16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Definitely NOT a Keeper, November 22, 2006
This review is from: I'm Your Girl (Paperback)
I really don't think I'm willing to purchase another book by J.J. Murray.
This book had so many things wrong with it, I'm not certain where to begin. Talk about recycling plot ideas - many of the tropes he uses in I'm Your Girl have showed up in his previous books - the tragedy-stricken white male writer (him) who may have once been a teacher (him again); the educated if somewhat naive and opinionated "sister girl" (his wife? I certainly hope not); the evil mother who is supposedly looking out for her baby's best interests - it didn't work for me in Renee and Jay, and it certainly doesn't work in this book.
A part of me wonders if it truly is the fault of the editors/publishers who are looking to sell to this demographic by literally dumbing it down and instead of giving us characters whom we can relate to on some level, turn them into so-called "hip" stereotypes. Or maybe, Murray just isn't that great at writing I/R's period.
He wouldn't be the first.
The book isn't super-fast paced, and I wouldn't have mind that if it had better written. I also didn't care about the lack of sex scenes (though I'm partial to them, especially in BW/WM IR's). However, the first two-hundred pages reminded me of a train wreck. It's ghastly, bloody and apt to give one nightmares, but I couldn't stop turning the pages, hoping that something would save this book from the "it sucks" category.
Diane Denise Anderson - another black woman, like Renee, I just couldn't be friends with. She was like this poster child for neurotic black women. This is a twenty-five year old woman who could have had a dating life but because she's so 'sheltered' has allowed her happily-married for decades mother decide who she should/shouldn't be with? This is a woman who's mother was 'shamed' because she danced with a white boy way back in junior high but has no problems with an aimless sister who has three out-of-wedlock kids (the Qwans)? So much for independence. She's got a nice body including a nice butt and she's complaining? When many women shoot themselves into body shapers and corsets and push-up jeans just to look like Beyonce?
Okay, most women somewhere in their lives have body image issues, so I can let that pass.
Still, her whole self-pitying attitude was right up there with a lot of the chick-lit characters I've never liked. Don't get me wrong because I do like characters with flaws, but it didn't take her too long to get on my last nerve. For a woman trying not to be the "typical librarian", she certainly made no real attempt at changing the notion - single, depressed and lonely - this is a modern educated black woman? Eek.
Diane scored a few brownie points near the end of the book when she finally lets her mother have it - after the woman finds out she's been "seeing" a white man. And speaking of that - what's up with that typical "white guys smell funny" stereotype Mr. Murray likes to use a lot? Trust me, I've dated enough white guys in my life - including European men - and they don't smell any different than anyone else.
Jack Browning is somewhat more sympathetic - dealing with personal tragedy after the loss of his wife and son - but again, this is a plot device Murray has used ad nauseum (divorce = loss), and it's old. I liked many of his inner monologues, especially his brainstorming process. I loved his drunken discusion of his work-in-progress with his son's teddy bear, Mr. Bear. That was adorable and had the book started off that way, rather than having to slog through nearly two-hundred pages of one self-pitying black woman and her rather narrow-minded views, it might have been a far more enjoyable read. However, like in many of Murray's books, Jack comes off as the bumbling but sincere white guy looking for love and who just happens to find it in a black woman.
Rachel Anderson, Diane's version of "mommy dearest" - the woman whom even the devil would tip his horns to. Predictably she comes around to liking Jack (like at the last twenty/thirty pages of the book); until then she's voicing her opinions about the kind of man he grown daughter should be dating. His past books have all had these psycho moms from hell and makes me wonder if he's having real life issues with his in-laws.
And what, pray tell, is this nonsense about Diane not feeling comfortable about getting married in her old church? Are many church folks so stuck on the race thing that they'd forget to be happy that two people are coming together to build a loving and stable family? Stuff like this would almost make an atheist out of me.
I gave this book a chance even though the author has greatly disappointed me in the past because a previous novel, Original Love, was actually okay. Even though there's a dearth of good I/R romances featuring black women and white men, I'd rather wait than read something that just makes me go "hmm?"
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This is a good book, November 7, 2006
This review is from: I'm Your Girl (Paperback)
I borrowed this book from a friend who didn't like it at all. Couldn't even make it past the first few chapters. I am an avid reader at times and decided to give a look. I was intrigued after the first few chapters. The going back and forth by the main character, Diane, when she is reviewing books early on, was kind of annoying but I did enjoy the book overall. I think it is a solid, believable romance and I was able to identify with the Diane character a great deal. I am sure this is why I liked the book and my friend did not. She had nothing to identify with personally. Anyway if you like a romance which takes it step by step and moment by moment I think you will like this book. I especially like the touch of Jack talking to himself. I saw it as a kind of therapy for his loss. I like the book a lot. I would recommend it to anyone for some light reading about an everyday romance in the melting pot we call America.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
In Living Color, March 28, 2007
This review is from: I'm Your Girl (Paperback)
I'm Your Girl is J. J. Murray's latest installment in a series of tales involving interracial couples. Diane is a mild-mannered librarian living and working in Roanoke, Virginia. She fills most of her days enduring redundant and sometimes mind-numbing inquiries at the reference desk. As a reviewer for her online book club, Mid-Atlantic Book Review, she suffers through books that should never see the inside of a book store. Her nights are filled with love and tenderness.. .normally in the form of a paperback romance. When Diane is not working or reviewing books, she is defending her dateless existence to her mother who is anxiously waiting for an African American Prince to sweep Diane off her feet.
Jack Browning is slowly regaining his grasp on life after losing his wife and son in a tragic car accident. The teacher-turned- author is quickly approaching the first deadline for his next book and decides a trip to the library will help motivate him. During a brief encounter at the reference desk, Jack finds Diane to be a breath of fresh air in his stale life. Diane suddenly finds herself the inspiration for Jack's next book as well as his real-life love interest.
J. J. Murray takes a humorous and light-hearted approach to a historically complex and explosive topic. The characters are affectionately flawed and lovable. Diane's review book excerpts that are interspersed throughout the book are lengthy and distracting at times but Murray eventually makes the connection for the reader. Readers will enjoy the nuances and laugh-out-loud moments that poke healthy fun at the literary world of librarians, writers and book reviewers.
Reviewed by M. P. McKinney
APOOO BookClub
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