Customer Reviews

Fire & Brimstone: A Novel

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Laurinda does an excellent job in reminding people that things are not always as they seem. She also opened readers eyes to highly publicized gay issues and showed that they took have issues just like other couples. Her story captivated me from page one and I could not put it down. I read it in 4hrs and not once was I distracted. While this story does pull all the emotions out of you, it is one that is well worth putting on your bookshelf. WELL DONE LAURINDA!!!

FIRE & BRIMSTONE is the tragic story of Chris and Gayle, two "bag ladies" carrying heavy sacks of unresolved issues.

In the beginning, there is Chris, an intelligent woman with two degrees--in English literature and French--from Howard University. Just as she was set to take the world by storm, she becomes pregnant. While waiting for boyfriend Trey to grow up and become a man, she moves home to Memphis to raise her daughter. Chris thinks it's only a matter of time before he proposes and she has the perfect life: a doting husband and father (unlike her own deadbeat dad) and a beautiful baby. It doesn't quite work out that way, and Chris begins to explore an attraction for women she's harbored for years.

Chris first begins seeing Carol, a white-trash woman with a penchant for dark meat on the side. While that ends sourly, Chris meets Gayle.

Gayle is a story and a half. She's got some deep-seated issues from her childhood. Totally opposite from Chris, Gayle is impressed because Chris is unlike anyone she's ever dated. Never has she been with a college graduate or a woman so confident. It boosts Gayle's morale, especially since she's been in and out of trouble with the law and acts as if the world owes her something.

They begin dating seriously, and everything is cool at first. Gayle moves in quickly with Chris and her daughter, getting to know each other but not knowing the real story behind their facades.

Then things turn ugly. Really ugly. So much drama transpires in the novel from this point. Gayle began stealing from her job in order to get the things she thinks Chris deserves. When both ladies get caught up in unwise schemes, Chris finally realizes who Gayle really is, and the women twist in and out of each other's lives like a tornado, leaving one another destroyed in the wreckage.

As the title Fire & Brimstone suggests, religion plays a part in the women's relationship. Gayle, the minister of music at her church, spends a lot of time in the Lord's house and moving the masses with her heavenly voice. What bothers Chris is that Gayle can run up and down the aisles on Sunday, them raise hell throughout the week. Not one for attending church, Chris doesn't understand what religion is about. It's only when the unexpected happens that she figures out what God's been trying to tell her--Gayle's not the one. The message of the dramatic story is one of redemption. Both women had to be freed from the shackles of their pasts in order to claim their future. Whether homosexuality is acceptable is not the crux of the novel, but about accepting oneself.

Brown's Fire and Brimstone reveals heart and soul, and the wayward routes we take to salvation.

Don't forget to read "Undercover" the follow up to this book. Chris, the main character constantly urked my nerves. She is conniving, advantageous, sexy and smart. God knows she was annoying but you learn to love her and her character. You learn that she has been through alot and her past is what has made her unbaring.

Her girlfriend, on the other hand is weak. Even though, she is weak you learn to love her too. I really wish they would turn this into a movie - not hollywood but an independent film; I don't want the book to lose it's edge or direction. Great book! I was suprised.

When I first started Fire and Brimstone, I assumed the main characters were male and female. I also assumed it would be about those "church members" that we know that don't practice what they preach.

I was right about the practice what they preach aspect but I was so wrong about the identites of the main characters. What a shock, I thumbed through the pages trying to see if I missed something and I got pulled into the story.

This book made me really look at gay and lesbian relationships. It made me think how difficult those relationships can be and the moral and spiritual conflict that exists in some that engage in them.

As a homophobic I was ignorant of those conflicts but on a strange level I am still curious. You answered questions and sparked compassion in me.

I commend you Laurinda for telling it like it is and not sugar coating it. You told someone's story without fear and you should be commended. I can't wait to read your second novel because I like the way you are unafraid to touch topics that some people tend to shy away from. Keep up the good work.

I actually checked this out from the library to see if I wanted to buy it. I'm glad I didn't waste my money. It's very poorly written, with choppy character and plot development. I couldn't get a feel for the main characters, as their actions and thoughts just weren't congruent. The language and tone of the story don't flow well with too much cursing, even in narration. I got halfway through and decided I couldn't take anymore; I flipped to end...unsurprisingly, she found Jesus.

If you have any sort of literary or intellectual standards, then this is not the book for you. I'd recommend "Water in a Broken Glass" by Odessa Rose...beautiful metaphors with excellent characters. But if poor grammar and spotty development don't bother you, then go for it.

Chris, a single mother, is somewhat inexperienced when it comes to lesbian relationships, but after accepting her attraction towards women, she places a personal ad. Gayle has vowed that she will never date a woman with children, but after responding to Chris' personal ad, she can't resist pursuing a relationship. Both women have volatile tempers and a lot of emotional baggage; as a result their relationship is tumultuous at best. Through the course of the book the author fluctuates between the past and the present, we learn about past hurts and present drama, and the result is a captivating and emotional read about two women searching for love. With a fresh storyline and ever-changing characters, FIRE & BRIMSTONE is indeed a page turner.

Overall, FIRE & BRIMSTONE was an enjoyable read that delves into the lives of two women plagued by their past and struggling with the realities of their identities. There were times when the story had sequencing issues. One chapter would end and suddenly I would find myself reading about different times, places and characters and it would take a few moments for me to get oriented. I would have enjoyed the story more had there been smoother transitions between the various storylines and time periods. Laurinda Brown does an excellent job developing Chris and Gayle as characters, I knew enough about their pasts to empathize with and understand their actions. Their transformation was dramatic, yet believable. This story is about the spiritual challenges and growth of Chris and Gayle, yet the strong Christian messages don't become apparent until the end of the book. I really enjoyed this because it allowed the lives of the characters and their search for meaning, purpose, and happiness to illustrate the spiritual themes rather than being preachy. The author addresses any number of issues in the story including: child sexual abuse, dead beat fathers, domestic violence, sexuality, and religion. Even if you don't agree with the author's moral stances, you can't help but appreciate her execution of the story in this regard. One of the greatest messages I took from the book is that God's love is unconditional and omnipresent, even when we try to ignore it.

(...)

Author Laurinda D. Brown sets the coals ablaze with her novel "Fire & Brimstone". Like a hot summer cook out, there are alot of things that will sizzle that aren't on the grill. Take your main character and add the following ingredients; love, sex, lesbians, men, babies, the church, troubled past, domestic violence, headstrong black woman and you have a sample of the heat Laurinda is putting out there.

Chris is a strong willed educated black looking for fulfillment and the love that can complete her life. In her exploration of her sexual and emotional needs with men & women, Chris makes some strange, brave, and twisted choices. Her love life is pure "Prime Time Drama." If the story wasn't interesting enough, along comes Gayle. She is a "playa" out for her next piece of "virgin snatch." Gayle brings her own problems and troubled past which adds creative twists and turns.

I was shocked with some of the issues that arise from Chris & Gayle's interactions. Between "regularly burning the rug before church," then arguing, along with jealousy, and fighting, Laurinda keeps the story and dialogue compelling.

Laurinda has done a good job keeping me interested in the book. Her portrayal of the characters emotional needs and desires add to some eye opening experiences. The sexual fore play and mind games are steamy and taunting. Congratulations Laurinda for a well-written steamy, disturbing and controversial topic.

Gayle, a victim of circumstance and wrong decisions eventually finds Chris, mother of two and confused about any and everything.

This couple to say the least got on my nerves. For some people you wonder how long can they hold onto excuses like (my father wasn't around, that is why I sleep with 10 men a week, my mother use to physically abuse me that is why I drink until I do not know my name let alone my whereabouts). Chris and Gayle had so many excuses it was sickning.

Chris, who eventually became a baby mama two times didn't want her children to look at their mother and with non respect and shame but she would leave them at home in the wee hours of the morning (babies at that) to call her lover, Gayle, who would constantly hang up on her.

Gayle, wanted so much out of life but could not keep and job, had losers for friends and was abusive. Did I forget that she was a singer in the church and went faithfully. Talking about a hypocrite.

Aagh, the storyline was excuse my language PATHETIC. Way too many twists and turns and not enough base.

I won't get into what happened in this novel, those who have posted reviews previous to mine, already knows. I must say, this is the FIRST book I have non stop completely read in one sitting.

I've owned this book for well over a year and never gave it a chance until a few days ago. Gayle and Chris had me going! I applaud Ms. Brown for writing such a vivid and exciting first book.

This book captured and retained my attention beyond expectation. I'm definitely going to read the sequel to this story. Keep the Creativity Flowing!!!

This book was recommended in a group that I am a member of, so I bought the book and actually had my girlfriend read it before I did. She was offended and appalled. I just finished the book and I just could NOT believe this. This just seems to be more propaganda that feeds into the homophobes' already disturbing and unfounded opinions on the gay community! Chris and Gayle had NO business being together whether they were 2 women or men or male and female. The back and forth jumps in time periods in the novel occurred wayyy to often and there was much information about the unnecessary things and WAYYY to much dwelling on the most insignificant of things. I know what the purpose of the book is. It sounded like it had MUCH potential. But it FAILED at best, with me! I hope that people research other books about lesbian and gay drama/love. But in the end, I hope that at least some people can realize that lesbians and gays are not as screwy as they are depicted in 95% of the novels I have read!