Customer Reviews

Till You Hear from Me: A Novel

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It has been one month since the election of President Barack Obama and Ida B. Wells Dunbar is still waiting for a job offer. She was convinced that by now she would have heard something. Particularly, since she has devoted the past 18 months of her life to helping to get him elected. Ida B. has even gone so far as to tell her father, the Reverend Doctor Paul Dunbar, that she has a job and he has told all of West End Atlanta. To make matters worse it seems that Reverend Dunbar is losing his grip. He has said publicly things about the new administration and other races that has made all who know him squirm and question his sanity. So, when long time family friend, Miss Iona, calls Ida B. and tells her to return home she is not ready, partly because she and her father are not in agreement about the new president and because the whole city thinks she is part of the new administration. However, family is most important and Ida B. must return home at least temporarily. Till You Hear from Me by Pearl Cleage tells the story of what happens when the prodigal daughter returns home and nothing is quite what it seems.

I read Till You Hear from Me by Pearl Cleage in one sItting and enjoyed every word. Ms. Cleage takes us into the world of current politics and mixes it with the way the Old Guard considers the New Negro. There were so many laugh-out loud moments and many others that made this baby-boomer say, `Oh yes.' One interesting component was how the author wrote about what she coined,
The Post Racial Blacks', the group of well-educated African-Americans who feel removed from the civil rights struggle. It will give the reader much to consider. I recommend Till You Hear from Me to every reader who enjoys a well-told story with bits of politics, urban-renewal and old-school common sense.

This novel was provided by the publisher for review purposes.

Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub

I have read other works by the great author Pearl Cleage, Till You Hear From Me is now my favorite. I loved the presence of real people in the novel. I admired the knowledge of the elders,their gentle firmness. Would like to have a continuation, so I can see how Ida's job in Washington in the Obama adminstration works out. I loved this book!!!!

This book was timely, funny, and insightful. I would love a sequel to this one. Well done Ms. Cleage!!

Only child to a stern, know-it-all, old-school civil rights pastor emeritus, and an ultra-feminist mother, Ida B. Wells Dunbar finds her way, and herself, in this tale of old school vs. new school, family and politics.

Post-Obama campaign, Ida hopes to land a position working in the White House, especially after she and her father have worked so hard to help President Obama become elected. The challenge begins when the parent and child dynamic is rocked for differences of opinion, casual outbursts, media frenzy and people with alternative motives.

I particularly enjoyed the way Ms. Cleage wove themes of traditional and new ideologies, politics, community and family into this story. Some of the issues I found myself pondering while reading this selection were the emotional struggles an aging generation may face in passing responsibilities to a younger generation, and acceptance of new technologies and ways of doing things; the level to which some will go for the almighty dollar - greed; and, the importance of not only family, but the well-being of the community and the nation as a whole.

The characters in the story made it even more interesting. I found one of the characters, Miss Ionia, to be very direct, and she even made me laugh a few times. She was my favorite. I read this selection in 2 days, wanting to know what happened next and to finally get to the bottom of the mystery. I recommend this selection and will definitely consider other titles authored by Ms. Cleage.

Review by Tavares S. Carney

I must say this is an awesome read and even magnificent audible. I fell in love with this book. At first glance I questioned if it's attribution. Chapter one silence all uncertainties. Pearl Cleage did an excellent job of capturing the historical essence while keeping the me captivated with the fictional surface. I must admit there were definitely times I speculated if this tale didn't have some legitimacy. Either way it's breathtaking and astounding! I will definitely return to read it again. It is officially among my favorites.

I've read all of Pearl Cleage's novels. Frankly, I simply get lost in the pages and feel as if I am there in the neighborhood, feeling the beat of the streets, smelling the food, and listening to the music. This woman can write!

Really cool ending.. I liked this book as much as her others.. Clever writer, I like her style. The ending of the book was as hoped, but not expected.I would recommend this author to readers who are looking for an uplifting story who want to embrace woman-power.

Pearl Cleage has done it again and then some! This is now my favorite of her novels.

It happened during my lifetime! A Black man, Barack Obama, became President of the United States of America. How proud I was that evening as I sat sending up a fervent prayer for him and his family, in the midst of a celebratory crowd in Decatur, GA. Little did President Obama expect, nor did many of us, that the Change he sought would require, not only fighting the deeply imbedded racism of Americans, but also the inbred distrust of Blacks in these United States of America. HOPE for CHANGE. The country continues to suffocate under the chaotic economy, the wars of deception and the callous greed of the wealthy--the legacy of two Bush administrations. There is no honor among swindlers and thieves and a thug is thug, no matter the color of his skin or the cost of his suit.

The small community of West End in Atlanta, Georgia, Cleage's neighborhood, is the setting of her latest novel. In this story, Cleage examines the relationships between parents and their grown children as America's new head of state begins his first year in the Oval Office. How far have we traveled from the values our parents tried to instill in us and how often are we reminded that we carry home with us where ever we journey? Why has Mr. Eddie's son Wes become one of the thugs who doesn't remember his home training or his father's sacrifices? "In Till You Hear from Me" the old lions, who have fought so long and so hard, are waiting for us to take over the fight for justice, freedom and equality. That's what the Reverend Horace Dunbar expects of Ida and perhaps that's what the Reverend Jeremiah Wright expects of Barack. "When Lions have Historians, only then will hunters cease to be heroes"-an African Proverb.

I titled my eview timely because it was on time with the politcal aspect..and I also called it timely because the book took up my time. I am a fan of Ms. Cleage, but this book dragged for about 120 pages for me. Why did I keep reading? Because the 4 previous reviews gave it 4 stars. Plus I spent 17 bucks for it at the bookstore. So I was wondering what I was missing. Still a fan of Pearl Cleage,though.