Customer Reviews

Ida Mae

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ida Mae is not your ordinary read. The author has taken the time to give a caring indepth look into the soul of Ida Mae. Although the setting is in the 1950's....it speaks to the inner strenghth of today's women who, though no decision of their own, march to the beat of different drummers. You are completely engrossed in Ida Mae's life and want to know what is next for this young woman. Fortunately the author has decided to write a sequel so that we may vicariously see what further rewards await Ida Mae. A good read and only a beginning for Delores Thornton. Ida Mae translates into strength and survival and the will to forge your own path.

A story of bad beginnings, traumatic experiences, and strange behaviors, of oxymorons, perseverance, and stamina. The story begins with Ida Mae Belcher, a 17 year old black teenager, being brutally raped by 3 young white men. But the issue of race in the story does not carry the full negative connotation that would be expected of the Deep South in the early 1960's. Let me take you back, after the Klan killed Ida Mae's father, her mother ran away from home because she feared for her life, for her unborn child and she was without a husband. At age 7 Ida Mae's mother, Louella, died and the white family her mother worked for adopted her, strange for times in the rural south. Her adoptive mother died leaving her with her paraplegic father, Theodore Belcher and a hired hand. Ida Mae's love for country music won her a $100.00 cash prize for writing a country western jingle, which is part of the reason she was beaten and raped. The final test of 17 year old Ida Mae's stamina comes when Theodore Belcher killed the 3 men responsible for her rape and was then killed himself.

After graduation, Ida Mae is taken to Vermont to live with Theodore's son Wilbert, for 5 years, then returns home to Georgia. During Ida Mae's life, you share her resilience, her ability to cling to the positives of life, her ability to find emotional love.

Thornton has shown how to live each hurdle with as much strength and dignity as the situation will allow. And she depicted an odd but realistic view of an unusual occurrence in southern living. I give this book a 3.5 on the RAW Scale.

Reviewed by aNN

You've got to read Ida Mae and then go out and buy Babe, the author's next book. Ida Mae takes you through the mountains and valleys of decades of a woman's life. There is no fakeness about this book. Ida Mae sounds like a real woman that you'd enjoy knowing. I can't reccomend the book enough. I'd give it six stars if I could.

Kimberley Lindsay Wilson, author of 11 Things Mama Should Have Told You About Men.

I REALLY ENJOYIED THIS BOOK,KEPT MY ATTETION THE WHOLE TIME. THIS BOOK IS A GIRL GROWING UP TO UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES OF HER HERTIAGE BLACK AND WHITE.

With the first edition of Ida Mae, came the knowledge that it's okay for any race to embrace something that was not culturally identifiable to that particular people. On the heels of the first Ida Mae came Ida Mae the Saga. Once again, the author Delores Thornton, rose to the challenge and delivered a carefully scripted story. A story that further exhibited, why strenghth and character depth had a new definition ---Ida Mae.

Whether you are a regular library borrower or a book buyer, there is hardly any place within the continental US that is not selling and raving about Ida Mae. And, with the buzz that is being created surrounding the next novel, "BABE," she is sure to have a shelf designated...Books by Delores Thornton. Her work speaks for itself.

Pat G'Orge-Walker, author of Sister Betty! God's Calling You!/ Sister Connie Fuse Makes A Grave Mistake and Reviewer for Netnoir

Ida Mae began life roughly. Her father is murdered, her mother dies and her adoptive parent die by the time she is 17. But Ida Mae had what a lot of folks don't have nowadays---survival skills. She took what life metted out and turned it into something good. But the saddest part to me is, she loved so freely yet died alone...

Ida Mae is worth every penny I spent for it. I loved it!

Ida Mae

Reviewed by: Wanda Starkes, C&B Books

Delores Thornton, author elegantly brings Ida Mae's character to life, a spiritual woman who symbolizes courage, strength, and endurance. Delores writing is very charismatic. Ms. Thornton wonderfully traveled the path of Ida Mae's life. A beautiful, talented, powerful and resilient young woman - a prime example of standing on faith in spite of countless tears and fears. A heart-stopping book from beginning to the end!

Ida Mae, southern rooted from country ham, piping hot homemade biscuits, peach cobbler, to the brutal reality of the Klu Klux Klan!

Ida Mae is a must read for those who really enjoy reading about triumph during an era and in a world filled with difficult obstacles, challenges, with the only way out is to live through it!

Thumbs Up Delores

Ida Mae is a Sunday type book because it is long and you need time and quietness to chill and read. It is a sad and touching story about a woman that went through many trials and tribulations in her life but she survived. Some of the stuff was crazy but she remained strong and got through the obstacles that were put in her way.

Ida Mae is a black female from Georgia who goes through so many experiences such as rape as a teenager and losing her daughter and husband that she remains a strong character who wears many hats like being a mother of two children, a loving wife and granddaughter that has seen many deaths in her family which could have broken her but she kept strong.

Ida Mae helps you to appreciate the good that happens in your life and the people that you care about in your life.

What I appreciated about Ida Mae was how the book covered her life from her very young to an old death. The author made her feel like a relative that you see get older and older. There were no gaps.

There were happy moments in the book to take off some of the sadness that at times is a little overwhelming, but the happy moments made you see Ida Mae for the girl that she was and the woman that she became. Some of those happy moments were when she won the poetry contest, met her extended family and got married.

Ida Mae is a work of art to me but the only thing that I didn't like was the sadness of it all. There were so many deaths that she experienced in her life that every time she turned around someone was dying and she had to deal with it. I think that the author was trying to display her strength through it all, but it got depressing.

I'm not into mushy, but for those who are this book is a must read and for those who aren't the book is still worth reading as a change from your everyday routine. Ida Mae was suspenseful and dramatic like a movie.... Hey, it definitely has a chance as a movie GOOD WORK D. THORNTON!!!

S. Elitou

Ida Mae is truly a masterpiece, that should be placed in every library and studied in every classroom around the world. Often we try to teach our children how to be independent. Ida Mae will show them how. In the face of opposition, she triumphs time and time again, and reach for the stars along the way and actually fulfills her dreams. And teaches her son to aspire and accomplish his too. There is no doubt in my mind that Delores Thornton will one day be considered one of the best writers of all time. A must read!!!

Thank you so much, Delores. I purchased my autographed copy and read "Ida Mae" some time ago and was tremendously blessed. My mom's name was Ida Mae and there were many similarities between her life and your main character's. I appreciate you so much! I want you to know that I COULD NOT put "Ida Mae" down when began reading it! FABULOUS!