A Day Late and a Dollar Short

Rating:
Summary: Worth the Wait
Review: This was one of the best books I have read in my entire days of reading (I'm an avid 39 year old reader that has been reading since I was 10). Ms. McMillan has so vividly brought this family to life in this book that you feel that you've known them all of your life. I find members of my family (and myself) in this book. I cry over movies all of the time; but I haven't cried over a book in a long time. There are so many twists and turns and even though I'm not a fan of the "happily ever after" ending; I applaud Ms. McMillan for bringing this family full circle. What she has brought to life in this book is a much needed "handbook" for a lot of families. No matter what, your family will always be your family and we need to love them and cherish them before it is "A Day Late and a Dollar Short".

Rating:
Summary: True to life characters
Review: This book is a must read. A Day Late made me want to write a letter to my nephew and goddaughter. I've always loved Terry's books but this is the best yet!!

Rating:
Summary: Familiar characters, but engrossing nonetheless
Review: I felt that I knew these characters, or at least some of them. The oldest, highly successful sister who supports her mother financially (perhaps with a pattern toward geographical names, it was "Savannah" in Waiting to Exhale,) the substance-abusing brother, the materialistic sister who has remained in the family's hometown (wonder what Rosalyn McMillan thinks about the portrayal of the second oldest girl, the one who chose marriage over college but wants the nicest house in town, hates her decent-paying but unfulfilling job, is fiercely jealous of her older sister's success AND who considers going into the same field she is in. Hmmm) and, of course, the mother figure with whom I am the most familiar, having been exposed to her personality in the book Mama.

Still, the personalities are intriguing. The Cecil and Janelle characters are new, at least; and it's nice to have some interaction with children. More information is offered with regard to Lewis and Charlotte; McMillan gives good background information on why they are the way they are. Unlike some other readers, I don't feel there was male-bashing; I felt Lewis was a very sympathetic character. The family tree in the front and back can be frightening, but many of the people listed there are only mentioned occasionally. It comes in handy, since the book is written in first person and we are not told which character's point of view we are in at the start of each chapter. The mention of a spouse or child's name will help readers determine who's thoughts are being expressed.

Without saying too much, I thought the description of what happened to (character) was excellent. It will probably soothe anyone who has experienced a loss. (Okay, if you know anything about the author's life you will know which character I'm referring to.) I also liked the book's ending. Some have said it was pat, but we've all had moments where life was copasetic. People still had their problems, but they were able to put them aside temporarily to enjoy being with family.

A very good read, but I do believe these personalities have been written about to the max and hope McMillan's next offering will introduce some new people.

Rating:
Summary: She's Back!
Review: If this ain't real life...don't know what is. I did find this book quite similar to "Momma," but enjoyed it nonetheless. Keep writing Terry.

Rating:
Summary: A family tale with a true voice
Review: Viola price is the matriarch of a fairly typical family. Now that the children are grown and moved away, husband Cecil has left her in search of lost youth. Her only son Lewis is the family scapegoat, always in trouble, not living up to his potential. Paris, the first-born is trying to be the perfect one, while Janelle is trying to devine her place in the world, and Charlotte is just plain mad for being overlooked all these years. As it has been all her mothering life, Viola knows that she doesn't have enough time or energy or money, and heavens knows she can't make her children's lives better. If anything, Viola's plainspokeness has made it even harder for her to reach her children. Each family member is struggling to cope with their own life, and their worries about their mother and her asthma. It is an acute asthma attack that first brings this family back together, and sets in motion the events that shake them out of their comfort zones. Terry McMillan has written an energetic tale of family life. It is a compelling read, very character driven and each character has a distinct voice. It is a tale of the bonds that tie families together and the love that can't fix everything, but can make a life worth living.

Rating:
Summary: 'PRETEND YOUR LIFE IS AN EMERGENCY"
Review: This sentence from the final chapters of the book, hit me like a brick wall..it is so profound..

The book is excellent..Terry outdid herself..The Price Family makes you one of them. You laugh with them, you cry with them, you grieve with them & you even have Thanksgiving Dinner with them. That's how explosive Terrys' writing is in this book.

GREAT WORK..THE MOVIE IS SURE TO FOLLOW...

READ "THE HAND I FAN WITH"...by Tina Mcelroy Ansa...it's a great love story that puts you in the book...just like this one did...

Rating:
Summary: Fun Read.......Two Thumbs Up
Review: Terry is back with a joyful look at a dysfunctional family who has lots of love to give but, some pain to work through as well. You will be captured by these complex men and women who, like all good Americans, love their Mama. We see Ms. Vi try to sort our the affairs of three daughters, one son and a wayward husband all to the delight of her readers.

Rating:
Summary: THE BOMB
Review: THIS BOOK IS ANOTHER GREAT HIT. I DIDNT EVEN KNOW THE BOOK WAS OUT UNTIL I WAS COMING HOME FROM HAAWII AND JUST SPOTTED THE BOOK. THIS BOOK WILL HAVE YOU FEELING LIKE YOU ARE A PART OF THE WHOLE FAMILY. IF YOU WANT A GOOD BOOK TO READ THIS IS IT. IT WILL NOT DISAPPOINT YOU. JUST GO GET THE BOOK AND YOU WILL SEE YOU WONT WANT TO PUT IT DOWN JUST THINKING ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT

Rating:
Summary: Best Book To Start The New Year!!!!
Review: A Day Late and a Dollar Short is definatly the best book I have read in a long while. It took me a long time to find a book I that I could really get lost in and this one hit the spot. Not only is it a good read, but you come to know and love the characters as if you were a part of the Price family. Every page was a revelation. Every word kept me hooked. By the end, I felt like a member of the family.

Rating:
Summary: If this "ain't" the life
Review: Terry has outdone herself with this novel. It takes you back to Mama and Disappering acts. When you couldn't put the book down. Terry makes the characters come alive; so you sit and wonder what Lewis will do next, or you are so mad you want to cuss George out yourself. I really enjoyed this book and was very sad when it ended. Vy really knows how to accept a dysfunctional family, You do it with love...... A big ups to Terry for putting a story out there that we can all relate to.. I know I have some of these folks in my family.