Customer Reviews

Original Love

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Original Love is at its core, a story of love lost and found. It centers on Peter and Ebony and follows them from adolescence to adulthood. The additional elements of time, race, and family are added to provide conflict along the way. Peter is a middle aged author who has made his mark on the literary world by publishing two popular novels under the pseudonym of a black woman named Desiree. Ironically, it is his pseudonym, Desiree, who serves as both his muse and his impediment. As his muse and the image of his first and only love, it has brought him commercial success but personal failure in the dissolution of his marriage. As his impediment, it keeps him from publishing a novel under his own name, which his publisher is loathe to allow him to do. After wrestling with writer's block, he flees to New York to recover personally and professionally. Part of his recovery includes the search for his first love, Ebony, the woman he has never gotten over. When he finally does find her, he is able to face the demons of his past, including a disapproving father along with the daughter that he never knew existed and move forward with the life and family he always dreamed of.

The author has incorporated a story within a story, paralleling the progression of Peter's emerging novel with his search for Ebony. Although the author has used different typefaces to distinguish between the two, at times the storylines and even the characters tend to get somewhat jumbled. The overall theme seems to be that his main character is actually his embodiment of the image foremost in his mind, namely Ebony, and he seems to be trying to fuse Ebony, his main character, and his muse into one person. This is an ambitious approach, and the author is somewhat successful as the book progresses. However, in the beginning, these three separate entities have a tendency to bleed into each other.

Interracial romance novels are an up-and-coming genre of their own. They range the gamut (like any romance novel) from realistic to "over-the-top". IR novels, by definition use race as an element, but it may be as prominent or secondary as the author wishes. Although Original Love was presented as an interracial romance, I had a difficult time discerning the impact of race. While Peter's father was presented as a racist, I found his actions tending less towards racist behavior, and more towards psychotic behavior. Although Peter and Ebony seem to enjoy each other, I frankly never understood the motivations of either one, either his fascination with her or her long-suffering with him. One of my pet peeves about IR novels is a tendency of some towards fetishism. Some women are athletic and sexual beings. Some of those women happen to be black. The two are only related by coincidence. Some men are passive aggressive with painful memories. Some of those men happen to be white. The author's attempt to link personality traits to skin color appear to be somewhat disconnected. I can appreciate a book about different people which attempts to do more than simply take a white couple and dip one (or both) in chocolate. I can also appreciate an author's attempt to infuse his characters with vivid personalities. However, it is a very narrow line that can be difficult to navigate between that and sliding into racial stereotypes.
Overall, I found the novel to be an entertaining read.
Reviewed By: Angela Hailey, Black Butterfly Review

Peter Underhill is a struggling author who has hit rock bottom and as a result is homeeless. He is inspired to write an autobiography; however, his editor wants no parts of it. Peter, who is 40 and Caucasian, has been writing romantic comedies as an African-American woman. He is ready to finally publish something under his own name since using a pen name he is unable to get credit for the books he has written. While he is down in the dumps, he reflects back on his childhood and growing up with a racist alcoholic father. Although his family life wasn't the greatest, he does have fond memories of his first love, Ebony Mills, a sassy African-American woman to whom he dedicates all his novels.

After losing everything Peter decides to move back to his hometown and live on his deceased father's boat. While he is at home he begins a search for Ebony, determined to find his true love and hopefully rekindle what they once shared. Peter begins a journey of self-discovery and self-awareness, all in the name of love. He not only finds himself, but a few surprises along the way. Is there light at the end of the tunnel for this struggling author?

ORIGINAL LOVE by J.J. Murray is a touching soul-searching novel that pulls at your heart strings. Everyone has one true love and no one can ever replace him or her in your life. This novel makes you appreciate the love in your life and may turn you into a hopeless romantic. With colorful, entertaining characters this story is not only entertaining but enlightening as well. This is my first read by Murray, but definitely won't be my last. Do yourself a favor and add this novel to your personal library, you won't be disappointed.

Reviewed by Eraina B. Tinnin
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Author J. J. Murray has written a book that would ordinarily have me stumped and wondering where he was going with his story. But his transitions, flashbacks and memories have a wonderful way of meshing together to create a story about first love.

At one point, I thought I would have to brush up on my history. Author Murray uses classics; American History and mythology to create his story and take the reader on a complicated but enlightening journey.

Peter Underhill fell in love with Ebony Mills when they were junior high school age. The fact that Peter is white and Ebony is African American had nothing to do with what they felt for each other. The innocence of youth along with their curiosity and desire to explore their sexuality made their love story that much more beautiful.

Peter and Ebony grew up together through high school and separated while in college. Due to this separation, Peter ended up unhappily married to someone else while Ebony did what most African American women say they will never do: waited for that man to come back!

After years of separation, a bitter divorce, and attempts to move on, Peter and Ebony's paths crossed again and they began to share their lives anew, revisiting places they shared, talking about people they knew and coming to terms with many truths about themselves.

I would definitely recommend "Original Love" for anyone who enjoys romantic stories that are not predictable, but will cause you to want to find true love and address issues from your past.


Reviewed by Sharel E. Gordon-Love
APOOO BookClub

I started this book a few times, but it was unable to keep my interest. I decided to give it the old college try and read it again. Unfortunately, it has a very slow and boring start. I had to skip ALOT of pages - like 30 - until I found something that 'hooked' me: Peter and Ebony as pre-teens/teenagers and Peter and Edie. Other than that, the book was mediocre at best. I found it lacked something I just can't put my finger on. The plot was excellent - an author who never got over his first love, who happened to be black, and writes about her in his books; marries a white woman; divorces the white woman; sets out to find his first love and possible reunite with her. Sounds great, right? However, the plot wasn't well-executed and the writing seemed a bit immature.

I hate to admit that I have a pet-peeve for black female characters with all sass, which the author conveniently gave all of his black female characters. I skipped over all passages and pages of the black female character he was writing about in his book (part of the story line is the male lead character is an author and is writing an interracial book). Black girls don't talk like that ALL the time. That story line became the most irritating and insulting and grated on my nerves. Plus, it has been MY experience that women who date interracially are low on sass and only use it when it is truly necessary - like when you need to cuss him out or stress a point! If you're looking for a more polished lead character try Sandra Kitt's The Color of Love and Close Encounters, or Kim McLarin's Meeting of the Waters: A Novel. (The Color of Love is the best, best book EVER!) These three books have spoiled me and, in my opinion, have a fairer depiction of black females. Plus, all three books are superbly written!

JJ Murray does it again. He kept me enthralled by the story as well as the story within the story. I also liked the political insight into book publishing. I couldn't wait to read this book since it is from a different point of view than his other novels. Great job. Buy it!

This was an enjoyable book. I finished it in about 12 hours, and although the beginning was slow, it quickly turned into a nice rollercoaster of emotions that was believable and touching.

It incorporates a religious edge to it, without beating the reader over the head with it. And race isn't overplayed. It's just a part of their love that others force them to overcome so that they can be together.

Some of the reviews had me concerned that the lead character would be crass or rude, however she was neither. She spoke intelligently about her feelings and she even helped male lead character come to terms with his father.

I enjoyed this book and I hope that we will see more from Mr. Murray - soon.

I really enjoyed this book--it was so refreshing because it was different than the myriad of well-used and overdone storylines. I especially found the "book within a book" plot device to be wonderfully fresh and original.

The characters are so richly developed. Ebony's spunkiness and assertiveness made her a very likeable and intriguing character. Peter's "sexual fumblings" as a growing teen with raging hormones, especially when he got close to Ebony, endeared him to me forever (those who read the book know what I mean). Mr. Murray's insight into the publishing world was informative with an interesting angle. The publisher wants Peter to continue to write romances with a black woman's voice under a pseudonym to satisfy a growing black female reader base. Peter is frustrated by this-he is conflicted because he wants to make a successful living as a writer, but he wants to write his books under his own name. He really wants to write an autobiographical story of his growing up years and his enduring love for Ebony, his original love.

Mr. Murray is such a great talent with a unique voice--that of a white man writing about white male characters and their love of and romance with black women. The love depicted in his books rings true and brightly shines through in all of his books. I do hope he continues to write these incredible, sensitive books in his uniquely gratifying style. In the future, I hope Mr. Murray continues to write and explore the romantic relationships between black women and white men-stories that seem to end up transcending race and going straight to the heart. Oh, and Mr. Murray, just a tad more spice in the bedroom (or wherever!) would be a most pleasurable ingredient!

What I liked:

1) The overall story of love lost and found. Peter Underhill and Ebony Mills could be any couple out there who fall truly in love only to have real life intrude only to discover their hearts have always remained true.

2) Ebony's family: Candace, Aunt Wee Wee (Edwina) - they all remind me of people in my own family and they were a joy to read. Aunt Wee Wee especially kept me in stiches because she was a lot more savvy than many people gave her credit for. These characters were crafted with a lot of love and humor.

3) The glimpse into the publishing and art worlds: Especially the publishing world that has Peter - a white man - writing African-American fiction under the name 'Desiree Holland' (and when did this become a 'black name' anyway?). I actually thought it was rather clever that Murray was poking a little bit of fun at his earlier books, written from the POV of a black woman.

What I didn't:

1) Lack of serious character development. Okay, Peter's father, known as 'the Captain' was a racist whom, as the story progresses, turns out to be not such a bad chap after all. Turns out that he held a dying black shipmate in his arms and was close to several others, and was a good grandfather to Peter's unknown daughter, Destiny. Peter's mom seems to have been some woman who had him and then left. Peter's ex-wife Edie - another unfleshed female character who seemed to like using the 'n-word' a lot. She was a caricature for sure. Ebony's mom Candace was definitely an improvement over Renee's mom (from the first book), but I'm wondering if Mr. Murray has some serious mother-in-law issues that he's trying to deal with in his books. Her actions seemed a little cruel, especially hiding away all of Peter's letters to Ebony, even if her intentions had nothing to do with Peter's race.

2) A willing suspension of disbelief: Is it even possible that Peter had no idea that Destiny was his own daughter? And how could he have not known that Ebony was pregnant?

3) Ebony: For the most part, she was someone we as readers only know from Peter's narratives, and I was expecting a character who wasn't the type to play the types of games she did with Peter (pretending to be her daughter on the Internet, etc.) I expected Ebony to be as brash and as tough as she'd been when the two of them first met as children.

Honestly, Original Love was the book Murray should have written first, for it definitely had its moments and was an enjoyable read. Considering that the interracial romance market is still the new kid on the block, J.J. Murray's voice is one that we'll probably not hear the last of.

I was worried when I started reading this book. It was slow for the first 150 pages to me. I was getting lost in what the male lead was going on about and about to put the book down. After reading the reviews here and seeing others say it is a slow start I kept at it. While I am making this sound like a chore is was not that bad. Once the reunion happened with the characters and the humor was added to the story...I was hooked! I stayed up to finish this book and was glad I did. I am an emotional reader and need to feel the connection to the story. By the end of this book I was crying and sad that it was ending.


The male lead Peter is to me a lost soul trying to get his life back on track. His search for his high school love Ebony gives him the drive he needs. The additional family characters in this book were a blast. They reminded me of my family in some ways. Now about Ebony...I did not get her at first. But by the end I liked her strength, her love for Peter and her focus. Give this book a try. It was an overall good read.

JJ Murray is not afraid to break out and break through boundaries and come up with something new and interesting. I love his ideas, prose and overall plots. Original Love is no exception. The characters have depth. Ebony frustrated me. Peter had me shaking my head more than once. He's clueless in interesting and important ways. My pet peeve with a lot of authors is flat, static characters. Such characters do not exist in this book. I would recommend this and any Murray to someone looking for a good love story. If you want to get away from cliche, pick up Original Love. I am looking forward avidly to Too Much of a Good Thing!!! While I have a few quibbles with the storyline (for example, some parts of the story drag on - just some minor pacing issues), overall this is an excellent read.