Rating: 
Summary: A Painfully Beautiful Debut Novel
Review: Rachel Howzell Hall makes a stunning entrance into the literary world with her novel, A Quiet Storm. This story incorporates poetic beauty with themes of familial love and mental illness within an African American family.Stacy and Rikki Moore are sisters, tight in love and in the secrets of mental illness. Since childhood and on through adulthood, Stacy has lived in Rikki's shadow. Rikki is beautiful, talented, intelligent, and popular; however, Stacy has also spent her entire life hiding her unstable sister's destructive ways and has struggled to find her own way in life while keeping Rikki from falling into the dark depths of an illness that could have fatal consequences. Their mother is hell bent on NOT letting Rikki seek medical help for her problem, so over time, Rikki's illness escalates to the point that she's attempting to commit suicide. Things hit the breaking point when Rikki becomes a suspect in the disappearance of her pediatrician husband, Matt, who has recently asked Rikki for a divorce. A Quiet Storm is probably the best book I've read in 2002 thus far. The images are vivid, the language is real and at times, very poetic and sensual. Hall brings out a topic important yet not too often read about in the African American community: mental illness. I was caught up in the lives of these characters. I shed tears, I felt the tugs in my heart and stomach, I attempted to prod the characters to go other ways,
everything. My only minor criticism is that at times, the narrator's voice seemed a bit young, when I don't think the narrator--at the time the story is told--is young. Aside from that, this is a novel that is painful to read, but Hall paints a captivating story that is informative, entertaining and full of literary merit. I can't wait to read the next offering by Hall...
Rating:
Summary: Through the eye of the storm
Review: Rikki Moore was a woman who truly had it all. She was beautiful, intelligent, and compassionate. She was loved by her students and highly sought after for help by the sisters of her church. She also had the perfect husband, pediatrician Matthew Dresden and together they were the "ideal couple". For years, she literally outshined her younger sister Stacy, who always stood in the background as the one who didn't have it completely together. Even though Rikki seemed to have the perfect life, deep down she was deeply troubled by many issues. From the earliest stages of her childhood, she struggled mentally and emotionally and this continued throughout her adult life. While others speculated, Stacy was left to carry the burden behind Rikki's problems. Although for years, the family wore a mask of secrecy, when Matthew later disappears, the image that was so carefully guarded immediately crashes down. Although this was her debut novel, Mrs. Hall writes with the skill of a veteran in the literary world. From beginning to end, she takes readers on a journey of an African-American family who is impacted by the effects of mental illness. She writes with a power and an insight that makes you believe that you are truly witnessing it from afar. A Quiet Storm is a spectacular debut from Mrs. Hall and I eagerly anticipate her sophomore novel. Reviewed by Kanika (Nika) Wade
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: Tragic, Emotional
Review: Rikki Moore was the popular, smart, beautiful sister who always achieved, but inside her mind, there
was another side to Rikki that most people didn't see. Stacy was the over weight little sister standing in the shadows of her her sister. Stacy always came to her sisters rescue and the only one who was so burdened with the effects of her sisters " storms".
When Rikki is hospitalized from attempting suicide their mother still doesn't want to face that her daughter is mentally ill.
Stacy covers her sisters behaviors and in doing so ruins Stacy's marriage. When Rikki's devoted husband
can no longer control her or her outburst he wants a divorce. Stacy is left once again running to her sisters rescue.
When Matt Rikki's husband mysteriously disappears, Stacy finds the clues that don't add up straight but
still keeps her sisters secret. This novel is powerful! A family suddenly shattered by tragedy. A sister torn from her own life while trying stay ahead of her sisters " storms".
Tragic, Emotional.
Rating:
Summary: If I ignore it, then the problem does not exist
Review: Stacy Moore was younger than her sister Arika (Rikki) by eleven months, not that you would know this by their behavior. As a young child she was charged with the responsibility to serve as her sister's protector. Their parents recognized that Rikki was special, but they refused to accept the obvious signs and eventual diagnosis of Rikki. They turned to religion and denial to cope with their daughter. Therefore Stacy was beating up "Stinky Pam", taking the blame for things she did not do, putting Rikki's needs before her own, everyone and everything. It was expected of her, it was ingrained in her, it was the only thing she knew to do. However, instead of being a help to her, she was an enabler. Rikki finished college and married Dr. Matt Dresden. Even with her wild, unpredictable behaviors he tried to stick by her side and seek help for her. Most of the time, Rikki was in complete denial of her disease, having her mother's continual denial and Stacy saving her all the time, allowed Rikki to spin on in a manic/depressive state for years. Not even the doctors could help her. In the attempt to keep the secret and protect Rikki, the family paid the ultimate sacrifice, which could have been avoided. This was a wonderful, compelling read about how mental illness can effect a family and relationships. It also showed how the reaction of the family can effect the recovery of the victim. True to many African American families, they more often than naught would turn to religion and denial, than to deal with the problem straightforward. As a reader, there were times when I would get so frustrated with the family, I had to take a break, but the story was so interesting it kept drawing me back. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a family member or a friend who suffers from any type of mental illness, and to anyone looking for a good read. Jeanette
APOOO BookClub
Rating: 
Summary: Very serious book yet funny too.
Review: This book was about Arika's suffering with manic depression in a family who denied it. Her sister tells the story from her perspective which at times is sad and then witty. Take this book, sit down, read it and really understand that mental illness is REAL.
Rating:
Summary: STELLAR DEBUT
Review: THIS NOVEL HAD ALL THE QUALITIES I LOOK FOR IN A "GREAT BOOK" ! THE CHARACTES WERE WELL DEVELOPED AND REALISTIC, THE STORY MOVED AND KEPT ME ENGAGED ... I LOVED STACY'S RECOLLECTIONS OF THE GIRLS GROWING UP IN THE EIGHTIES !! OH THANK YOU RACHEL FOR TAKING ME BACK !!
THE FINAL CHAPTERS ARE THE MOST INTRIUGING ! THE BOOK BECOMES VERY SUSPENSEFUL... I ADMIT, I HAD TO TURN ON THE LIGHTS DURING THE CABIN SCENES.
MS. HALL TOUCHED ON A SUBJECT MATTER THAT IS VERY MUCH PREVELANT AND VERY MUCH IGNORED/DENIED IN SOCIETY, ESPECIALLY AMONGST AFRICAN AMERICANS ! THANK YOU MS. HALL FOR A STORY THAT IS TRULY REFRESHING BUT ALSO VERY IMPORTANT. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW MANY AUTHORS FOLLOW SUIT.
EXCELLENT DEBUT !
Rating:
Summary: Fresh Look at Something Old
Review: This story shares a story about a woman who experiences mental illness, something I've always known about. It's one thing to know about it and read about; it's another to actually read a fictional account of someone young and succesful who has it. A Quiet Storm is a good peek into this world. As a Black reader, I forgot AA authors can write stories without blinging and Prada and all that designer label name-dropping. A Quiet Storm is very refreshing, especially for a first novel. But could you make the next novel a little longer?
Rating:
Summary: VERY INTERESTING
Review: This story shows the meaning of true love. Although Arika's condition intefered with Stacy's social life, That never stopped her from helping her sister. She was there for her sister to the very end. I also asked myself, can love be that powerful?
Most men in the real world would've left Arika. This story was filled with hummor,sad,and it also send out a very important message. It shows what can happen when we choose to live in denial, instead of facing the problem. I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to her next book.
Rating:
Summary: A Sisters in Spirit BookClub Review
Review: What a lovely tale! Rachel Howzell Hall did a wonderful job in "A Quiet Storm" weaving a story about the effects that mental illness has on a family. While people who have never experienced someone with a mental illness, may find some of the events to be a little "far-fetched", others who have will know all too well, how chaos can enter the family becuase of this illness. This is a MUST READ for all bookclubs, as it gives insight into just how far reaching mental illness can be. **Review by Yasako**
Rating:
Summary: A Quiet Storm - Reins
Review: Wonderful first effort. Good read and a good topic. I read a lot and never have I found a book written by a person of color that deals so effectively with metal illness. Yes it exists in Black folds too. Rachel H-Hall paints a very realistic and heart warming story of a family in denial and the consequences of not addressing a metal illness. Mental Illness affects everyone it is no longer OK it keep it locked in a closet. Rachel H-Hall effectively describes the warning signs and shows how it can manifest itself over the years. A Quiet Storm was a work of fiction, yes. But it was also a work of art. Rachel keep up the good work. I look forward to reading more of your work in the future. Readers, if you've read the Harris Men, you also like this one. The Harris Men by R. M. Johnson is also a wonderful first novel by a very gifted writer. Add A Quiet Storm and you have the perfect fall reading companions.
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