Rating: 
Summary: A novel of monumental characterizations...
Review: "Well honey I could never be satisfied
And I just couldn't keep from cryin' " - Muddy Waters Lita's sister Adele is one of those people about whom Muddy Water's wrote in his song "I Can't Be Satisfied." Already married to a well-to-do man who adores her, she searches for something she is missing in the arms of Lucien, an all-out bad boy. Tervalon guides us through degrees of separation in Lita and Adele's family, as is common in the Louisiana bayou. Regardless of skin tone, family name, or otherwise, you just never know who may be a blood relative, or who may have done your family wrong. This was my first time reading Jervey Tervalon. Judging from the cover of this book, one may be led to the conclusion that this is an erotic tale of seduction. Judging from the title of this book, one may surmise that this is a story of supernatural nuances. But, judging from the words on the pages in this book, I can gather that this is a fine piece of literature, a novel of monumental characterizations, and, lastly, an author I will definitely be reading again.
Reviewed by CandaceK
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: CATIVATING
Review: From the moment I started reading I couldn't put the book down. I enjoyed it so much to the point where I'm getting ready to order the sequel.
Rating:
Summary: Page Turner
Review: GREAT book. I loved the direct detail. . not too much but just enough. Because of this book I want to read more books by Jervey Tervalon!
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT FIND
Review: Having not read Jervey Tervalon before, I did not know what I was missing. From the first word to the last, I was swept into the life of a colored family in New Orleans in the 1940's. It was a straight through read, as the characters are fascinating, the writing perfection, the drama stimulating, the underbelly of New Orleans, frightening but enticing. I am very impressed with this author's brilliant style of prose; captivating, descriptive and poetic. I will be ordering more of Mr. Tervalon's books if this book is an indicator of his prowess. Excellent read!!
Rating: 
Summary: Ball of Confusion
Review: How does a young woman keep her family together when secrets threaten to blow it apart? This is the dilemma of Lita Duchamp. Lita's family life wasn't exactly the American dream. Her father was a drunken loser who thought much too highly of himself. Her mother Helen was the breadwinner, a woman who knew how to earn, and ran the family business. Her sister Adele was a glamour girl with hot pants married to a sailor who thought the world of her. Then there were the young twins a last ditch effort by Helen to brighten her already dim marriage. This "idyllic" life was threatened by one Lucien Faure' who has one the heart of Adele and has a score to settle with Helen. Tervalon weaves a great story into a confusing ball of a book without the benefit of division by chapters. The reader knows that Lita is charged with keeping the family together, yet it seems that Helen is the actual heroine in this story. This reader isn't so sure that this was Tervalon's intention.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting read set in New Orleans
Review: I guess i had a misconception that this book was about the class system of New Orleans blacks. I soon found out differently.This story revolves around Lita, the daugher of Mama and Papa DuChamp. She is running things and taking care of everyone and she is getting married. Around this time, her mother is disowning her older sister Adele because of the man (Lucien) she chooses to be with. Mama DuChamp has to explain to Lita why she is so against this relationship. She tells Lita a story about Adele that explains her actions and reactions. It also explains the actions of Lucien. Now, If I explain I would give it all away, so you will have to read the book. There are other interesting characters such as Aunt Dot and Ruby. While I did not see this book as being an exciting mystery ride, it was intriguing in some places.
Rating:
Summary: Diamond in the rough
Review: I had never before heard of Jervey Tervalon before reading this book and I must say that I was impressed. From the first line of this book, I was captivated with the story of the Du Champs. Adele, married but still looking, fall into the hands of Lucien Fare who has the devils good looks and a history of murdering black women. Little does she know, he has some unfinished business for her and her mother Helen Du Champ, who saved one of his prostitutes several years earlier. This story of murder, love, and hate will not let you put the book down. I took it everywhere and I am about to look for the sequel, LITA.
Rating: 
Summary: Steping Up To The Plate
Review: This book had all of the right elements, tragedy, lust, anger, everything that one needs for a thrilling piece of fiction. Lita DuChamp is a woman who basically lives in the shadow of her sister Adele, who is a spolied, selfish character who you really cannot like no matter how you try to see her situation. Their mother, Helen, let's their father abuse her to no end, and adores Adele, fearing Adele's choice of a lover, Lucien. Lucien is straight up "no good for nobody" as the old folk's say. There are more problems and situations in this book, told from Lita's point of view. I recommend this book for an easy afternoon read.
Rating:
Summary: NOT THAT BAD ONCE YOU GET IN TO IT
Review: THIS BOOK IS NOT THAT BAD AT ALL ONCE YOU GET INTO IT.
THE BOOK IS SET IN THE 1930'S
YOU HAVE LITA A STRONG YOUNG GIRL WHO WORKS HER
... OFF TO KEEP THE FAMILY RUNNING SMOOTH.
HER MOTHER HELEN DUCHAMP IS A STRONG OLD FASHION
LADY WITH A HEALTH PROBLEM, A DRUNK FOR A HUSBAND
AND A FAMILY SECRET, THAT COMES TO THE SURFACE WHEN
HER OLDEST DAUGHTER ADELE FALLS HEAD OVER HILLS FOR
A MAN NAME LUCIEN WHO IS A SNAKE AND HAS A PAST OF
BEATING WOMEN. NOW NOT ONLY DOES LITA HAVE TO HELP
RUN THE FAMILY BUISNESS SHE HAS TO TAKE CARE OF HER
YOUNGER SIBLINGS, WITH HER MOHTER'S HEALTH NOT GETTING
BETTER MISS ADELE TELLS HER MOTHER SHE IS IN LOVE WITH
THIS LUCIEN GUY AND SHE IS LEAVING HER HUSBAND WHO IS
IN THE NAVY AWAY AT SEA, THIS IS WHEN I THINK THE BOOK REALLY
STARTS. YOU'LL FIND OUT THE FAMILY SECRETS AND WHY HELEN
HAS A REAL HATE FOR THIS MAN HER DAUGHTER WANTS TO RUN
AWAY WITH. AND ALL THREW THIS LITA IS STILL WORKING ON KEEPING
THE FAMILY A STRONG UNIT.
Rating:
Summary: Marvellous Book
Review: This book was a very fast read, and I could not put it down for anything. I read this book in a day, and I would recommend it to anyone who has never read Jervey Tervalon's books. I am definitely going to read the sequel.
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