Rating: 
Summary: Really Good Book! Powerful
Review: I really liked this book. It had its share of crazy surprises. It is an easy read book and it really helps since it is a real page-turner. This book really really helped to catch my attention since the main character had my same name and religion. Go get this book, it is good!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: You will enjoy this book
Review: I really liked this book. It had its share of crazy surprises. It is an easy read book and it really helps since it is a real page-turner. This book really really helped to catch my attention since the main character had my same name and religion. Go get this book, it is good!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Great Book
Review: I thought the book was excellent, especially because this is the author's first novel. The characters were well developed and although the storyline was pretty sad, there was a lot of humor in the book. I would recommend this.
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Summary: The storms that rage within
Review: Imagine having an older sister whom you were constantly expected to protect. Imagine this sister being mentally ill. Imagine Stacy Moore's life. Rikki Moore, beautiful, smart, and devout, has always leaned on her younger sister for protection, support, and acceptance. From childhood fears and dysfunction, adolescent suicide attempts, and marital problems, Rikki's life seems out of control, and Stacy is always the one to clean up the debris Rikki's storms leave in their wake. This book is a real page turner. Hall has convincingly related a story of mental illness for all to hear. Her writing is more characteristic of a seasoned novelist than of a debut author, and I was enraptured with Rikki, Stacy, and all of the other characters. A real eye-opener to the storms that rage within, A Quiet Storm transcends societal factors by focusing on humanism and emotion. ~Reviewed by CandaceK
Rating:
Summary: Am I My Sister's Keeper?
Review: Imagine sacrificing your marriage, your life, your whole self, for another. To make matters worse, the object of your selflessness isn't capable of anything above asking for more, more and then more. Rachel Howzell Hall's debut novel about two sisters caused me to think about my relationship with my own sister. Would I love her as much if she were mentally ill? Could I separate my life and well-being from hers, yet still be there for her? Would I have the courage to insist that my family stop hiding behind religion and conformity and deal with the issues? The sisters, mentally disturbed Rikki and her keeper, Stacy, are, I imagine, as close as the chasm of mental illness will allow two people to be. Stacy starts to shield Rikki even before their parents detect (then ignore) the fact that anything is wrong. Rikki's disease takes a toll on both of them in different ways, primarily because Stacy is constantly bombarded with the idea that as long as she takes care of Rikki, everything will be okay. I couldn't relate to Rikki at all, I just wished that she would go away, because dealing with her was always difficult and rarely rewarding. Obviously Hall did an excellent job of relaying the drained, loveless feelings that mentally disturbed people can evoke. Stacy reminds me of so many people who lose themselves in others, be it their difficult husbands, wayward children, or elderly parents. She lets the lights dim in her spirit and in her marriage while trying to make sure that Rikki leads a 'normal' life. Hall's beautifully written story makes it clear that mental illness and denial are as dangerous a mixture as fire and gasoline.
Rating:
Summary: Wake Up Call
Review: Initially, I was afraid of this book. I wasn't sure how it would portray a very real problem. I have a family member that suffers from mental illness. In my life and culture, Black people refuse to face mental illness. They feel the need to place blame or minimize the severity of mental illness. We've all heard of that one family member who's just "a little off." That person is usually reduced to a two-dimensional character that people don't get to know. Alternatively, they're afraid that mental illness rubs off. I thank you Rachel. Thank you for bringing people into my world. My aunt is mentally ill, has been for most of my life, but I know she's a real person with feelings. The truth couldn't have been written better. I was sad that this was Rachel's first book, because I was all set and ready to purchase another one. She described my teenage era to a "T", from the Levi's with fresh K-Swiss to the guys smelling of Polo cologne. On point. I am excited about what's to come in her next book. This is an eye- opening, humorous, but at the same time serious story. One of my favorite lines happens when Rikki looks back at Stacey and says, "He was heavy." Loved it.
Rating:
Summary: Wake Up Call
Review: Initially, I was afraid of this book. I wasn't sure how it would portray a very real problem. I have a family member that suffers from mental illness. In my life and culture, Black people refuse to face mental illness. They feel the need to place blame or minimize the severity of mental illness. We've all heard of that one family member who's just "a little off." That person is usually reduced to a two-dimensional character that people don't get to know. Alternatively, they're afraid that mental illness rubs off. I thank you Rachel. Thank you for bringing people into my world. My aunt is mentally ill, has been for most of my life, but I know she's a real person with feelings. The truth couldn't have been written better. I was sad that this was Rachel's first book, because I was all set and ready to purchase another one. She described my teenage era to a "T", from the Levi's with fresh K-Swiss to the guys smelling of Polo cologne. On point. I am excited about what's to come in her next book. This is an eye- opening, humorous, but at the same time serious story. One of my favorite lines happens when Rikki looks back at Stacey and says, "He was heavy." Loved it.
Rating: 
Summary: Great 1st effort
Review: My bookclub read this book... We enjoyed it. I think that Howzell gave a realistic portrayal of how medication is not always the "band-aid" or "cure-all" in mental disorders. She showed how the main character Rikki felt like [junk] while taking medication and how she acted like [junk] out while off her medication. She showed the struggle one goes through vividly. Howzell tried to wind an underlying "faith" in God throughout the story, always going back to it. You don't see that often unless it is a Christian book very often. I think Rachel Howzell Hall is promising and I look forward to her next book.
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Summary: Too True, Too Real
Review: My sister loaned me this book on the pretext of "it should help the rest of the world understand mental illness better" and commented that she found Stacie's dilemma poignant because she spent her life taking care of her sister's messes. I decided to read it since it would perhaps give us something to talk about, book club like, and perhaps mend some fences in our relationship. I ended up being unable to put the book down and must have cried in 12 different places - it hit too close to home. I could have written it.
Fortunately, our lives have not been as "real world" tragically effected by mental illness; however, the feelings are very much the same. The suicide attempt, the hope when things go right, the "unsurprise" when things go wrong, the well wishers who think it's some behavioral thing, the Bible/God stuff, the family denial, the putting the mentally ill person before anything else . . . the shame - the guilt.
It read like a diary . . . easy/personal . . . and I liked the "not tied up in a neat bow" ending. Unfortunately, families who deal with mental illness feel like this a lot - when is too much too much, when should you get involved and when should you stay out, how do you communicate with someone who can't be reached . . . it may leave the average reader feeling like things are unresolved - but that is too true and too real for both the mentally ill and those who care about them.
Rating:
Summary: Either title would do it for me
Review: Quiet Storm could have easily been named Silent Hell, as Stacy lived her life in the shadow of her ill sister.
In reading this story, though I enjoyed the writing, I felt empty at the completion of the tale. I didn't feel satisfied with Stacy's lot. Though I'm sure many were ready for Rikki to 'just quit it!' and YES I did suspect certain aspects of the ending, nonetheless, I had hoped for something bigger to happen, something that would make for a difference. I still felt as though Stacy 'settled' for life in a silent hell-much too far away from happiness, even after it all played out.
Five stars? Yes, because the story was affecting-touching. It was deep enough to draw out emotions. I recommend the book for many. But for me, the book was too real, (not necessarily a bad thing) without enough silver linings. - M.
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