And This Too Shall Pass: A Novel [Paperback]

E. Lynn Harris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 17, 1997

A stellar quarterback, an ambitious sportscaster. What happens when rising stars collide?

In And This Too Shall Pass, Harris takes us into the locker rooms and newsrooms of Chicago, where four lives are about to intersect in romance and scandal. At the heart of the novel is the celibate Zurich, a rookie
quarterback for the Chicago Cougars whose trajectory for superstardom is interrupted by a sexual assault charge by Mia, a sportscaster with her own sights on fame. With his career in jeopardy, Zurich hires Tamela, a high-powered attorney, to defend him, while Sean, a gay sportswriter, covers the story and uncovers his heart.

All of these characters face the challenge of keeping the faith--in themselves and in God--while Harris's heartfelt storytelling reveals how the love of family can help one to face the terrible legacy of long-held secrets. Throughout these characters' search for self-knowledge, Harris weaves the stories of MamaCee, Zurich's grandmother, whose lessons of faith teach one and all that "this too shall pass."

Breaking new ground in contemporary fiction, And This Too Shall Pass entertains and affirms with its stirring message about the healing power of family and faith.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Zurich Robinson is a young black starting quarterback for an NFL expansion team who, after refusing the sexual advances of a local sportscaster, finds himself accused of her rape. Readers know he didn't do it, because he's staying celibate while he figures out his sexual identity, a process complicated by the fact that he's got two different men interested in him--one just for the sex, and one for the love. His defense attorney has romantic problems of her own. Luckily, his grandmother has enough faith-driven wisdom to see everybody through. Overall, And This Too Shall Pass isn't quite as engrossing as Harris's Invisible Life series, although fans of that book will be intrigued by Basil Henderson's supporting role here.

From Publishers Weekly

In Harris's entertaining new work, the issues of sexual orientation that dominated his first two novels (Invisible Life and its sequel, Just How I Am) take a back seat to universal questions of justice, love and career. The melodrama here centers around three African Americans. Zurich Robinson, the starting quarterback for Chicago's new NFL team, shields his personal dilemmas behind an aloof manner that puzzles those who know him. Elsewhere in Chicago, Tamela Coleman, a frustrated corporate attorney considering opening her own office, has sworn off relationships with men?until she meets police officer Caliph Taylor. And in Manhattan, loneliness drives freelance journalist Sean Elliott to a series of unfulfilling sexual liaisons with other men. When Sean, a fan of Zurich's, is assigned to profile the quarterback, the two become friends. While accepting Sean's companionship, however, Zurich rejects another admirer, alcoholic TV sports anchor Mia Miller. But after Mia is raped and beaten, she points a finger at Zurich, who then hires Tamela to clear his name. Sean, meanwhile, aware of his growing attraction to Zurich, considers sharing his feelings, even as Tamela must decide about her future with Caliph. Harris's characters face problems including domestic abuse, alcoholism and sexual confusion, but the redemptive powers of family, faith and love?embodied in Zurich's grandmother MamaCee?help guide them to understanding. Despite some stilted dialogue, this novel should broaden the author's readership and reinforce his growing reputation as an accessible, younger voice in African American literature.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Anchor; 1st Anchor Books Ed edition (February 17, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385480318
• ISBN-13: 978-0385480314
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.8 x 7.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #362,889 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

E. Lynn Harris (1955-2009) is the author of ten previous novels and the memoir What Becomes of the Brokenhearted. His recent novels Just Too Good to be True, I Say a Little Prayer, A Love of My Own, and Any Way the Wind Blows hit the bestseller lists in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and other publications. He founded the E. Lynn Harris Better Days Foundation, a nonprofit company that provides support to aspiring writers and artists.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unforgetable!, March 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: And This Too Shall Pass: A Novel (Paperback)

I picked And This Too Shall Pass up about 18 months ago, not really knowing what it was, but needing to read something different. I fell in love with the characters after reading two paragraphs! I'm the type of person who reads a book once and then it goes on the shelf to collect dust, not this one. Every six months or so I declare an E. Lynn Harris day; I unplug the phone, put a "Do Not Disturb, I'm Sick" sign on the door, get a bottle of good wine, and break out his books. I still cry and laugh out loud reading And This Too Shall Pass, something that rarely happens. I absolutely love this novel and am looking forward to any and everything else by this wonderful author.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Just Okay, June 14, 2000

By 

S. Bishop "bookworm" (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: And This Too Shall Pass: A Novel (Paperback)

This was E. Lynn Harris' third novel. I liked it in many waysbut was disappointed in others. Compared to characters in his firsttwo books (Invisible Life and Just as I Am) these people seemed to lack the same emotion and inner struggle. I am guessing that the first novels were somewhat autobiographical and that enabled the writer to put more of himself into the stories. Though And This To Shall Pass was a captivating story, it seemed like more of a formula novel than one of real intent.

Perhaps I viewed his first two as informative. Single black women often joke that all the eligible black men are either married, in jail or gay. Mr. Harris schooled us that some of the so-called remaining good ones are secretly bisexual and leading lives which can ultimately wreak havoc for all involved. Most single women that I know who have read E. Lynn, recommend him. Those who haven't say they are too afraid.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This one could have passed me by...., December 7, 2000

By 

patricia bailey - See all my reviews

This review is from: And This Too Shall Pass: A Novel (Paperback)

I recently purchased all of E Lynn Harris' books and read them in order by release date. After reading the first 2 in less than 2 weeks, I was disappointed once i read this one. When I first began to read the book, I was impressed with the image of Zurich and his desire to remain celibate. But I was disappointed in the turn that was taken with the character. It took me about 2 weeks just to read this one. I only read it that quickly because I was in a hurry just to finish it so that I could get it over with. I didn't feel the characters in the book as I did with his other works, especially Sean. For some reason, I just didn't like him from the beginning. It may be that I am just partial to Raymond and Basil. I feel that Mr Harris added more depth and insight into the characters in his other books. Besides the lack of character development of this book, the plot was not very interesting either. For anyone who is fan of E Lynn Harris, or just beginning to read his novels, I recommend that you save this one for last. It was an ok read, but if it wasn't for the plot surrounding Mia, it would have been quite boring(this plot is the reason for the 3 stars). I recommend that you read the rest of his novels prior to reading this one. Not A Day Goes By, Abide With Me, and Invisible Life are his BEST!