Customer Reviews

Sugar Vs. Spice

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

 

 

Tari Shields is overly self-driven in every area of her life. She is a competent, up-and-coming star journalist at a Boston newspaper; she is an aspiring jazz vocalist in a local nightclub on the weekends and she is the best kick boxer in her exercise class at the gym which always lands her a spot in the front row. Melinda, her older sister, is the same kind of driven woman but in different areas of life - as a wife and mother, by thriving in her private practice as a marriage counselor and by being active in her church. Ever since Melinda's husband, Michael, got laid off, he has lost his drive and the ambitious nature that Melinda fell in love with. He traded that for staying home taking care of the kids and more time on the golf course than anything else.

Tari's life changes abruptly when she is diagnosed with breast cancer and has to learn to put her pride aside and rely on her faith. During this time of surgery, chemotherapy and recovery, Tari has a chance to bond with her sister, Melinda and her best friend, Rebecca - an East Indian girl from Trinidad that is an aspiring food writer and engaged to be married. Tari's desire to not let anyone think that anything can ever be wrong with her because she wants to come off as perfect with no defects, makes it more difficult for her to get through her recovery. She spends a lot of time hiding, lying and trying to convince everyone from co-workers to a potential boyfriend that she just has a cold or a two-week virus, instead of trusting them to have her back and support her as much as her family and Rebecca do.

The author originally presented the relationship between Tari and Melinda to be tumultuous; however, she did not provide enough examples from their childhood or the present to illustrate that kind of conflict. Instead, this reviewer interpreted their relationship to be a typical big sister/little sister rivalry that exists between many siblings. This reviewer was also confused about the relationship between Tari and Rebecca. Tari's being a Christian and Rebecca being a Hindu was something that always found them at odds because of their discussions about the differences in their religions. It was difficult for this reviewer to understand what drew Rebecca to Tari and Tari to Rebecca.

Overall, this reviewer enjoyed reading about Tari's journey from her cancer discovery to recovery, it was very enlightening. Anyone that has to go through this unfortunate experience will definitely be able to relate to Tari's trial and enjoy learning how it changes her as an individual.

Lena Willis
APOOO BookClub

Don't let the "chick lit" classification fool you: Joanne Skerrett's second novel has substance. Sugar Vs. Spice is a powerful story of change, courage, strength and love in the midst of adversity. The protagonist, Tari Shields, is an up-and-coming Boston journalist by day and a jazz singer by night. She's a contrast to her older sister, a perfect wife, mother, psychotherapist and church member. But just as things start looking up for Tari -- the biggest story of her career dominates the front pages of the Boston Standard -- she's diagnosed with breast cancer. Her illness transforms her relationships, her career and even herself. But this book is not a downer. Skerrett's wit, fluid writing style, humor, and dialogue keep the novel moving. Skerrett's first novel, She Who Shops, was a charming debut, but she raises the bar with this one and avoids sophomore slump. I look forward to more work from this author.

In "Sugar vs. Spice,'' you'll meet two fiesty, hardworking, ambitious sisters, Tari and Melinda, who are cut from the same cloth but are as different as can be. Tari is an aggressive, don't-get-in-the-way-of-her-biggest-story business reporter at The Boston Statesman newspaper. When she's not writing, she's singing her heart out at Boston area jazz clubs. Melinda is her big sister, aka Super Mom, to two darling young children. She's also a do-it-all wife and die-hard church-goer who struggles with a stay-at-home lazy husband who won't get off his feet and get a job. While the sisters clash in personalities and views on life, they manage to put those differences aside when Tari is diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening disease. Joanne Skerrett takes the reader through every nerve-wracking emotion, gut-churning feeling, mind-numbing frustration, and physically-altering pain as Tari undergoes the most personal, professional and medical challenge of a lifetime. But Tari's true virtue is her resilience and with help from her big sister and their mother Coletta, Tari learns that it's okay to lean on others, especially if they're your family, in a time of crisis.
You can't help but admire each sister (and mother) for her stubborness, which is rooted in a good place.
Skerrett also gives a nod to Boston's more unsung urban neighborhoods (Dorchester and Mattapan) by taking the reader on a literal tour of the communities through each chapter and through each sister.
Overall, Sugar vs. Spice shows that a little bit of both never hurts to have in your life, especially from a loving family.

5. The authors writing style is "simpligant" : A lovely combination of simple and elegant.

4. Family, Family, Family: In the end, it's all you have...

3. Offers a rare glimpse into the mind of young, ambitious woman struggling with Cancer

2. You are going to get a guided tour of Boston wrapped in a powerful story

1. A truly powerful story of human perseverance in the face of daunting adversity

SUGAR VS. SPICE is about two sisters who are total opposites of one another. Tari, a newspaper journalist by day and jazz singer at night, is the assertive, career-oriented and feisty one and psychotherapist, Melinda is the churchgoing, perfect wife and mother. Although the sisters are often at odds with one another, when Tari is diagnosed with a life-altering disease they learn some things about themselves and each other.

Tari's career has finally gotten the boost it needs when she breaks a corruption case which lands her on the front page of her newspaper. However, with her career on a high she has to face the fight of her life. Her journey to recovery including the fear, the questions of why, the physical changes and the affect on her family and friends teaches Tari that she can lean on others. When she finally discloses her illness, she realizes she is not perfect and she is truly blessed.

Melinda's marriage is in shambles and even with her doctorate in psychotherapy she can't seem to find a way to solve the problems in her own life. Being immersed in her church activities, doesn't ease the problems in her home. Her husband has become a disappointment to her, she feels used and wishes she could run away. With Tari's illness she starts to wonder what would happen if something happens to her. Would her husband, as lazy as he is, be able to take care of their children?

Although the story really delves into how Tari deals with her ailment it also gives readers an insight into the affects on all those close to the main character. Tari ends up learning more about herself, but her family, friends and even co-workers also learn something about themselves. This was a well-done story because readers get a very realistic and intimate view of the anguish, perseverance and strength it takes to overcome a life threatening illness. The pace and subplots were very motivating factors in keeping readers engrossed. The characters were well-written. When readers finish this story, they may have learned a little bit about themselves, too.

Reviewed by Cashana Seals
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

This isn't really a review, I didn't like the book. Period

Although this novel kept my interest throughout, there was much lacking in the storyline an character development. Tari and Melinda's brother was mentioned for the first time half way through the book and then later brought in for a few paragraphs. He was an unnecessary filler. The relationship between Tari and Shawn was not well developed and not enticing. Their conversations and meetings were redundant throughout. It was always him begging for more and her wanting to give but finding herself unable to. That got old really quickly. Melinda's supposedly great relationship with her husband was not historically developed therefore, I didn't see where or how greatness had been achieved. In short the characters were thin. The one thing that I did enjoy was the writer's decision to explain aspects of breast cancer in more than a cursory manner. It seemed as though she researched the disease and its consequences especially the side effects of various treatments. That was appreciated. I also like the various history lessons about Boston to which the reader was treated. All in all it was a satisfying read but not nearly memorable.

Tari Shields is overly self-driven in every area of her life. She is a competent, up-and-coming star journalist at a Boston newspaper; she is an aspiring jazz vocalist in a local nightclub on the weekends and she is the best kick boxer in her exercise class at the gym which always lands her a spot in the front row. Melinda, her older sister, is the same kind of driven woman but in different areas of life - as a wife and mother, by thriving in her private practice as a marriage counselor and by being active in her church. Ever since Melinda's husband, Michael, got laid off, he has lost his drive and the ambitious nature that Melinda fell in love with. He traded that for staying home taking care of the kids and more time on the golf course than anything else.

Tari's life changes abruptly when she is diagnosed with breast cancer and has to learn to put her pride aside and rely on her faith. During this time of surgery, chemotherapy and recovery, Tari has a chance to bond with her sister, Melinda and her best friend, Rebecca - an East Indian girl from Trinidad that is an aspiring food writer and engaged to be married. Tari's desire to not let anyone think that anything can ever be wrong with her because she wants to come off as perfect with no defects, makes it more difficult for her to get through her recovery. She spends a lot of time hiding, lying and trying to convince everyone from co-workers to a potential boyfriend that she just has a cold or a two-week virus, instead of trusting them to have her back and support her as much as her family and Rebecca do.

>The author originally presented the relationship between Tari and Melinda to be tumultuous; however, she did not provide enough examples from their childhood or the present to illustrate that kind of conflict. Instead, this reviewer interpreted their relationship to be a typical big sister/little sister rivalry that exists between many siblings. This reviewer was also confused about the relationship between Tari and Rebecca. Tari's being a Christian and Rebecca being a Hindu was something that always found them at odds because of their discussions about the differences in their religions. It was difficult for this reviewer to understand what drew Rebecca to Tari and Tari to Rebecca.

Overall, this reviewer enjoyed reading about Tari's journey from her cancer discovery to recovery, it was very enlightening. Anyone that has to go through this unfortunate experience will definitely be able to relate to Tari's trial and enjoy learning how it changes her as an individual.

Lena Willis
APOOO BookClub