Customer Reviews

Searching for Tina Turner

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As the highest ranking black employee of TIDA, it seemed that Randall had it all. Even though he enjoyed the power and the money the position brought, for him it wasn't enough, and he didn't intend to stop until he became the CEO. The fact that his wife, Lena, had made sacrifices and given up her dreams for years, didn't seem to matter to him.

While Randall is on a long business trip, Lena falls into a funk. No one can understand why she's not happy since she has everything money can buy. But Lena wants more - she wants to do something for herself for a change. When she buys a copy of Tina Turner's autobiography, she finds strength in the singer's life, and decides that she has to meet her.

Searching for Tina Turner by Jacqueline E. Luckett was a more serious book than I presumed from the title. As someone who has put her husband's career and her child's well being first, I could really relate to Lena. I'm lucky though, because my husband is supportive and considerate of me and my wishes, unlike Randall.

I'm here to tell you, I had quite a conversation with Randall while I read this book. I told him a thing or two and called him a thing or two. At one point, Carl looked at me, and said, "it's only a book." I've met several men like Randall through the years, and I didn't like a single one of them.

I really enjoyed Searching for Tina Turner and I loved that Lena found her inner strength and stayed true to herself. She learned to let go and not try to do everything for everyone and actually let someone do something for her from time to time. I do think this book will probably appeal more to middle aged women.

Searching For Tina Turner

I have gotten to used to easy reads. Things I could read easily without much effort, not much of a challenge. Easy words, simple subject matter or same subject different title. So when I started reading Searching For Tina Turner, I hate to say I was expecting same topic different day. What a pleasant surprise. At first, it reminded me of Terry McMilan.. I love complex books that make you think and feel and identify with the characters and subject, and make you read slow to savor the favor. Lena grabbed me into her world. Always doing and settling and waiting for her turn to live. She has a great life, a hubby, two kids and a dream. She really doesn't want much, all she wants is to be herself and do what she's always dreamed of. She wants to do something that makes her feel. She has become uncomfortable in her own skin and circumstance and starts reminiscing of better days and Tina Turner.

Discontentment makes you do things to satisfy an urge. It also makes you feel disconnected to your self.

Lena is tried of waiting for her turn and takes it. She leaves her "perfect" life to satisfy her life long dream that was always being put on hold. She decides to embark on a journey to find herself and Tina Turner. The people who she's put her life on hold for are not getting that she has to do this for her, and it's not about them. Lena jets off to Europe with a friend and a camera and Tina's sprit in her heart. She has tickets to see her in concert and while waiting for that day, she starts to discover the Lena , she has always wanted to be.

I loved this book. I call a grown woman read. It's about taking your control back and about being uncomfortable in a too comfortable situation.
5*****

Jacqueline Luckett's debut novel, Searching for Tina Turner, explores a woman's coming into her own and how she goes about making a change that empowers and validates her life. On the surface, Lena Spencer does not have it so bad; as a matter of fact many would say she has it damn good. She is married to a handsome, wealthy, high-powered executive, has a beautiful home in the Oakland hills of the San Francisco Bay Area, an active social life, two intelligent children, a fast red Mercedes sports car and all the clothes and jewelry she wants. They are walking in high cotton. In her 50s, she is now facing not only an empty nest but also feeling undervalued and underappreciated and a strong need to redefine herself. How can she get her husband, Randall, of 23 years, and her children to see she has goals and desires that have everything-- and nothing to do with them? Lena has put off her dream as a photographer in order to help Randall reach the successes he has obtained. Lena is unhappy and nobody around her seems to get it.

Randall and Lena's first date was a Tina Turner concert and a used copy of Tina's autobiography is about to become the catalyst for the change that is to come. She admires Tina's tenacity, strength of character and will to survive despite being an abused woman. Even though her life is different from Tina's she feels they are kindred spirits. Within a few weeks after a volatile dinner party at their home, Lena's life begins to unravel and she finds herself on the verge of divorce. Dealing with her angry children, ages 20 and 17, a mother who thinks she is making a mistake, and a new life-style, Lena is free to pursue her career and finds a job in an art gallery. With encouragement from her best friend, Cheryl, she heads to France, tickets in hand for a Tina Turner concert in Nice. This is where the story becomes alive; amongst the cobblestone streets, fabulous restaurants, and beautiful architecture, Lena feels her world is finally opening up. A chance encounter with an ex-boyfriend adds even more steam to the equation.

Reading the first three-quarters of the book was like déjà vu. I had read this story before; the premise of middle-aged wife who has everything and chucks it all to find herself and her purpose was a running theme in the 1990s. But in France the story takes on a life of its own. The scenery, the food, and the sights, were vividly detailed. You could taste the white Bordeaux; savor the flaky croissants and fresh-caught sea bass. I could see the scenery captured by Lena's camera lens on walking tours in both Nice and Paris; I felt as if I was there. One could feel Lena come alive and embrace all that was coming to her and you knew she was going to be all right and what had felt like an obsession with Tina Turner becomes symbolism for "a natural woman." With her talented pen, Luckett does a credible job of giving readers a flavor of Oakland and the surrounding Bay Area community. I look forward to her next offering. Final rating 3.5

The advanced reading copy of this book was provided by the author for review purposes.

Dera R. Williams
APOOO BookClub

Even though it moves quickly, Searching for Tina Turner isn't a book that you read in one sitting. It's worth following the characters and savoring the changes and realizations that Lena goes through.

The book opens with Lena watching Tina Turner dancing on TV. She's brought back to the memory of her courtship with Randall and since she misses him badly, she calls to tell him how she's thinking of him. He's in Hong Kong and it's 4 am and he's in the middle of a deal. At that moment, I'm fully behind Randall when he rebukes her. But Jacqueline Luckett is great at creating full bodied and authentic characters, so that we understand their motivations, strengths and flaws.

As Searching For Tina Turner progresses and Luckett reveals more about Lena, her life of luxury, and the accommodations that she's made for her husband, her children, and her friends, the story blossoms, Lena comes very much alive and I couldn't help cheer her on. Searching for Tina Turner is a story of a woman who was willing to give up everything that she had and to start over - it's a story of facing fears, gaining courage and being true to yourself.

ISBN-10: 0446542962 - Hardcover $24.99
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (January 27, 2010), 320 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.

I was disappointed by the book. It took me a while to read it and it just did not hold my interest.

I read this book during the hottest part of the summer, when I would love to have traveled far from the oppressive heat of Texas, so it was the perfect read to spirit me away, at least mentally, to a place I love: France. Luckett's descriptions of the French shops, brasseries and restaurants, as well as her pitch-perfect rendering of lazy days of lolling through the quaint nooks and crannies of Southern France, were just the ticket. Her prose is beautifully crafted, and her evocation of place is unmatched by anything I've ready recently. Though it's a familiar tale of mid-life love gone wrong, Luckett does a great job of giving it a fresh telling. Can't wait to see her next book!

"Searching for Tina Turner" Is a wonderfully written book and a wonderful way to make a tribute to one of our living legends. The book reminded me of when I was younger and how often we dreamed about our hero's and how we used our life parallels such as Lena made to compare her life situations. This book has done a wonderful job of brining back hope and fantasy to our society which is consumed with measuring our self worth that we forget to pursue our dreams.

Review by Arelia Sanders for Turning Pages Bookclub

Jacqueline takes on a journey, similiar to Terry..however, in a space that's singular, yet complex. The complexities and realness with the character is profound. Left me with moments of frustrations, "women, get up be strong, and suck it up" to "whew, you did it and found your inner strenght". I truly loved where this book took me, and where I, exhaled. When you presented your book at the 11th Annual Authors Luncheon at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, I was taken aback at your boldness in a good way. Your spirit really transcended my need to engaged in reading the book. You were excellent at the event and your smile is contagious - thanks for giving your time and sharing your talents - The San Jose Links, Inc. is forever you biggest supporters and fans!.

Readers familiar with the writing of Connie Briscoe, Terry McMillan, and Be Be Campbell Moore will welcome Jacqueline Luckett to the world of African-American literature during a time when the most prolific and popular African-American secular authors write about drug dealers, drug addicts, criminals, con artists, and gold diggers. Like her predecessors, Ms.Luckett writes for and about that forgotten segment of the African-American community, the college educated, middle class professional.

Lena Spencer has put off her professional dreams for some thirty odd years to provide emotional and social support for her husband Randall as he climbed the ladder at TIDA, to raise the children and run the household. Now that the children are leaving home for college, Lena wants Randall to reciprocate with emotional support as she returns to school to update her photography skills in preparation to starting her own photography studio. After all, they had an agreement that Lena would hold off on starting her career while Randall built his. Lena is tired of waiting and is ready to begin filling her dream, but Randall is still actively building his career and wants Lena to go along with the roles that they have been playing for the past thirty years, with Lena serving as housewife and social hostess. Even though Randall has provided a life of luxury and security for Lena and the children, Lena is prepared to give it all up and start her life over on her terms much like her shero Tina Turner.

Housewives who interrupted or postponed their careers to raise families will relate to Lena's universal journey and may be encouraged to revive their deferred careers or hobbies. Women experiencing the "empty-nest syndrome" and those experiencing menopause will also relate to Lena as they too begin time and dreams slipping away.

Lena is the main character and the only fully developed character. We see all of the other characters through her eyes. We are privy only to Lena's inner thoughts. We learn enough about her husband and children to know that she feels unappreciated as well as unfulfilled creatively. While I would have liked to have shared some of Randall's inner thoughts, not having access to his thoughts did not detract from my enjoyment of Lena's passage from self-denial to self-actualization, from allowing circumstances decide her fate to determining her fate for herself.

Although the characters are African-American, Lena's plight is universal and the story can be enjoyed by everyone. The average middle class American will recognize families like the Spencers among their neighbors.


SEARCHING FOR TINA TURNER is an excellent debut effort. There is a neglected audience waiting for reading material that portrays African-Americans in a positive and relevant manner, Ms.Luckett has addressed that audience in a meaningful way.

Lately Lena is starting to identify with her mother, Lula. She's a stay-at-home mom responsible for providing everything to everyone with little to no room for self. In her mother's time that may have been acceptable, but nowadays, Lena is looking for a lot more.

When Randall, her husband, humiliates her in front of dinner guests and the children disrespect her, Lena decides to pack her bags and follow her dreams. Just as her idol, Tina Turner, she wants to turn her life around. Like Tina did, she wants to make her dreams come true. With the help of her sister, Bobbie, and her best friend, Cheryl, Lena is looking forward to change. Will Randall and the children prevent Lena from finally pursuing her dreams?

"Searching for Tina Turner" was a good read. I'm the same age as Lena, and I can definitely relate to and identify with her. It seems after living and doing so much for others, you get an itch to do something meaningful and exclusively for yourself.

Reviewed by: Carmen