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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Didn't quite break loose, August 9, 2002
By A Customer
After reading Ms. Spencer's sock knocker debut, my expectations of her sophomore effort were very high. She had the right idea when deciding to write this novel. Its focus on the workplace setting and corporate America made it a rare commodity in fiction and any office worker could easily relate to the overall setting. However, I didn't care for the immorality that transpired throughout the tale. Joyce was a middle-aged and successful black woman in a high position at a top corporation for twenty or so years. Why did the author feel the need to give her a deep, dark, and degrading past that explained how she landed her position? I truly believe that black women like Joyce (and myself) can be succesful in corporate America without scandel. Also, why did the author make Joyce a quitter who ran away with her tail between her legs instead of fighting the good fight, like women of color ought to be portrayed? Faulkner was assiduos. Why did the author fail to make Fred recognize Faulkner only for her diligence? She had all of the traits of a corporate leader. What was up with the end of the story? Whatever happened to holding on to your dreams? What kind of message is the author sending? The tale of Margaret was heartbreaking and unfinished, leaving me hanging in the air. I really wanted to know what became of Lisa, the main source of Margaret's pain. I really appreciated Greg's cameo, but I was hungry for more. Hopefully, Ms. Spencer will make Greg the primary focus again in her third novel.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
All right, February 9, 2005
This review is from: Cubicles: A Novel (Strivers Row) (Paperback)
I read another one of Spencer's books and I enjoyed the character Ms. Coleman so much that when I saw her in another book, I couldn't get to the register fast enough. But this book was a little too dreamy for me. It started off with a really strong plot with a woman who was working at a job she didn't enjoy, without the recognition she deserved, a devil for a boss, and some really entertaining co-workers. I even enjoyed the subtle ways that the author told women to do monthly checks for cancer and the doctor's visit, etc. It was useful, whether we wanted to know it or not and it needed to be told. But then after one bad thing happened (that was pretty realistic and caught me offguard a little), then the rest turned into LaLa land. I'm not really enthused when authors write books about people who become writers. It's a little cliche. Then, to become a bestseller with a line around the corner, people getting married, people buying houses, people having children out of nowhere, graduating, and all--it would've been cool if it was two or three things, but the writer went over the top and almost made this book into a fairy tale. I'm not into fairy tales. I'm into real life and in real life, this kinda stuff never works out this squeaky clean. Ms. Coleman was real. Margaret was real. Joyce was real. Teresa was a pleasure to read about. But the main character, the most important character in the whole story, was just way too storybook for me. I like that she didn't give in to certain circumstances, but the ending? If it wasn't for the ending, I probably would've liked the book more. Also, the constant Nino Symone references. We get it! You like the woman. It's no need to point it out fifty times. This is supposed to be fiction, right? Either way, I still like this writer's style; this particular book just wasn't for me.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
and your point is?, August 5, 2002
By A Customer
Cubicles is very amusing. The trials of Spunky young Faulkner, evil queen bee, Joyce and loving Margaret will keep your interest and in a few places you'll even laugh. So why do I feel such mixed emotions about this book? The underlying attitude. Ms. Spencer seems to think there is only one way to be black. We know immediately that one character is a bad person becuase she wears a hair weave. When this character gets rid of the weave, the reader is given to understand that she is "okay" now. Another character looks and dresses like ordinary black women all over America and she is presented as a figure of fun--not to be taken seriously by anybody until she stops dying her hair, cuts her nails and puts on a business suit. The nominal heroine wears her hair natural and listens to Nina Simone---that supposedly means that she's got herself together. This kind of stereotyping really annoyed me. On the other hand Ms. Spencer does a wonderful job with characterization. I loved Margaret (the real heroine of the book) and felt more and more concerned for her health with each page. I loathed Joyce and cheered on Faulkner. If you can ignore the quiet lecture on "correct" blackness that runs through the book you'll enjoy it.
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