The Color of Family [Paperback]

Patricia Jones (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 30, 2004

A poignant and provactive novel of truth, race, and religions.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In the 1950s Antonia's twin brother, Emeril, was killed in New Orleans. Before his death he was involved with a white woman, Agnes, who, almost nine months to the day Emeril died, gives birth to a son, Clayton Cannon, and raises him as white. Antonia, raising her own children in Baltimore, has always believed that Clayton is the son of her deceased brother. Her son, Aaron, is a successful television anchorman, and her daughter, Ellen, is a highly regarded gynecologist. Both have ill feelings toward Clayton and the emotional investment of their mother toward keeping up with his life. When Clayton relocates to Baltimore with his family and mother, Antonia becomes even more determined to force the truth about his parentage out of Agnes. Aaron and Ellen finally confront their mother with revelations and painful realities about their childhood that are difficult for Antonia to accept. Yet, when Antonia finally gets the answer to her question, she can finally be at peace knowing that color has nothing to do with family; and the reader is given a provocative, compelling story. Lillian Lewis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Patricia Jones was a native of Baltimore but lived in New York City with her daughter. Throughout her writing life, her work appeared in Ms., Essence, Family Circle, Woman's Day, and the New York Times. The Color of Family is her third novel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 374 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (November 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060509651
• ISBN-13: 978-0060509651
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,026,095 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great storytelling, November 15, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Color of Family (Paperback)

African-American Antonia Racine Jackson has kept a secret from her beloved spouse and her cherished two children as well as other family members. Back in the 1950s in New Orleans, her brother Emeril and wealthy white Agnes Marquette had an affair that led to the birthing of a child raised as a white man.

Now years later her secret nephew highly regarded concert pianist Clayton Connor is in Baltimore where Antonia and her family reside. Antonia considers it is time to reveal the truth about her blood ties to Clayton. However, with Emeril dead and Agnes in denial, no one believes Antonia though her words creep inside Clayton's mind as he begins to wonder if it is possible that he is of mixed race. Antonia's revelation causes troubles and doubts in her family and that of Clayton's.

THE COLOR OF FAMILY is an intriguing look at racial relationships inside a deep bi-family drama. The story line starts in the segregated 1950s south, but is at its best in the present day as secrets kept by the two female antagonists (Antonia and Agnes) are being revealed. Though Antonia comes across as mentally unhinged with a rationalization for her actions that fails to consider consequences on others and thus detracts from a powerful character study of race relationships then and now.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can racial bias in the United States of America rip apart the basic fabric of this nation, will it do so to these families?, February 26, 2006

By 

SilverFox "Silver Fox" (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Color of Family (Paperback)

The Color Of Family, the third novel by author Patricia Jones, deftly explores the impact that racial bias in society has on two families. Both have strong, pride filled mothers at the helm, one Black the other White. Emeril Racine and his twin sister Antonia were inseparable until his amorous goings on with Agnes Marquette. In the 1950's, a tryst such as their was almost certain to end in tragedy . Antonia was hell bent on saving her womb-mate from himself. But fate, takes him from his sister in an unrelated accident. After the grief has finished destroying what remains of her family, Antonia marries her long time companion and childhood friend Jackson Jackson. He is now a successful doctor and they raised two seemly successful children. Decades have passed and the obsessive tracking of a famous pianist since his earliest public notice is about to explode with these two powerful women in a showdown that threatens to destroy everything they have worked so hard for. Is it even remotely possible that this renowned man borne of a white mother could actually be the love child of Antonia's long deceased twin brother? Clayton Cannon is about tofind himself torn between two women that threaten the very person they claim to love.
I have promised my self to read the first two novels by Patricia Jones. It saddened me greatly to learn after finishing the novel that she had passed away May 30, 2002. Reading the testimonies about Ms. Jones, she sounded like a truly remarkable woman. I loved the book and knowing that her family brought the birth of this work or literary art to publication posthumously truly made me respect not only the capabilities of the author, but too, of those that were determined to finish the process. I highly recommend this book.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Uncovering the Truth, January 14, 2005

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Color of Family (Paperback)

THE COLOR OF FAMILY is an intricately woven tale about family secrets and the search for truth. Antonia Jackson has lived her adult life mourning the loss of her twin brother Emeril, who died as a result of a tragic and fatal series of events. Before his death, he carried on a relationship with a young white girl named Agnes who was intimately known by many men - both black and white.

Over 30 years later, Antonia is living in Baltimore, but she still carries, with deep conviction, the belief that her brother fathered a child by Agnes. This child, a son named Clayton, was born nine months to the day of Emeril's untimely death. He has grown up to become a world-renowned pianist, and in Antonia's opinion, is unaware of his true bi-racial heritage. This unyielding belief has led Antonia to hold a grudge against Agnes for over thirty years. More importantly, her obsession with Clayton Cannon and her brother's legacy have interfered with her relationship with her husband and her now adult children. As the story evolves, Antonia and her family reach an emotional stand-off and the only ending to the tension and drama is to learn the truth once and for all.

Patricia Jones' posthumously published novel, THE COLOR OF FAMILY is a true testament to a very talented writer. This is the kind of book that readers seeking a deeper, more reflective story, with a literary feel will embrace and enjoy. The plot has a slow, deliberate pace that is both necessary and frustrating at times. It addresses a myriad of complex themes, including motherhood, familial bonds, and betrayal. The story is built around strong, lingering characters that have been thoroughly developed. The result is a story that will have readers eager to learn whether Antonia is crazy, like her children suspect, or whether she will finally prove her theory about Clayton Cannon's paternity. This is a complex tale about identity and familial love that transcends time and racial boundaries. (RAW Rating: 4.5)

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers