Maud Martha

Rating:
Summary: For all you Gwendolyn Brooks Fans
Review: "Maud Martha" is a wonderful novel and a definate must read, for it addresses issues of growing up, but it also tackles race issues in the US. I found the previous customer review passionate, but for those of you waiting for Brooks's next book, you should know that Gwendolyn Brooks, who is known more as a poet, passed away this year. She lives on in her poetry, however. I suggest the book "Selected Poems" by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Rating:
Summary: Maud Martha - A Rare Gem
Review: I first read Brooks's only novel in a graduate seminar--because I was forced to read it. I had never read anything quite like it. The artistry is amazing, and the story is one that had to be told. Of course, those familiar with Brooks's wonderful poetry, particularly the Pulitzer Prize winning ANNIE ALLEN (1949), will see the strong parallels between her poetry and MAUD MARTHA. I've taught the novel in my American literature and African American literature courses. Students love it! It's a classic tale about self-discovery that makes it an enjoyable read for anyone who enjoys well-crafted poetic prose.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable, but slight
Review: This is very much a poet's novel, both in its virtues (Brooks' eye for detail and her bright, lively, seemingly effortless prose) and its flaws (the underdeveloped characterizations, a certain flatness in the narrative). "Maud Martha" is a pleasant enough read, and I especially appreciated the vividly realistic descriptions of everything from different heating systems for apartments (steam heat vs. stove) to how to gut a chicken. But ultimately, I think this book is most interesting for the influence it had on more important novelists such as Toni Morrison and Paule Marshall. Brooks' most enduring achievements were as a poet, not as a novelist.