Rating: 
Summary: In Poor Taste
Review: I was terribly disappointed by Kimberla Lawson Roby's novel, A Taste of Reality. I have ready most of Ms. Roby's other works, and do believe that her latest offering is a clear departure from her other books.This book had a solid (although heavy-handed) plot. From the first page, the reader knows that Anise, the main character, has major problems erupting in her life. However, as those problems spill out on to the pages, so do the one-dimensional characters, insipid dialoge and unbelievable plot twists. That Anise would endure racism on her job for so long before doing anything about it was totally implausible. It seems that she didn't develop a backbone until she jumped into her add-water-and-stir relationship with the proverbial white man, Frank. This book was very black-and-white, almost too black-and-white for my taste. Fiction, in this case, is much stranger than fact. It seems that Ms. Roby wanted to portray the different types of prejudices that affect the races, but instead, she made mockery of a very real situation that requires much more substance. In the end, the message of the book appeared to be that you can't trust white people, and that blacks who either condone or condemn interracial relationships have issues. And as we all should know, neither message can be applied to real life.
Rating: 
Summary: What Happened Here?
Review: When I saw that Ms. Roby had a new book out, I was excited about reading it because I had read her other books and found them to be wonderful! I don't know if Ms. Roby was stressed or under pressure from her publishers to get out another book but "A Taste of Reality" should have been entitled "Truly Disappointing". Even my 16-year old daughter who's also read Ms. Roby's other offerings did not like this book. Unlike the other main character's in Ms. Roby's earlier novels, I found Anise to be a such a WHINER!!!! Where was this girl's backbone and although I know racism still exists in the workplace, I doubt if it could exist in today's environment to the extent it was portrayed in the book (call me naive but I just don't see it). I'm not sure but it seems as if Ms. Roby's ending was written in such a way as to be the opening for her next book. Anise and Frank's relationship was the one bright spot in this book and to have it "end" the way it did was a major letdown. I can sum up this book in two words: IT [STUNK]!
Rating: 
Summary: Loved this book too!
Review: This was a wonderful book that deals with a cutting edge topic. Discrimination really exists and I enjoyed this book and will recommend it to my book club, however what I don't get is how or why people are using Amazon as a forum to bash authors and their hard word. What have you written lately? Can do better? Then do it. Damn. All this AA author hating. Do we abhor ourselves that much as a people? Get a life or get the book and read it.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining, but...
Review: It was an entertaining book. I read it in a day. However, I found Anise unrealistic. She definitely did need "a taste of reality." She wanted to use Frank to get information but all of a sudden she was in love with him? And what was up with Frank anyway? It was very uncomfortable reading about him asking her out constantly. It was very close to stalking, in my opinion. Then all of a sudden, he dumps her! I also don't understand why Anise would trust Lorna for so long. Lorna obviously had an agenda or otherwise why would she be pushing Anise to sue every other minute? Do the work, Lorna, and take action yourself! I would've liked to have known what happened to the woman from purchasing. Did she ever get another job? The ending should have wrapped up the story for all of the characters. I liked reading about a Human Resources department, although people who don't work in HR may not know or care about the difference between a HR Assistant, a HR Coordinator and a HR Specialist. In short, it's a good entertaining book but it comes up short because Anise is not that believable and the ending leaves us hanging. And don't get me started about David.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT CONCEPT, MEDIOCRE DELIVERY
Review: Kimberla Lawson Roby has embarked upon challenging concepts in her latest novel A TASTE OF REALITY, which explores modern-day discrimination in the workplace, as well as interracial and marital relationships, but its delivery is disappointingly mediocre. Flaws that dominated and diminished her previous novels are prevalent in this work as well. For example, characterization and plot are thinly developed, the dialogue is often trite and unbelievable, and the author's attempts at describing sexual encounters are so inept as to be laughable instead of erotic. (She definitely is no Beverly Jenkins in that regard.) Notwithstanding the mediocrity of her writing style, the author tells a good story--making this effort a surprisingly quick read and not an entire waste of time.
Rating:
Summary: IT IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL
Review: I LOVED THIS BOOK, IT SHOWED THE POWER AND DILEGENCE OF A POWERFUL BLACK WOMEN AND IT ALSO SHOWED US SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T LIKE TO ADMIT TO OURSELVES, AND THAT IS SOME PEOPLE CAN;T HANDLE WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP ROLES, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE WELL QUALIFIED, SOMETIME THAT DOESN'T MATTER. KIM DID A VERY GOOD JOB IN SHOWING ALL SIDES OF HER CHARACTERS AND THE REALITY OF WE ARE STILL NOT THERE, NOW THAT IS A TASTE OF REALITY.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellant Pick
Review: Once again Mrs. Roby has amazed us with a wonerful classic novel that touches base with the social problems of todays society in the workforce as well as in our own homes. A Taste Of Reality is a work of art. The way she told the story literally put me right in the middle of it. This book is a must read for any Kimberla Lawson Roby fans and newcomers to her work as well.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read!!!!!!
Review: I read this book in a day. I just could not put it down. I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. As African-American's we face all sorts of discrimination on a daily basis. But in corporate america it is much worst even when we are more qualified both professionally and educationally. I felt everything Anise was going through and the choices she made regarding her career. This book isn't filled with "ghetto drama", but the drama Anise has to face on a day to day basis. I highly recommend that you pick this book up, you will not be disappointed. I truly enjoyed every page.
Rating:
Summary: I got my own taste of reality!
Review: I had not clue this book was written by a black author, I was drawn to the cover art, and it looked like a nice easy read.
When I got into it, I felt shocked and awakened by the dialogue, and fascinated by the honesty. The book draws you into the life..you feel like you know the person and can understand their feelings, and a great empathy comes over you as you feel along with the woman.
I wanted to know more...my curiosity about how it feels to be black was whetted right away, and I could not put it down.
The dialogue is especially real. Many authors tell a story, but they get into a lot of descriptions and metaphors, etc. but
the dialogue used in this book keeps you going...I have to admit, I could not put it down! I stayed up until 3am reading...until I was so exhausted I simply had to stop, but I hated to stop until the conclusion.
As a result of the story, I found myself taking a hard look at myself and I felt ashamed of my own thoughts and behavior over the years, and resolved to start a new way of thinking immediately.
It may sound unbelievable, but this book changed me.
Evelyn
Rating:
Summary: Unfortunately It Is Reality!
Review: Before I start, please do not allow my rating to discourage you from reading this book! This is an excellent story and is definitely a page turner, you will not want to put it down. I will explain my rating in a moment.
Anise is a educated black woman with morals, she is married to a successful black man (David) who is insecure in himself. He is the worse type a black man, one who ridicules his own race and places himself above all others. He evens demeans the one person that he has vowed to cherish, His Wife! Anise works for a racist run company and is making less money and is constantly overlooked because she is a black woman, which is a double whammy. She realizes that her marriage is falling apart and is ready to take responsiblity for her contribution to he mess it is in and has a night of passion that she believes will be a turning point in her marriage, when she incidently discovers that her sellout husband has betrayed her in the worse way. Now something that she least expects happens, a white man is attracted to her and against all odds, Frank is all the man she needs, but then is he too good to be true? Fed up with the mess her life is in, and determined to stop allowing these men in her life stomp all over her, she takes control. She has a plan for her racist superiors and with a little help, she shows them that this backwood black woman (a nice way of saying what they think of her) is one to be reckoned with. She also has a turn of events for her husband, he thinks that he will manipulate her out of half of everything, convincing her to leave the marriage with what she came in with, but she is no fool and will soon learn if anyone is losing out on anything it is him. She does flip the script on all of them, including her one true friend that she thought she had at work. Kimberla has really shown a tail spin in this novel, with one woman dealing with racist superiors, a selfish sellout husband, and the desires of a fruitful career and family life! I do recommend this book! Excellent book for book clubs, alot to discuss. Now for my rating, I rated this a 3 and would really give the first section of the book a 4 and the last a 3, because Anise doesn't handle the situation quite like I hoped and I didn't get any satisfaction at the very end. I wanted more with David and as for Frank I was truelly disappointed and wanted more. Maybe there will be a sequel, at least I hope so!
| 
