Customer Reviews

The Blues for Annie Mae

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D.J. Parhams debut novel was simply amazing. I've never laugh so hard during the first chapter in my life. You're surrounded with mental illness, desolation, drugs, hope and resolution. You might not know too much about this author in this book but you will know that she has a high passion for the blues.

In here we have an overly determine mother by the name of Selma Louise Jenkins who has two daughters- Gloria and Annie Mae. After their father left Selma becomes more determine as ever not only for herself but for the life of her daughters. Although she wants the best for her daughters it resulted them having to walk on eggshells in constrictive household and after school activities that really didn't fit their personality. Throughout this book resentment and bitterness takes a major role between Selma and Annie Mae. Perplexed as she was she had to understand why her mother seems to favor Gloria more and why her father treated her so before he deserted his family; Later in the book Annie Mae strive for answers while still trying to please her domineering mother as life takes full affect.

The characters in this book was flesh out rather nicely to the point that you knew them well enough except for her sister Gloria because I was curious to know what she was all about and why she choose to have her life that way beside what was giving to me. I thought Selma Louise Jenkins was one of the most interesting characters in the book because her determination and stance in life was profound. The turbulent relationship between Annie Mae and Selma was raw and affecting yet important in understanding their dynamic personalities between each other. I got to say the scene in the nursing home was hilarious and I got to give to D.J. Parhams for being very expressive in this book by not only with the characters but what goes on in it.

The story was well written and emotional at that. "The Blues for Annie Mae" kept my interest to the very end with surprising twists but a happy ending! Annie Mae's passage is a miraculous one that anyone can read. I'm looking forward to more books of this nature. Keep writing D.J. Parhams.

I thought I was finish with Annie Mae, but I wasn't. I had to add another chapterto this novel. I'm sure that the readers will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

This woman knows her way around a good story! I find it a panarama of drama. The only real difference in this one is that there is an added chapter. This new chapter adds even more depth to the main character. Great writing, great job, I can't wait to read Ms. Parhams' next novel. I'm sure it'll be a stand out!

"The Blues For Annie Mae" by D.J. Parhams(first printing)

Grab a box of Kleenex and prepare to embark on a deeply intense and emotional journey with Annie Mae Jenkins. Author D.J. Parhams with her first novel, "The Blues For Annie Mae" has truly given us a gift. A wonderful reminder that life is worth living. It is a story of digging deep, of finding the spirit within you that will see you through life's toughest moments. Parhams takes us on a roller coaster of emotions - anger, sorrow and fear, but also joy and laughter and you will be left sighing and smiling.

Tougher then tough have been most of the moments in Annie Mae Jenkin's life. From early childhood on,she is abused by a mentally unstable mother and life itself. It makes of fighter of Annie Mae, but in turn deepens her need for her mother's love. She lives through seemingly unbearable events, physical and verbal abuse, through a drug filled young adulthood, to a devastating illness and still finds the strength to go on.The hand of life that fate dealt her would make most people want to give up on life. But... it is at her lowest points, that Annie Mae seems the strongest. In that hand, she holds an ace. Her love of music, most particularly the Blues. The Blues are part of her very being. She feels them, lives them and boy can she sing them. And when she is down so low, it doesn't seem like she will ever get up, it is the Blues and one caring being that point Annie on the road to her dreams.

D.J. Parhams has a unique and fresh writing style, creating situations you may find yourself relating to.She uses marvelous street language and colorful descriptive phrases. Some of which you may want to make your own when the occasion calls for it.The characters and dialogue were very real and a refreshing change of pace. She puts you right there in Annie's head and into the setting. I became so touched and attached to Annie Mae, I wanted to protect her and hug her and let her know she was loved. As I reached the end, I felt I wanted to slow down and savor the words, the story and the life-affirming feeling I had.

Although I am not reviewing much here any more, I could not let this one go without a big shout out and a very enthusiastic recommendation. It is truly a book that will have you involved from first page to last, one that says- find your ace in the hole! And... don't forget those Kleenex!(I got choked up just writing this review)

A couple of notes on the book itself. First if you are offended by four letter words, you may want to skip it. I for one felt that the language was part of Annie Mae's story and added greatly to the setting. The other thing is that just like our heroine Annie Mae, this book is in need of some tender lovin care. The editing is not the best, but the story is so good, it's easy to overlook. I am also informed that there will be a newly edited version out soon.

Bravo Ms. Parhams for a truly profound experience.....Laurie

also recommended:Mother of Pearl

D. J. Parhams WOW. Congratulations on your new book. Brilliant author you are.
The Blues For Annie Mae is a must read if you enjoy a story that will capture your attention in so many ways. The book will make you feel emotions you never knew you would over a novel. D. J. Parhams is so creative and imaginative with the characters.
The Blues For Annie Mae is a dramatic story between a mother and daughter and others who just happened to get mixed up in their circle. The mother Selma will give you a spend on life that you would never imagine, so you better hold on to your hat lol You will enjoy reading about the journey of life that Annie Mae goes through looking for her acceptance in life.
The characters come to life in this book. You will either love them or hate them.
I enjoyed reading this book so much. I highly recommend it to other readers.
D. J. Parhams captured so many of my emotions in her book that each time I thought I had the characters figured out " EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED".
I am looking forward to reading D.J. Parhams next novel.

All Annie Mae ever wanted was the love her mother Selma showed to her sister Gloria. Annie Mae could not understand why her mom was so strict with her when Gloria was the "wild child." Annie Mae was forced to endure countless music lessons due to her mom wanting her to become a classically-trained vocalist. Deep down inside, Annie Mae just went through the motions in order to get the love that a daughter deserves from her mother. Fast forward 10 years later, and Annie Mae is a blues singer that must now confront her past that was filled drugs and violence. But can she finally get the love and support of her mother that she always wanted?

The Blues For Annie Mae is an enthralling debut novel from D. J. Parhams. Parhams expertly brings a story about a daughter desperately seeking the love and support of her mother. This story really takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster with the ups and downs of Annie Mae's life. You'll see how Annie Mae's turbulent childhood had a huge impact on her adult life. The writing in the novel is so emotional and descriptive that the words just leap off the page. What really make this novel a great read is Parhams' excellent storytelling skills and how she incorporated the blues music scene. This book is only 140 pages but the story is so complete that you won't feel cheated at the end. The Blues For Annie Mae a heart-wrenching and thought-provoking read.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert
for Urban Reviews

Zora Neale Hurston wrote in her autobiography, Dust Tracks On A Road, "I have been in Sorrow's kitchen and licked out all the pots"...she could just as well have been describing Annie Mae Jenkins's life to a T...

Born into a rough time and an even rougher family, the odds are stacked against Annie Mae from the start: her father barely claims her, her sister has no time for her, and her mother seems hell-bent on beating her spirit into permanent submission. No matter how hard she tries, nothing in her life ever seems to go right - until one day she discovers music. Not just any particular kind of music, either, but real, timeless music: everything from Chopin and Bach to Aretha Franklin and the Temptations. There's a special void that occupies each one of our lives, and in music Annie finds just what she needs to fill hers forever. Soon, she's not only a music fan, but a practitioner of the art as well: one day she opens her mouth and starts singing for her mother, and the path to her becoming a famous professional singer is set that very day.

Like all of life's paths, though, Annie Mae's is far from smooth. In fact, on her way to performing arts high school, Julliard, and ultimately a profession as a blues singer, she has to endure beatings, betrayal, and a crippling drug addiction - and she barely survives each new obstacle as it comes.

Most difficult for Annie to overcome, though, are all the buried secrets from her past that her mother and so many others seem determined to keep her from discovering. When she inadvertently learns the truth surrounding her own paternity, though, she suddenly gains a greater understanding of exactly why her mother has been so hard on her for so long, and so many other pieces of the puzzle of her life finally start to come together.

The Blues For Annie Mae is a wonderful read, even if at times painstakingly tough to swallow. The dialogue is crisp and acerbically witty, reminiscent of Hurston in her prime. Also, the action flows smoothly from scene to scene, making it easy to see the story transitioning to the big screen in the near future.

As hard as it is to read about the abuse, drug use, and emotional turmoil of her characters, Parhams's tale unapologetically brings you face-to-face with the darkest demons humanity has to bear, and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit makes the arduous journey that much more rewarding to take.

Brava to D.J. Parhams for crafting such an urgent, aching tale of perseverance through adversity. This story is sure to serve as personal witness to many a soul currently just as lost as Annie found herself - eventually guiding them to the same redemptive light.

This book grabbed me from the first sentence and it didn't let me go until the last. I find that a great deal of books start boring or end boring, but not this one. If DJ Parhams doesn't do anything else she knows how to write a page turner. Her writing is snappy,emotional and energetic. When I found out what the main character's secret was I felt so sad. The writer really evoked a lot of emotions in me. The writer also has a wacky sense of humor, which is necessitated considering all of the tragedy that's going on in the character's life. Bravo Ms. Parhams, I'm anxious to read her next novel.

The Blues For Annie Mae by D.J. Parhams is an intense story of the life of Annie Mae Jenkins. This book will take the reader on a journey through the sad life of a young Annie Mae taking you into the adulthood of this broken spirited woman. D.J. Parhams writing style allows the reader to witness how Annie Mae maneuvers through her daily existence.

Imagine coming into a world where you feel that those in your home should love and nurture you, to learn that is not the case. Annie Mae is basically raised in a single parent home by and overbearing mother Miss Selma Jenkins. Annie Mae's mother realizes that she is blessed with a gift from God in having a wonderful singing voice. With this understanding Selma Jenkins pushes Annie Mae in a direction of developing her daughter's talents while she is young, with the objective of preparing Annie Mae to use her gift to make something of her future. Was this the motive of a loving and supportive mother? Did Selma Jenkins have Annie Mae's best interested at heart?

Dark secrets come out of the woodwork but the key is how Annie Mae will deal with them. "Looking for love in all the wrong places," could be this young woman's theme song. This story touched me deeply, having to sit and absorb what I read, to determine how I would express my feelings around this book. I felt a great sadness in reading the story as if I was listening to the young woman herself, sitting with me in my coffee house, telling me her life story...while I desired to hold her, to find words of hope to share and the need to embrace the artist in her.

The Blues of Annie Mae is a perfect title for this book. D.J. Parhams is a brilliant writer, with a knack that drew me into her characters, allowing me to feel like I was witnessing the story as it unfolds. I look forward to reading future books from this author.

S.E. Koshi aka Lady Flava
Flava Coffee House
Flava Book Reviews
Flava Rating: 8 snaps

Overbearing mother Selma Louise Jenkins has two daughters Gloria and Annie Mae. After her husband walks out on her Selma becomes the bitchy, hard as nails mother. Although she wants the best for both girls and sends them to schools and extra curricular activities that she deems fit for them, it seems she takes out her bitterness on Annie Mae the younger of the two girls.
Confused as to why her mother seems to love Gloria (Although Gloria is the "wild child") more than her and why her father totally ignored her also in favor of Gloria before he abandoned his family; Annie Mae enters her teenage years looking for answers while still trying to please her overbearing mother.

As the years roll by major emotional events take place that have a dramatic impact on Annie Mae's life. She discovers she has a talent for singing the blues and wants to become a blues singer, much to the horror of her mother Selma.
Annie Mae moves away only to experience a life of deceit, abuse and an addiction that would ultimately be the deciding factor on whether she lives or dies.

The turbulent relationship between this mother and daughter is superbly well written by author D.J. Parhams. The raw, emotional interaction between Annie Mae and Selma along with the scenes in the nursing home concerning Selma's husband, were disturbing yet important in understanding these dynamic personalities.
Written in first person with a great original cover and a REAL ending, this book makes for an interesting read.

It's always nice to know a little about the author, so I was disappointed that there was no information about the author on the inside of the book.

I rate this book 4.5****

Locksie

ARC Book Club Inc.