Customer Reviews

Cubicles: A Novel (Strivers Row)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Cubicles is an excellent novel by author, Camika Spencer. In just one novel, the reader is immersed with intricate characters, racism in the workforce, complex family situations, sisters and dating, friendship, and the backbiting that goes on in corporate America, among other intriguing storylines.

Cubicles intertwines the lives of three African American women, who on the surface couldn't be more different if they tried, but through their jobs at Meridian Southwest, their lives connect in friendship, backbiting and mystery. Faulkner is a young sister with a go-getter personality, who is working twice as hard to get her due at the company. Joyce is her demanding boss, a sister with a past full of pain, but prefers to cover her past and treat everyone beneath like garbage. Margaret is a 60-year-old that works under Joyce and finds her self having familial problems, health issues, and a past secret that involves her and Joyce. Cubicles spans a few weeks in the lives of these characters that culminates to reveal secrets that were buried decades earlier.

I LOVED Cubicles. I was really drawn into the characters and their lives. Spencer deepens her character development by providing characters that make you hate them one minute, love them one minute, and ache to make them see the light, in the next. I HIGHLY recommend this novel to readers for the characters are well drawn out and the storylines push you to keep reading. I am definitely going to pick up Spencer's first novel, and I look forward to her next literary effort.

Shon Bacon

Camika Spencer has done it again! Just when I began to doubt her after 'When All Hell' she steps right back up to the plate with this wonderful piece of fiction. I couldn't put this book down! I thought it was great, filled with enough drama for ya mama! But nothing can top 'When All Hell.' When you coming out with that sequel girl? Can't keep a sista hanging like that now. Excellent job Ms Spencer BRAVA! Anxiously anticipating the sequel to 'When All Hell'.

This is a review of the Books On Tape Audio version of Cubicles. The book is narrated by full cast (a different person narrating the three main characters). The narration is spectacular. All three characters, Joyce, Margaret and Faulkner have very separate voices, personalities, and ages. The actresses who do the narration are not listed on the jacket but if you can get a copy of the audio version of this book, you will not be dissapointed.

I would not necessarily have taken this book out of the library (as it is a Griot book which is targeted to an African-American audience, which I am not) but picked it up because the premise was one I could relate to. Once I started listening to the story, I couldn't wait to get back into the car to hear more.

The other reviews summarize the plot very well - 3 different women work for a phone company in Texas - all in customer service. Margaret, an older woman in her 50's, is still in the same job she's held her entire career; Joyce has risen the corporate ladder to executive and Faulkner is a rising star and on her way to take over Joyce's job.

Margaret is actually the most interesting character of the three women. She has health problems and children problems and doesn't really put herself first, which does cause even more problems for her.

Faulkner is bright and likeable and ambitious but in a "good" way - she's not too ambitious - she's not cutthroat or devious. She is a good daughter, a good worker, probably every parent's dream.

Joyce is the villian of the novel - she is portrayed as manipulative, evil, and aggressively bitchy - however, she does have a deep dark secret (that actually is relatively easy to figure out earlier in the book). There is one relationship that comes with Joyce's story that did take me by surprise but the wrap up of her ending is why I've given the book only 4 stars instead of 5. Didn't ring quite true.

If you've not been able to get through the written book, try the audio version. Highly recommended.

Camika Spencer's new book takes us into the world of Faulkner, Joyce & Margaret. All three women work together at Meridian Southwest phone company.

Faulkner is young and ready to climb the corporat ladder, but what price may she have to pay to get to the top?

Joyce and Margaret share a secret that takes them back 20 years. What happened to make them barely even acknowledge one another?

Camika Spencer gives us a look of the personal and professional lives of these three women. She writes a realistic story and I realy felt like I knew these women.

Continued success and blessings to Camika Spencer.

The beginning of this book was slow and as soon as it caught my attention, the action happened so briefly and suddenly that the book was over not having quenched my curiosity.
Camika C. Spencer left several questions unanswered regarding the characters in this novel. Not as developed as I would have appreciated, Faulkner, Joyce, and Margaret were great central characters, however there was a relationship between the three ladies that was not clearly developed. I could understand the history of the relationships between Joyce and Margaret, and Joyce and Faulkner, however the relationship between Margaret and Faulkner was not clearly developed only stated.
I loved the irony created in the character of Joyce, this character was brilliantly developed, but poorly ended. The great strategist simply gave up without a fight.
Faulkner and Margaret were a predictable characters. I could imagine their ending as soon as Spencer set the plot in place.

The short chapters disrupted the flow of the book. There was one chapter regarding Margaret that was out of sequence that runied the ending. I would have liked for Spencer to have taken more time to complete this book before publishing.

I would like to try more of Spencer's work, hoping that she can expand on a great story line by pulling the reader's deeper into the characters creating a little intrigue and surprise in the endings.

*** I DO NOT TELL THE STORY ***

This was my first book I've read by Ms. Spencer. It was ok but nothing to write home about. I liked the characters and the story line was not bad.

My only problem is the LARGE paragraphs are not so kind to a nearsighted person. It was a little hard for me to get started when the entire first two pages are 1 paragraph. It is just not nice on the eyes at all.

I do not see anyone being displeased with the novel. I wil try one of Ms. Spencers other books. She did a ok job but I need more excitement.

Cubicles is a novel that has a great premise: drama in the workplace. The book focuses on three women at the Meridian Southwest phone company: Faulkner, an ambitious young manager; Joyce, her hard-nosed, power hungry boss; and Margaret, the motherly employee who has nurtured both women as she watched them rise to power -- while standing still herself. What I enjoyed about the novel is that as women, Faulkner, Joyce and Margaret each have their own strengths and weaknesses, and strive to accomplish their own goals. Camika Spencer illustrates that these ladies have personal lives outside the workplace, which definitely have an effect on their workplace demeanor. Faulkner appears to be a pushover; Joyce is battling demons from her past; and Margaret has a lazy, self-absorbed daughter. Although the book can be a little tedious at times and the dialogue a little stilted, Cubicles is definitely an excellent take on workplace fiction.