Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman..and I Love it!, April 3, 2010
This review is from: A Natural Woman (Paperback)
If you have read Lori's first novel "After the Dance " you will not experience that same type of ride with this book, her first novel was a funnier book that told a story right from the mouths of each character and you did not have to guess who was saying what , the chapters were separated by and titled for each person. That was the first book that I read that was separated like this and I was not sure if I liked it but in the end it really worked for this first novel. This book goes on dept with the characters, you get to know their beliefs, fears, the views they have on skin color and hair styles, relationships, death and family. Lori let's you know right from the first few pages that this book is different from the first novel and as a fan of the first book I needed to know that going in. I enjoyed this book and although I did keep checking to see how may pages were in the book, In the end I did want more. I won't give anything away in case you did not read it but As we told Lori we think there should be a part two and we gave our opinion on who does not need to be include in the sequel, like Javiel and Kenneth. This book takes you on a ride of love and rebounding from love into another relationship, weather it be for the wrong or the right reason. I think issue of wrong or right is the main theme of this entire story and beacuse it will not be the same for everyone makes it more interesting. Aliesha the main character's ideal of right is always wrong for her best friend Monica. This is a relationship that I was tired of, I wanted Monica to keep her mouth shut, she was on my last nerve. I know she was down for Aliehsa but DAMMM! There are some surprise's that you don't expect in this story and there are some that you knew where coming. One of the central locations of what goes on in this story is the barber shop and this was vital to the story, we got to meet Dante, Wally, Gerald (Mr. My name is Bennett and I ain't in it.) and Yazz, and don't forget them bad ass twins. Kenneth and Javiel ex-lovers of Aliesha's that play an important part int this story. I met and liked Peaches Aliesha's cousin who was bald , blind, clairvoyant and a hairstylist ( you have to read it to believe it!). We met Laylah who was Dante's mistress, Suga Momma and a person who had some type of hold on this man that he couldn't break, until he saw her for what she was. We are introduced to Rueben who we didn't really have the chance to know, but he was Dante's cousin and they grew up together. Always competing against one another, thinking the other had what they desired, it was a damaged relationship that ended badly between the two who grew up as brothers, both deserted by their real mothers and raised by their aunt, Big Mama. Aliesha goes through some stuff as does Dante and some of the other characters. This is a good story with a happy ending. Loneliness can make you do desperate things.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Emotional Chains, January 6, 2010
This review is from: A Natural Woman (Paperback)
Dr. Aliesha Eaton, an anthropology college professor at Wells College, is in serious need for a haircut, but that's not all she needs. When she allows young, dark, sexy natural hair stylist and barber, Dante Douglas to place his hands in her hair more than sparks fly. A guttural yearning she didn't know she had emerges when he massages her head. Meanwhile Dante aches to get lost in Aliesha's hair again, which scares him. He must keep their relationship a professional one, but with Aliesha...it's almost impossible to do. It's a good thing that she is in a loveless relationship with Javiel, and Dante's spirit is tied to a married woman. But what would happen if they both released their emotional chains? Could they be a match made in heaven? A Natural Woman has a clear plot that takes readers through a typical romance with a nice payoff at the end. However, if Johnson wanted to give readers what they really wanted--what would make this story a juicier more satisfying read, she could have ended the novel with "the encore." Likewise, there were spots in the book that lagged and slowed down the pace. Aliesha's work life issues didn't move us closer to or farther from her relationship with Dante. It didn't have much place. On the other hand, Johnson did a great job weaving black spiritualism into the novel. However, I would have liked to have known why, despite Aliesha's strong church involvement and vast Christian education knowledge, her spiritual maturity was constantly challenged when it came to her lovers. Reviewed by Dee Stewart for Urban Reviews
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Don't Miss This Book! A Real Treat for Readers, October 28, 2009
This review is from: A Natural Woman (Paperback)
A NATURAL WOMAN by Lori Johnson is a real treat for readers. It's the story of Dr. Aliesha Eaton, an anthropologist and college professor in a mid-sized Southern city. Aliesha struggles to find an honest and satisfying romantic relationship. Kenneth had been the man of her dreams, but he humiliated her, and she cannot forgive him. Her current boyfriend, Javiel, is a nice, decent man, but "the spark" between them is missing. When Aliesha enters a barbershop to have her naturally-styled hair cut, she meets Dante. He is "fine." But there is an intense, immediate, perhaps even spiritual connection between the two that goes beyond looks. Of course, readers expect many obstacles to be placed in the path of Aliesha and Dante's love. Novelist Lori Johnson delivers so much more than the usual, clichéd roadblocks, however. A NATURAL WOMAN is a departure from the type of books that publishers assume African-American-fiction readers crave. Its pages are not filled with the backstabbing, "who's getting over on whom" drama found in so many titles. Ms. Johnson is a heavy hitter--"she don't play." Her narrative questions widely held assumptions at the very core of our society--for example, who deserves to be loved? And, what must one look like to be loved? Not only is the heroine well-educated and successful, but she is dark-skinned with tightly curled ("kinky") hair. But, Ms. Johnson is not writing "for the academy." Hers is a down-to-earth, accessible style. A NATURAL WOMAN is Ms. Johnson's follow-up to her impressive debut, AFTER THE DANCE. Many reviewers will note the differences between the novels. The two books are quite similar, however. The tenderness (rare, in much of today's fiction) between two intelligent, sensitive African-Americans; the importance of family and friendship; and the nuanced, respectful attention to African-American culture are just a few of the reasons this book, like its predecessor, is a real treat. The pacing of A NATURAL WOMAN may seem slow to some readers (which is why I gave it four out of five stars). The pace may have been hampered by the ambitiousness of Ms. Johnson's story and message (i.e., she has much to say). I can't wait for her next book to see how her mastery of fiction continues to grow.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
