Customer Reviews

Back To Life

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I am an avid reader of interracial romances and I happened upon this book almost by accident. I was a little concerned because there were not many customer reviews of the book. This book has definitely shot to the very top of my all-time favorites list. I prefer romances involving real characters and not caricatures and this book delivered. While this book dealt with hot button issues, the author was still able to draw multi-dimensional characters and put their sometimes aberrant behavior in a societal context. This is also a book with real grown-ups as Lisa and Marc are both divorced thirty-somethings. It was much more powerful than your typical fantasy-romance. Both characters had former spouses that they both cared very deeply for at one time and they both were conflicted about letting go. The characters were mature professionals, both had baggage, but the story didn't become mired in histrionics. It was about the characters slowly letting go of an old life and having the courage to move on. That Lisa was black and Marc was white was integral to the story and added to the conflict, but it was handled superbly, because they were written as fully-realized people and not stereotypes. Too often in interracial romances, the cultural differences dominate and/or neither character has had ANY experience dealing with people from the other culture. This book is realistic in portraying the multi-cultural nature of their lives in NY. I also loved how the book put the state of race relations in context by using the notorius Bensonhurst incident. Wonderful story, grown-up prose. I hated for the book to end.

Reeling from a bad marriage and a vicious divorce, twenty-nine year old Lisa Martin just wants to be left alone. That sentiment falls on deaf ears because her friends are constantly introducing her to men. Attending a party hosted by one of her friends, Lisa ducks into a room trying to escape yet another male disaster and discovers that she is not alone. After a conversation with the stunningly handsome Marc Guerrieri, she realizes that he exudes all the qualities that she is looking for in a man. Fed up with the same ole, same ole Lisa wonders what it would be like to indulge in a relationship with Marc; the only problem is that he is white.

Forty years old and still tasting the bitter after-effects of his divorce, Marc was content with his life as a bestselling author and fiction writing
professor. When he meets Lisa, she stirs up feelings in him that have lain dormant since he and his wife split. On the first day of class, a student walks in while he is in the middle of a lecture, when Marc looks up he sees Lisa, the object of his desires. Marc is unsuccessful in hiding his attraction and trying to maintain a professional relationship with Lisa. They both decide to take matters into their own hands and embark on a journey to find love and happiness. When the former spouses of Marc and Lisa decide to make an appearance, their newfound relationship is turned upside down. Will Marc and Lisa be able to overcome the racial and social issues they face?

I found Wendy Coakley-Thompson's debut novel to be very intriguing. It held my attention and I fell in love with the characters. BACK TO LIFE is a wonderful romance novel about breaking down the barriers we face and following our hearts.

Reviewed by Pamela Bolden
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

wendy coakley thompson's "back to life" is a real piece of literature that details the interracial romance experience in real terms. the attention to themes of the day and music of the moment adds a special spice to the book and helps to set the mood. i just love hearing "what's playing in the background". lisa and marc show us the conflict one feels in a situation like theirs. and it's also a treat to see how their exes factor into the relationship as well. a good read!

I give Back to Life by Wendy Coakley-Thompson 5 stars. Out of all the books that included an interracial-romance love story, this book is the best I've read to date. Definitely, not your typical everyday interracial romance book/novel. I've read several books/novels that explore love outside one's race or culture, including Fate, Meeting of the Waters, Close Encounters, The Color of Love, I'll be Your Shelter and I daresay Shades of Desire, and this by far is the best yet. This novel was expertly written with descriptive details and events that actually happened. It tells the story of an Italian male writer and a Black female artist, who have both been hurt by love in the past but come together and find a long lasting love despite the racial turmoil and angst swirling around them. I loved how the book explored the complex issues and racial prejudices of a community as well as close friends and family.

I have read my fair share of romance novels but I must say, this is now one of my favorites. From the beginning, I knew this book was special. The storyline is masterfully crafted and the characters what can I say, enlightening yet thought provoking. I read this book in less than 24 hours, I couldn't put it down and I didn't want it to end. I am patiently waiting for the next one and I know we won't be disappointed. It's hard to believe that this is Coakley-Thompson's first novel.

I enjoyed reading 'Back to Life' not because it was such a well-written, heartwarming love story, but because I was able to relate to it as I lived in New York during that time period when all af those events took place. I was able to relate to it too as a woman of colour who had a history of physical abuse, and also as one who knew several mixed couples who weathered great storms to be able to stay together and maintain their love for each other. The author was able to provide such imagery that there were times when I felt I was actually inside the story listening to Nina Simone singing 'Mississippi god damn' and eating guava duff which is a delicious, sumptuous Bahamian dessert, more so when rum is added to the sauce. The story was believable, the details of the events were so accurate.
I am looking forward to viewing this story on the 'BIG SCREEM'

This book is really good and near the end I could understand why it was titled "Back to Life". It's a great love story of the two main characters meeting through friends. Skeptical that the relationship may not work out due to cultural differances they make it work even though it wasn't gonna be an smooth ride for Lisa and Marc. And in the midst of a lot of racial tension going on at that time, they had a lot going against them. I hope to read future novels from Wendy Oakley-Thompson.

The characters are true-to-life and believable. From the first page, you are compelled to continue reading to find out what happens to leading lady Lisa. The setting is masterfully descriptive -- placing you in the time and place immediately. The dialogue is so realistic you can hear it! This engaging story will involve all your senses!

I realy enjoyed reading this book. It was very well written and I didn't want this book to end. Also, because of its late-1980s timeline, it brought back further memories for me, since I used live and work in Northern NJ at that time.

This was a really well written story. The time period in this book brought back a lot of memories for me. Although I've never lived in New York, I remember very well the Yusef Hawkins case. Also, whenever Lisa mentioned what song was playing, it was always some song that I'd loved growing up. My only thing about this book it that I can't understand why Lisa hung out with AJ for as long as she did. Other than that, great story!