Customer Reviews

Red Hats: A Novel

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a member of the Red Hat Society I applaud Damon Wayans
for writing this book. The characters are true to life and
the story is inspirational. Who knew Damon Wayans has a
touchy feeley side.

This novella is a tale of an embittered 64 year old lady, Alma, who is in an angry marriage. Both she and Harold are learned sparing partners, hurling insults back and forth, cutting deeply. When Harold suddenly dies, Alma regrets her venomous attacks and decides to end her life. Some red hat ladies are happening by and smell the gas, rescuing Alma from death. Thus begins a friendship with these ladies that aid Alma into finding compassion for the past and the present. Helping her to forgive others as well as herself. It is a journey, but these friends and a new love offer her alternate paths to walk leading to fulfillment and contentment.

Being a first novel, I think Damon Wayans(who I adore as a comedian) did a nice job. Not the great American novel, but an easy, fun read with a moral. Good luck on any future endeavors, Mr. Wayans.

This book was so true to life,warm and so funny I found myself laughing out loud. I can see Queen Latefia as Alma in a movie of this book. I have seen the ladies in the purple and red hats and now I know what a wonderful society it really is. Thank you Damon and I think you should let your Mom read it now because it was great.

Red Hats: A Novel is an endearing novel with a special appeal for the 50 plus woman who has lived through many life experiences.

During my late 30s, after enduring some of my own devastating personal crisis-es, including the unexpected death of my husband to a massive heart attack, I remember reading a beautiful poem by Jenny Joseph which spoke to me of aging gracefully with resilience and spirit. I was delighted to open Red Hats: A Novel and find my two favorite lines from this poem:
"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me."

After moving to Florida in my early 50s to be closer to my mother, I remember seeing groups of older ladies decked out in beautiful bright red hats and flashy purple outfits, flitting around and about our beach side tourist towns with striking enthusiasm and charm. Not knowing what these little clubs were all about, I wondered if perhaps it had something to do with Jenny Joseph's poem. It wasn't until I read Red Hats: A Novel, Damon Wayans' lovely tribute to his own mother and the marvelous worldwide sisterhood of Red Hats that I finally understood what the Red Hats represent.

Red Hats: A Novel is a short novel which can be read within a few hours but that is not to say it is short on significance. It is easy to spoil the plot of such a short novel while reviewing it and I don't want to detract from this special tale in my review. I think the jacket and publisher's blurbs already reveal more than enough. What I think is so special about this lovely story is its intimacy and honesty. I could relate so well to the story's heroine, Alma, as she endures some of a woman's most challenging obstacles in life. I think many women will be able to identify with Alma in one way or another.

With a tone that is humorous but still serious, Damon Wayans draws a dramatic storyline which is subtly plotted. His colorful characters are well developed and engaging. Although it might be considered that the novel's more memorable characters are a bit cliche and the happily-ever-after denouement rather predictable, still a compelling moral emerges, ever so tenderly and gracefully to speak of a woman's heart and the healing power of love.

What I think is especially remarkable about Red Hats: A Novel is that its author, a young African American man, has so effectively and sensitively captured the essence of woman as wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend or as widowed, single, divorced, estranged or abandoned. The memorable protagonist Alma and the sisters of the Red Hats may be far from perfect women but like jewels in the rough they are beautiful in their flaws and represent the power of endurance, resilience and love.

All women will undoubtedly be able to relate to this endearing novel and I enthusiastically recommend it to all of my sister readers. Damon Wayans has tenderly dedicated Red Hats: A Novel to his inspiration ~ his mother. For sentimentality alone I applaud this charming little book.

I caught Damon Wayans interview with Wendy Williams, and out of curiosity, decided to search for "Red Hats" at Amazon. After reading the full book description and five star reviews (from just 2 reviewers at that time) I downloaded the book to my Kindle. Well, let me say that I'm adding my own five star review! I read this book in a weekend, and I would have finished sooner had I not been forced to occassionally put the book down! I enjoyed the characters and story so much, I was actually sorry when I finished reading. I highly recommend this book!

Mr. Wayans writes well in that it is a fast read. It is also a product of ethnicity and it is interesting to learn how these women think and how they look at the world we all live in. It certainly highlights the benefits of belonging to the Red Hat Society, especially for widows and single women over 50. I found myself pulled into the story and worrying about how it would all end. Well done and a good read.

When Alma and Harold first married, a moment never went by without them expressing the love they felt for each other. Soft spoken, loving words or a gentle touch were constant gestures of affection in their household. They were happy and their children were happy until Alma catches Harold and her best friend in a compromising position. The joy and happiness Alma once carried in her heart for Harold has hardened with bitterness and revenge. Her trust in her family and friends has been extinguished.

Over the years, there were many moments when Alma wanted to demonstrate her love to Harold but she would always fall short of going through with it, and the harsh, vindictive words would spew out of her mouth. But when Harold dies and Alma is alone, she wished she'd never said those malicious and hurtful words to him. At her lowest moment, Alma doesn't have the desire to carry on, but a group of ladies in red hats extend encouragement and friendship to her, and a suspicious Alma reluctantly accepts.

When I read the synopsis of the RED HATS and saw the author is comedian Damon Wayans, the first thought that came to mind was this book was going to be strictly hilarious. Boy was I wrong!!! RED HATS did have some funny moments, but the seriousness of the story surpassed the comical situations.
Cleverly written with a host of conceivable characters and a plausible plot, RED HATS reveals the importance of forgiving, love, and friendship. I could easily see this novel becoming a movie.

Reviewed by Sharon Lewis
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

This was a wonderful read. I started and finished it in a 24 hour period, stealing every moment I could to read it. It was an easy read from the first page. It's one of those books that you'll continue to think about the characters and wonder how they are doing.

Red Hats is a novel about a 60 plus year old woman who harbors alot of hatred and animosity from past dealings. Alma, married to Harold was a woman bitter at an old age who did not appreciate the smaller things in life-until it was too little too late. Once tragedy strikes her family, she regrets all the mean things she'd say and do to her family, and has an even harder time forgiving herself. Placed in a difficult situation, she meets a group of women who saves her life. They welcome her into their sisterhood, but bitter Alma doesn't trust too easily. A series of events pulls her into the group and eventually Alma learns to live again. I don't want to spoil the story, so I will stop here!!! lol


I thoroughly enjoyed this book! As a young adult, this story kept me captivated and wanting to know what was next! When I saw that it was by Damon Wayans, I rushed to purchase, and true to form, he did not disappoint!! I would give this novel twenty stars if I could!!! A sure classic in its own!!!

This is a very quick read, but not a very funny book (I was expecting one coming from a comedian). The main character is Alma a 64 year old woman who is both crass and insulting towards those around her. After her husband dies (to whom she is especially rude) Alma unwillingly picks up with a branch of the Red Hat ladies after they save her life. And she sure does shake things up a bit. This book does have sensitive subjects like drug addiction, jealousy, suicide, having sex with strangers, diabetes, and much more. For such a little book it tries to fit in a lot, and this is where it kind of looses me. I feel that it was rushed and it is not written to it's full potential. It's language is very simple and it feels a little rough in places. I think it would have been much better if it had been expanded and let all of these issues develop slowly and at a better pace, because right now it just feels rushed. There is just one problem after another.