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Summary: A Journey of self discovery
Review: According to Margaret Johnson Hodge, the past can not be altered, yesterday is just that and tomorrow anything is possible.One day Philip arrived on the doorstep of Sylvia Allen, his high school sweetheart. Philip, married for 30 years to Dorothy returned to New York to see if the flames of love could be rekindled. Sylvia and Dorothy were best friends in high school until Philip came between them. Sylvia had been "holding out", but Dorothy "put out." Dorothy and Philip's tryst broke up her friendship with Sylvia. For 30 years, Dorothy was the glue behind her marriage, telling Philip how to dress and what promotions to apply for. All of Dorothy's hard work paid off because Philip attained a nice solid middle class lifestyle with all the trappings and finery to go along with it, but something in the past still gnawed at his heart: Sylvia. Sylvia was a stay at home mom dealing with teenage daughters. Aaron was rebellious and sneaking around to see boys; Monet was shy and bulimic. When Sylvia caught Aaron in a compromising position with her boyfriend J'Qaun and Aaron discovered that the "stranger" Philip was her mom's long- lost teenage love, they made a pact not to divulge each other's secret. A pact Aaron broke the fateful day she told her father, Emery that Sylvia, his wife had kissed Philip. In A Journey to Here, their lives were put together with bits of glue and dabs of spit. Philip's appearance back in Sylvia's life caused her to confront issues that she had locked away for thirty years in an airtight vault. Will the marriage of Emery and Sylvia survive? Will Monet overcome her bulimia? This is a book about family and the compromises one makes to resolve past issues, a story that will keep the reader entranced in the power of love and forgiveness. Margaret Johnson Hodge's characters are fully developed with all the human idiosyncrasies. I enjoyed reading this novel, for the author writes about real life issues in a straight forward manner. Helen
R.E.A.L. Reviewers
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Summary: I loved it.
Review: I absolutely loved this book. I love reading fiction that can actually happen and Mrs. Hodge never disappoints. There comes a point when you realize you are in the middle of a great read and you try to remember other books that make you feel like this. I hate to say it but African American fiction has become a forum to bash men or have some silly, unbelievable love story where the ends are tied perfectly. This is a book that makes you mad at what is going on and glad that it's not you. This is a must read for fiction lovers who appreciate a good story that can happen to any one of us.
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Summary: Too Much Pain!!!!!!!!!
Review: I am sorry but I don't agree with the other reviewers. This book is so sad. It was filled with so much pain. I have read books that have made me cry but there was also laughter and family coming together as well. This family to me never really seemed to pull it together. Which means that for twenty years they were living on twigs. I don't know This read just didn't vibe with me. I will still read MJHodge because the sister can still write. But I was not happy with this book.
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Summary: A Journey to Here
Review: I attended a reading recently at Barnes & Noble book store and Margaret Johnson-Hodge was there along with a lot of other gifted authors. Of all of the authors present, Mrs. Johnson-Hodge was the only one I'd met before. I've finally finished reading all the books I bought that day and I must say that they were all good. I had read one other book by Margaret before and although it was good, I liked this one better. The characters are so real and the message is a strong one. I agree with all the other reviewers who say that she is a gifted writer.
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Summary: You Can Never Turn Back the Hands of Time
Review: I loved this book. Margaret has done it again! From the very start Margaret draws you into the mind of Sylvia-a woman who is still living with one foot in the past and the other in the present. Phil, and old high school love who she wished things would have been different, but a surprising event happened that sent her, Phil, and her best friend Dorothy on a rollercoaster ride that last for years. Phil wants Sylvia back, and Sylvia is curious about her old love- a situation happens that turns Sylvia's current marriage and family upside down. In addition, to problems they already have with their two daughters. One has a eating disorder and the other is very promiscious.The reason I give it four stars instead of five is because I felt the ending was complacent. Phil settled for what he had because he couldn't get what he wanted. The marriage with he and Dorothy seemed destined for divorce. Both settled because both of them felt needy.
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Summary: A Journey To Here
Review: If you've already had your "What If", phase in life you'll truly identify with this book. If you haven't been through the phase let the story serve as a glimpse into the reality of the sayings, "You can't go home again" or "Let sleeping dogs lie". Margaret keeps it real in this story. It's not the fairy tale I had imagined it to be. Margaret definitely took me back down memory lane. It's a must read for anyone who has wondered, what if.......
Rating:
Summary: A Journey To Here
Review: If you've already had your "What If", phase in life you'll truly identify with this book. If you haven't been through the phase let the story serve as a glimpse into the reality of the sayings, "You can't go home again" or "Let sleeping dogs lie". Margaret keeps it real in this story. It's not the fairy tale I had imagined it to be. Margaret definitely took me back down memory lane. It's a must read for anyone who has wondered, what if.......
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Summary: Some Journey
Review: In my opinion, MJH is a very talented writer. I have throughly enjoyed all her books. Perhaps the reason I so enjoy the books is because she's writing about characters I identify with. In one of her previous works, I felt like she'd been reading my diary. Here she goes again, writing about things that are very real.
"It's been thirty years since Philip Butler laid eyes on his only true love - the woman he wronged so terribly years before". Realistically, many have thought about doing it so many times. How many would have the courage? What would be the consequences? A Journey to Here conjures so many questions. Makes one think.
Finally, the book uses very real diaglogue... a very refreshing change from most popular fiction. Very easy to read.
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Summary: Nuances of Relationships
Review: Margaret Johnson-Hodge returns with another book dealing with "real" problems in her latest novel, A Journey to Here. Sylvia "Suvie" Allen is happily married with two teen-aged children. Regardless of her love for her husband Emory, she is thrown when her first true love returns, opening the door to a past she has tried to leave behind. Despite his involvement with and then marriage to her best friend, Phillip is back in town, bringing his betrayal to the front of Suvie's mind, and trying to reclaim what they once had. As she battles to keep her feelings at bay and maintain her marriage vows, she is caught in a whirlwind of emotions, what-ifs, and confusion.
If these issues weren't enough, she is also faced with problems involving her daughters; one has an eating disorder and the other is a bit too ready to claim the title of woman. While being caught up in her own matters of the heart, she almost loses sight when it comes to being a mother and protecting and guiding her children through life. Not only will her decisions affect her, but her entire family and those around her.
Showing the nuances of relationships between both family and friends, Ms. Johnson-Hodge does a wonderful job of addressing the consequences that can arise when the past is not quite the past, yet, one has moved on with their lives. Additionally, she broaches topics such as infidelity, eating disorders, and familial strife which are prevalent in our society today and affect our relationships with family and friends. Though the ending seemed a bit too neat and I couldn't totally relate to how disrespectful Suvie's children were, I enjoyed the even-paced storytelling in A Journey to Here and look forward to the author's next release.
Reviewed by Mz. Melody of Loose Leaves Book Review
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Summary: A Must Read......
Review: MJH had done it again. I purchased the book when it was first released but still had a couple of books to finish first. Bad mistake on my part. I should have put them all down and got with the book. It is a page turner and keeps you wanting more. Sylvia "Suvie", Emory, Philip and Dororthy. And oooh please don't let me forget that Aaron (the daughter you love to hate). This story is real, keeps you guessing and most importantly you can relate to it. It shows you how your past can come back to hurt you when you least expect it. And that you should be as honest as possible. We are all human and can't control the unexpected. It also teaches you when life throws you a lemon, you definitely have to make lemonade!! Run out and get this book. Buy it as a gift!! Spread the Word. Margaret Johnson-Hodge has done it again!!
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