Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Four Generations of Women Striving for Acceptance,
By
This review is from: Reaching Back (Paperback)
Reaching back, like throw back, is a common term in some African American communities to describe a child that is born with the features of an ancestor. Usually, it refers to a child that has distinct Negroid features whereas the parents may not appear so. It can also refer to a child of two distinctly black parents who is born with white features. The former is usually cause for concern when families are trying to "whiten or bleach" the line or pass into white society altogether. This premise is the crux of the storyline of four generations of a family who has been fostered to believe that being white or white in appearance is the saving grace and desire of the black race.Megan, Carrie, Ana, and Mignon, the women whose lives are told, have had their share of trials and tribulations with poverty, men, family, and self-esteem and independence issues. Raised on a Louisiana plantation, Megan is the product of a rape by the landowner, who in turn rapes both Megan and Carrie when they come of age, his own daughter and granddaughter. If it sounds complicated, convoluted, and complex, it is. But we find out later in the book the disastrous results of these complexities. Meanwhile, Carrie suffers isolation and humiliation because she "reached back" and does not look like the rest of her light, bright, damn near white family. Her "caramel" coloring guarantees that she will never be able to have the advantages of white skin or be able to passe blanc. Some of her siblings do indeed move to New Orleans and cross over into the white world. Carrie loves her childhood sweetheart, John, who is a dark brown skinned man , but marries a fair-skinned man because she believes that is best. Her life is at first good but a series of circumstances causes her to question her choice and then she encounters John again. Her daughter Ana "suffers" the same fate as Carrie and is "tan" colored, unlike her white- looking siblings. She, in turn, is mistreated by both her siblings and father, a renowned minister. Ana's beauty and talent cannot be denied however and she becomes a singing sensation in Paris where her sense of worth is elevated, until again, as is the fate of the Devereaux women, she faces heartache. Back home in Houston, she marries the near white Clark, whose background remains hidden for several years. Ana's daughter Mignon, in trying to please her now passing for white father, marries a light skinned man. As she matures and comes into her self-worth, she realizes her former choices and values have been misconstrued. This book was my local book club selection and all kinds of emotions and comments were expressed. The subject matter was not particular to everyone's liking-we felt the synopsis on the back of the book was misleading because it did not mention color issues-- but that aside, what we most agreed upon and which verified my feelings, is the immature writing style and the poor editing of this book. Someone compared it to Cane River (women who believed in bleaching the line, desiring white appearance, etc) but that is where the resemblance begins and ends. While Cane River was well written and less intrusive, Reaching Back has an undeveloped writing style, though in the last few chapters the quality of writing improved greatly. Though the spelling and grammar appeares flawless, the content editing of this book put it in the category of many self-published books, that while it is entertaining-there is plenty of drama, a quick read, and flows satisfactorily, misses out on being a better final product. Constant contradictions in timelines, misplaced names, even descriptions of the main characters, are glaring examples of poor editing. I understand the author is writing a sequel to this book; I can only hope the editing is improved. I offer congratulations to Ms. Simone for undertaking such a project and for telling her story.------ Dera
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Beautifully Written Family Saga,
By BookMommy "BookMommy" (Birmingham, AL) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Reaching Back (Paperback)
First of all, 5 stars is the highest rating allowed. If I had my druthers, I would give it a 10. This book is a beautifully written testimony to the strength of family and the resiliency of the human spirit. I cannot believe I almost left this book on the shelf. Do not hesitate--go get this book NOW!Nea Simone's first novel is absolutely breathtaking! It is hard to imagine that this is the author's first work--her writing is flawless and lyrical. Reaching Back reads like a new day "Roots." The characters are vibrant and alive. The flow of the story is so amazing. The way the lives of the characters are intertwined is sensational without being unrealistic. The theme of "passing" for white is explored beautifully as well as the ramifications of living lies. This novel highlights that past indiscrections and secrets will always be exposed. And Simone does this without being preachy or condescending I would highly recommend this book to anyone who's interested in a good read and getting a glimpse into the African-American experience in history. You will not be disappointed.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Back to the Future,
By The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Reaching Back (Paperback)
Mignon is at the end of her rope. Her complexion is too dark to be accepted by light skinned Black folk and too light to be accepted by dark skinned Blacks; she has always struggled to find a place where she fits in. She thought her marriage was the answer to her prayers, but found that wealth and social status was not enough to make her happy. After struggling to keep her marriage together and deal with an unfaithful husband, she finally decides it is time for a change. She packs up her things and calls her parents. Her father immediately offers to fly in and help her make the long drive across country with her daughters in tow. When he arrives, he presents Mignon with a leather bound journal, sent to her by her mother. Inside the journal, Mignon finds a handwritten account of her family history as told by her grandmother and mother. At the end of the journal she finds blank pages, which she assumes is the place where she will someday record the experiences of her own life. Facing an uncertain future, this journal seems to be just what Mignon needs to find the strength to start over. Thus, Mignon begins an emotional journey through two generations of her family's history that will lead to healing and a better understanding of her own life.Nea Anna Simone's first novel, Reaching Back is an excellent work. The author immediately draws you in to the story and keeps you hooked until the last page. Simone looks at how social issues such as class and skin color have divided African Americans both historically and in more contemporary settings. This is a character driven plot, and the reader really gets a chance to see how the characters think and feel. Towards the end of the story there were a couple of places where the story didn't flow as well as it did in the beginning, but overall this was an excellent read. This multigenerational story of life, love, and survival, should not be missed. Reviewed by Stacey Seay
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
