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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Life Comes At You Fast, 4.5 stars, June 20, 2008
This review is from: Once Upon A Project (Paperback)
Bettye Griffin's Once Upon a Project gives us a glimpse of two worlds--the poverty, blight of the notorious Chicago projects and the ritzy, glitziness against the Chicago skyline. As the story opens, readers experience a reunion of four childhood friends. The years have passed and they each have gone their own ways but on the eve of their 50th birthdays and the anniversary of the childhood projects--they once called home, they come together for camaraderie, friendship, and fellowship. They have almost five decades of experiences and history. Some good, some bad, some ugly, and although they have not kept in touch as often as they would like, their friendship has endured. The four friends recall memorable times growing up and coming-of-age in the Dreiser projects.
As each friend reflects, she has come along way, but the issues of yesterday seem small compared to the pressures of adult life. On the surface, these successful women appear to be have it all...but happiness seems to elude each of them as each is wallowing in her own personal misery. The outside exterior is just a facade as each woman wishes she could change something about her life and situation. Even though her husband is significantly older than her, now that the kids are grown, Elyse wishes her husband had more energy and was more socialable so that they could do many of the things they promised they would do once the kids were out of the house. Susan wishes that her husband's attitude would revert to pre-breast cancer days and that his eyes would roam a little closer to home. Pat wishes that she had someone to spend time with other than her parents; but when a law school colleague comes back into her life will she ignore him because he is not wrapped in the right packaging? Grace wishes that she could find a man on her level but when she has an itch and needs someone to scratch it, does net worth really matter? Underneath the "I Am Woman" façade each harbors their own personal secrets and shame that they do not feel comfortable sharing with anyone; because they fear that they will be exposed and their shortcomings judged. As always, what is done in the dark comes to the light and the truth just might set everyone free.
Once Upon a Project by Bettye Griffin is a heartwarming and poignant read about women and the relationships they share with each other; adult children, spouses and significant others; parents and extended family members. I especially enjoyed the storyline as the joys, trials, tribulations and triumphs experienced were realistic and believable. Each character had to put on her big girl panties and woman up at some point during the story. It was refreshing to read about real women--mature, professional, family oriented--who were representative of characters in real life. I most identified with the ladies because like them, I am also on the eve of 50 and I could identify with their situations via personal experiences or experiences of close girlfriends. Griffin took me down memory lane and made me reminisce about my childhood, teen years and early adult life. So much so that I had to pick up the phone and make a conference call to a few of my friends to ask them `remember when'...oh yes those were the days before husbands, children, college funds, pensions, two car garage/white picket fence...when life seemed to be so much easier. When we all professed to have no worries and were always happy. Of course, we have selective memories. LOL. Griffin smoothly dives into issues that face the `marvelously mature'--illnesses of loved ones, menopause, body images, older women/younger men, marital woes, aging parents--jut to name a few. At times, the story seemed repetitious and I wished there was more of a connection to the projects with a character from today, but neither of these shortcomings kept the book from being a good read or recommending it to others; it is one of my Top 10 favorite reads thus far this year. For those who are old enough to remember when...grab a nice cold drink, get comfortable in your favorite reading spot and take a stroll down memory lane with Once Upon a Project by Bettye Griffin.
Reviewed by Yasmin
APOOO BookClub
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
(4.5 stars) The 22 Club, May 7, 2008
This review is from: Once Upon A Project (Paperback)
"Once Upon A Project" there lived four little girls - Pat, Grace, Susan and Elyse. These four girls would eventually become the best of friends, walking to school together, sharing secrets and growing up, but still maintaining contact. As time passes, the girls become young women; and once you add their new roles of being wives, students, mothers, not to mention some distance, they pretty much have become "once a year Christmas card" buddies. But when the four friends reunite after being invited to a Dreiser Project reunion, they use the opportunity to show the people currently living there that they can change despite the lives that they're living right now. Will this be the catalyst that changes their lives forever?
Pat has never been married, nor does she have any children. She lost the love of her life, and she's still wondering "what if." Grace, twice divorced, is convinced that the third time will be a charm; that is if she can find any eligible bachelors in her range. Susan is comfortably married with two children and is a breast cancer survivor. While she misses the closeness she and her husband once had, she's resolved to deal with it. Elyse and her husband are recent empty nesters. They have taken back their lives and enjoy spending more and more time together. While her husband is significantly older, he appears to be slowing down, something she's not ready to do herself.
While I didn't think that Once Upon A Project would be a book that I found myself enjoying, truthfully, I was overwhelmed with emotions. Each of them are looking for love, desperate for affection, acceptance, security, hope, and trust. They also help each other as they struggled with marriage, cancer, death, adultery and the past and present. It's hard not to be impacted by each one of their lives. Once Upon A Project is a great read that strikes a chord with both the ups and downs in life. While I didn't like that the author tends to be overly repetitive, I still believe that all readers, regardless of age, will truly benefit from this read.
Reviewed by Nardsbaby
for Urban Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
That's life, July 22, 2008
This review is from: Once Upon A Project (Paperback)
Elyse, Susan, Grace and Pat all grew up in a Chicago project and each escaped to a new, middle class life. When they are nearing their fiftieth birthdays, Pat decides to throw a reunion party for all the former residents who lived there when they did. ONCE UPON A PROJECT by Bettye Griffin is the story of these four women, their past, their present and possibly, their futures.
Years ago, Pat, now a successful lawyer, fell in love with a young man who lived in the projects. They wanted to marry but her parents were dead set against it and Pat couldn't go against their wishes. Now, she is still single and carrying a torch for Ricky. She knows he and his wife will be coming to the reunion.
Elyse married a successful man, Franklin, but lately he hasn't been the wonderful husband. He's always tired and never wants to go anywhere with her. He doesn't disappoint her about the reunion - he is too tired to go. She is getting very annoyed with him. Does he no longer love her? Is he having an affair?
Grace has been married twice, and is divorced once again. She seems to be the maverick of the group. Grace has been known to date the former lovers of her friends. Will it come out when they meet again and cause friction?
Susan has had surgery, which causes her husband to turn from her. She is sure he is seeing someone else. He can't stand the sight of her undressed because of the scars left by the surgery. Susan is contemplating having an affair of her own with a man she loved years ago.
Once the four women get together, things begin to happen. Hidden secrets become known, affairs take place and their entire world is shaken up. Will things ever go back to normal?
Griffin has written an interesting novel that covers those painfully important issues that happen in any group of friends' lives. It is well-written and other than a few slow places, it will hold the readers interest to the very end.
Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers
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