Any Way the Wind Blows: A Novel [Paperback]

E. Lynn Harris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 9, 2002

When her wedding to John “Basil” Henderson didn’t come off as planned, Yancey Harrington Braxton flew off to L.A. and remade herself as mega-diva Yancey B. And Basil started concentrating on his career as a high-powered sports agent. But then Yancey’s first single, “Any Way the Wind Blows,” hit the charts, and now it threatens to blow Basil’s cover--if anyone learns who it’s really about. And it looks like the gorgeous (and ambitious) hunk Bart Dunbar might just have it all figured out.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

One of the guilty pleasures of the reading world, E. Lynn Harris's novels are filled with gorgeous, glamorous, A-list African-Americans who will do whatever it takes to get their way. You don't want to know anyone in a Harris novel. The talented Yancey Braxton, who was left at the altar in the previous book in this series (Not a Day Goes By), moves from New York to L.A. with hopes of transforming her theatrical success into a bigtime musical career. And if her first pop single happens to expose her bisexual ex-fiancé Basil Henderson to ridicule, so much the better. Basil himself claims to be looking for the mother of his children--a good woman, in other words--while continuing his nonstop sexual conquests on both sides of the fence. He meets his match in Bart Dunbar, a hunky gay man with a mean streak the length of the Mississippi. When Basil dismisses Bart after a couple nights of steamy sex, Bart finds a way to make himself memorable. The best-written and most wicked of Harris's novels, Any Way the Wind Blows will keep you up all night turning pages and being grateful for a quiet life. --Regina Marler --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

John Basil Henderson, retired NFL tight end and self-styled "playa," is one of Harris's favorite characters, having brought his dastardly charm to several of the author's novels. In last year's Not a Day Goes By, Basil finally found a lover as voracious as he, and as lacking in scruples: Broadway diva supreme Yancey Harrington Braxton. Their turbulent affair ended, spectacularly, when Basil left Yancey at the altar. This conflicted, not entirely lovable pair returns in Harris's latest urban romance. After Basil's very public jilting, Yancey set out for Los Angeles to pursue her dream of pop stardom. She returns to New York as Motown chanteuse Yancey B, ready to shoot the video for her first single. Still in Manhattan, Basil has turned football fame into a successful career as a sports agent. Far more principled in business than in love, Basil has little respect for the women he beds and even less for the men he sees "on the down low." As Yancey's provocative, autobiographical ballad climbs the charts, she and Basil are reluctantly reunited in a tangle of sex, suspense and scandalous secrets. The obsessive scheming of waiter/model/actor Bart Dunbar adds another layer of intrigue to this already outsized tale. By building his novel around three protagonists who are mostly lacking in moral sense, Harris takes the chance that readers will not be able to sympathize with them or appreciate their outrageous exploits. But the author gives each of his characters an externalized conscience in the form of a generous, loving, honorable best friend. By adding this human dimension to his main characters, Harris makes it a little easier for readers to enjoy his sassy contemporary melodrama. (On-sale: July 10)Forecast: Not a Day Goes By was a vigorous bestseller, and this more-of-the-same sequel should match its performance.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Anchor (July 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385721188
• ISBN-13: 978-0385721189
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1 x 7.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (168 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #300,912 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

E. Lynn Harris (1955-2009) is the author of ten previous novels and the memoir What Becomes of the Brokenhearted. His recent novels Just Too Good to be True, I Say a Little Prayer, A Love of My Own, and Any Way the Wind Blows hit the bestseller lists in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and other publications. He founded the E. Lynn Harris Better Days Foundation, a nonprofit company that provides support to aspiring writers and artists.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For Entertainmnet Purposes Only, July 18, 2001

By 

Maurice Williams "mauricewms" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Any Way the Wind Blows (Hardcover)

There isn't much new in Harris' latest novel "Any Way The Wind Blows". Yancey and Basil return as central characters in a story that seems more like a feature from a tabloid gossip column than a piece of well crafted and creative literature. While Harris is certain to mention just about every popular African American music and movie star on the scene today, he fails to deliver any new insight with this novel. After reading his previous novels, this one seems like a collage of themes introduced in his earlier work. While I found his previous novels entertaining, just like any good gossip can be, I had a hard time, while reading this novel, getting past the feeling that I've heard this story before. The novel is filled with clichés and didactic in tone. Both of these literary faux pas diminish the story and oversimplify the plot. At times, it seems the characters are only devices for Harris to preach his views on relationships and the role sexuality plays in them. Often times, it's hard to discern if the characters are giving the author the dialogue, or if the author is putting his words in their mouth.

Although deceit, trickery, and unfaithfulness can provide the makings of a good novel, the author has to creatively blend the elements to produce the type of novel that both connects with readers and has literary merit. I'm sure the novel will satisfy the need to connect with readers and will no doubt be a bestseller; but it falls short on literary merit (which doesn't mean it's not an entertaining read). I hope Yancey, Basil, Raymond, and Ava will be laid to rest with this novel. I'm looking forward to new ideas and fresh characters in Harris' future work. He's told this story too many times.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still In Love....., July 12, 2001

By 

Stephanie Thomas (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Any Way the Wind Blows (Hardcover)

I am still in love with E. Lynn Harris and the characters he has created. When I heard his new book was coming out I couldn't wait to buy it and once I had it I stayed up all night to find out what happens to my favorite people. If you a fan of Harris'work than this is a must read. If you are not then you simply have to buy Invisible life, Just as I am and all the other books to be drawn into his carefully created world. I was happy to hear that Harris had revived Basil and the crew and even happier to find that he had not taken them down an unfamilar road as many authors do. I applaud Harris' ability to maintain the intergrety of his characters (yes, Basil and Yauncey have intergrety). He has continued to spin a tale that is not only believable, but fasinating. I find myself living in their world, feeling their feelings. It's good to put my troubles aside and worry a little about old friends. Harris also doesn't let you forget about his starter characters, he tells us about Raymond, Nicole & Jared, he even gives us a taste of Zurich and Sean. I appreciate that he hasn't forgetten about his past characters and that he knows we haven't either. In his last book I was afraid of what Basil would do to others, in this book I find myself afraid of what others would do to Basil. I loved it and know that any true fan will love it too!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Beach book., August 1, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Any Way the Wind Blows (Hardcover)

If you love E. Lynn Harris then you've probably already bought the book. If you are a new reader then get ready to be entertained. This is a weekend/beach book. It's fun but lighter than air. The plot is interesting but the characters are not well developed. It's the same ole, same ole that Harris has been tossing out for years.