Review of Un-Nappily In Love by APOOO Book Club

Read the rest (here)

Summer Reading: Un-Nappily In Love by Trisha R. Thomas

Un-Nappily in Love
Trisha R. Thomas

Reviewed by Patricia Woodside
Posted July 2, 2010

Women's Fiction Contemporary, Multicultural African-American

Venus Parson's flower shop is blooming, but her relationship with husband Jake, former rap artist turned actor, is in need of water. After starring in his first movie with his former lover, Sirena Lassiter, Jake goes on a promotional tour that sets Venus's nerves on end. She trusts Jake, but something is off-kilter in their relationship. Is it the time apart or is Sirena up to no good? Adding to her stress are her mother's recurring fight with cancer and her friend Miriam's suspicions about her own husband, not to mention her long-time nemesis Trevelle Doval, the fallen from grace former television evangelist.

In UN-NAPPILY IN LOVE, Trisha R. Thomas shines a light on the concerns of a host of working mothers who are managing the lion's share of the day-to-day activities of their families—managing school drop-offs and pick-ups, getting roped into volunteering for their children's extracurricular activities, supporting a friend in crisis, dealing with family illnesses—while trying to maintain a business persona away from home. Venus does so with a wry touch of humor and a scathing yet lighthearted introspective which makes the story fun.

Author Trisha Thomas has a particular knack for keeping the story rapid paced yet meaningful, with unexpected plot points that in retrospect are absolutely critical to adding story depth. UN-NAPPILY IN LOVE is the sixth book in this series. Each one adds a layer of delight to this literary cake.

Summer Reading: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I was one of the many who judged a book by it’s color. What would a white woman know about the black experience, and why did she feel the need to write on the subject. The choice most likely wasn’t a choice at all. We are who we are. The old adage of write what you know feels powerfully at work here. The author, Kathryn Stockett spent the first sixteen years of her life, nearly everyday with a black woman who took care of her. That woman was her maid, Demitrie. Initially, she sought to write through Demitrie’s voice. Instead the result became “The Help”, a fictional account of Jackson, Mississippi in the 60’s. Pre-civil rights, during the unfolding of a tumultuous time for the south.

Kathryn Stockett’s first novel opens with the voice of Abilene in a Southern accent so strong and improper that I know before the first sentence is complete she has something important to say. She is the lead storyteller of this taboo tale of sisterhood between the help and the white women employers in a time when the color lines were clearly marked too dangerous to cross. Soon I will hear another maid, Minny, her voice strong and spirited, raising her children with a husband who is drunk by sundown. Abilene and Minny captured my heart and ear. These were the voices that brought me back to the novel countless times when I’d given up lost in the swirl of names and activities of the Junior League of white women. After all, once the League ladies got together to play bridge, or plan their next big party, their topic discussion always landed on the “uncleanliness of the nigras” who by the way cooked their food, took care of their children, and waited on them hand and foot. Enough reason at any given time to throw in the towel. 

Everything that lies in the middle seems to disappear waiting for Abilene to speak again. To hear Abilene mourn the loss of her only son. Filling in the void with each white child she nursed and mothered. Watching the children grow into young adults with the morals she’s instilled in them more so than their own parents. 

There were moments gripped with fear and anger. The truth of the times can’t be avoided. One point of the finger and a maid could go to jail, accused of stealing a piece of silver. Their lives were not their own. Held hostage at the whim of their employers.

It’s true that readers are a narcissistic bunch. We find the characters who most resemble us and our thoughts to agree with, cheer for, and feel for in their deepest pain. We celebrate their victories as our own. The Help tells an honest story of women taking a chance and stepping out of old beliefs. You can’t help but love a story when the ones you care about win in the end. Caring whether or not the author is black or white seems of no substance now. Would a black author have experienced living with a maid all her life and know the life of Skeeter, Abilene, or Minny? I don’t know about you, but my only care giver was my mother and the public school system. I’m black, an author, and could not have written The Help. We are who we are. This novel struck the nerves of both black and white readers. It especially hit mine remembering my first novel and being judged as not “black enough” What did I know about nappy? How dare I write on the subject at all? I soldiered on, ignoring the critics. I wrote what I knew to be true from my experiences. We write what we know. If we’re lucky, we do it well. Judging a book by it’s color has to end somewhere. We have to be the change we want to see in others. Open minds mean open pages. The door needs to stay unlocked for all of us. Freedom to write whatever we want. Freedom to read whatever, whomever we want.

Summer Reads

Ebony Magazine calls Un-Nappily In Love a Hot Sizzling Summer Read "Trisha R. Thomas is back with the next book in her Nappily Ever After series, Un-Nappily In Love...about a woman who must turn on the sexy to keep her movie-making husband in her own bosom."

Blog Tour Winners

Thank you to everyone who took the tour with me. Big fun on some great sites that were kind enough to host me. Amazing interviews. Blog Chats. I even learned a few things about myself. It's not too late to check out the interviews. Check out the latest on Literary Diva Radio.

Also here are the winners for copies of the new novel, Un-Nappily In Love from Brown Girl Gumbo and Afroniquely You.
Be sure to check them out.

Blog Tour: Nappturalite Radio Interview

Nappturlite Radio show hosted by Dawn Yeager. Listen to the Interview of Trisha R. Thomas discussing

Halle Berry making Nappily Ever After into a movie and many more interesting topics on self esteem and beauty.

Curl Up and Write May 25th-June 7th Blog Tour

The Blog Tour continues with Curl Up and Write, a witty site that keeps me laughing.
I enjoy reading Katrina Spencer's take and sometimes her mom's view of the world.
Definitely keeps me in my place.
    Check out her review and interview of Un-Nappily In Love! Enjoy