can remember, up and coming hip-hop artist, Imani's life has revolved around her love of music and satisfying the men in her life, her father Maceo, a floundering music producer turned club owner, and her boyfriend Taz, an upcoming music producer.

Imani's life seems pretty straightforward until she has a chance encounter with music Professor Orenthal Hopson. Hopson sees much more in Imani than just hip-hop. He sees a rare natural talent, as well as way for him to prove his theory that music can alter ones personality. He makes a bet with his superior that he can transform the inner city hip-hop princess into a sophisticated jazz diva.

Imani's sessions with the professor open up a whole new world for her, but she is conflicted as to how that will fit in with everything she thought she knew. She begins to question her relationships with Taz, Maceo, and her friends, as well as her budding feelings for Professor Hopson. Through it all Imani and all involved learn valuable lessons regarding being true to ones self, trust, and love.

Yolanda Joe's clever words and colorful descriptions bring the story to life and made me visualize the characters and scenes. This story screams to be acted out on the big screen. MY FINE LADY is a wonderful well-written novel that aims to please with just a hint of suspense, a dash of romance, and a great story.

Readincolor Reviewers
Toya