If This World Were Mine : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: If This World were Mine: A Novel by E. Lynn Harris
Review: I have became a true fan of Mr. Harris. This a wonderful book, it is both emotional and funny. The character are so real! I have people in my life who are exactly like the characters. I laughed so hard at Riley and her limited talent and I cryed with her when she felt her marriage was gone. Thank you, Mr. Harris, for not writting her husband as an adulter but just as a marriage that had lost its spark....... and of course Basil is great he is growing in his own way. I would like to read more about Dwight and Yoland later on. Leland is focused and funny!!!

Rating:
Summary: Thank God, the World does not belong to E. Lynn Harris
Review: Actaully I would give this book 2.5 stars. The best part of this book are the journal entries written by the characters themselves because they actaully allow you to get into the character's head and into the emotional context of each character. We get some more insight into the character of John Basil Henderson but it is not enought to make me care. Ever time I read a E. Lynn Harris novel I say "NEVER AGAIN" after I finish it, and yet like a glutton for punishment, I go back time and time again. Why? Mr. Harris is not a strong writer but tries to make up for his lack of writing ability with his plot twist and turns. While black gay men and straight black women gush and early await the next book in his mutli-seller book chain,the rest of us scratch our heads and wonder "what all the hoopla is about." There must be good, black gay writers out there somehere. Yet E. Lynn Harris get national accliam for his writing. How sad.
Also I very tried of E. Lynn's sanitized views of gay sex. If I read one more time "his sex. . ." I think I'll throw up.