Customer Reviews

Waiting to Exhale

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I am amused at the nasty one star reviewers who feel that Waiting To Exhale is ONLY about black people, a kind of press conference for inter racial subject matter. Have you ever read Moby Dick? If so, I am here to tell you that is not about whales, not really-- and it is not about White whales either. I don't have time to teach the alphabet to nasty folks but I will try: Waiting To Exhale is a NOVEL. NOVELS are not to be taken literally, they are creative expressions. I can just see the surprised look on some simple faces -- go back to your Nickelodean, don't even bother with literature, stick to HIGHLIGHT magazine, and maybe -- maybe -- Goodnight Moon. Anyway I loved it; laughed out loud even the second time through. LOVE her way with dialogue and character. McMillan is a fresh and powerful voice who has, because of her extreme success and popularity, become a sometime target for the bitter and the jealous, not to mention the feeble. Spike Lee wrote a lengthy book jacket quote for the book, in support of Ms. McMillan, addressing the Black male issue as it pertains to the book, and perhaps this should be enlightening to those who care to look further. Spike Lee is not in the habit of suffering fools or racism -- so get a clue. His support and the support of thousands of loyal fans (black, white, red, yellow and purple) should prove that McMillan is a talent -- yes indeed, there are some who know how to read, not REED.

I really only finished it because I was curious as to whether or not these women would grow up. Here are these women in their mid-30's and they STILL haven't got it together about what a RELATIONSHIP is! I know this is just a fiction, but I kept wanted to SCREAM at the women, (especially Savannah and Robin) "Keep your legs closed for JUST a little longer so you can see what the guy is really made of!" I also hated all the derrogatory references to overweight people. The ONE overweight person in the book who has a SHRED of self-esteem ends up having something happen to her that is stereotypical of ONLY happening to fat people. I had a hard time REALLY believing that these were well-educated women in their thirties. I did things that stupid when I was in my twenties, so I had a very difficult time relating to the pubescent immaturity of these girls. The only woman I found myself liking a LOT was Gloria. She was the good friend, and an excellent and devoted parent who basically had an idea of what was important in her life.

'Waiting to Exhale' adds up to a few stereotypical caricatures plus a somewhat raggedy plot... so why was the book so popular? For one thing, it is falling-down-funny; for another, it tells a few home truths; and mainly, because the characters are people all of us have known at one time or another, regardless of ethnic or class background: Bernardine is every wife whose despicable jerk of a husband dumps her for a younger woman; Robin and Savannah are every woman with a genius for picking the wrong man; Russell is every wrong man; and Michael is every wrong right man (good husband material and zero in bed). We've all been there before.

McMillan clearly has sympathy for her four female protagonists; Robin may be dumber than a box of rocks when it comes to men, but you can't help liking her. McMillan is not a very deep writer and WTE is not a very deep book, but it's funny, perceptive, well written, and well worth reading.

Judy Lind

They say that the phoenix rises from its own ashes and is reborn. With much of the action of this book taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, the four leading characters all experience a fall and rebirth.

Without giving away too much, Gloria comes closest to a literal death and rebirth because of her health problems. I love happy endings, and Gloria has one.

Bernadine's fall occurs very early in the story, when her husband abandons her for a younger woman. Her war is fought in the courts, the "bad guy" being her lying, sneaking husband who is trying to keep all his money away from Bernadine and the children.

Savannah and Robin are similar in that they both fall for great looking men, and give away too much of themselves too soon. Their resurrection is one of the spirit, when they learn to stand up for themselves and stop being doormats to handsome men.

All four of these main characters are black women in their late 30s, and the biggest complaint in their lives is that black men are selfish, deceitful, arrogant, etc. Fortunately, Gloria and Bernadine find out that it isn't always that way. There are some gems out there. As for Savannah and Robin, they learn to re-evaluate their priorities. With superficial values like a handsome face and a chiseled body, you are bound to end up in a superficial relationship.

This book is very easy to read. At first I misunderstood the author and disliked her characters because two of them were so annoyingly superficial, craving one pretty-boy or another, defining men in terms of looks only. But I'm glad I stuck with it, because I see that the author felt the same way as I do.

If you want to find a moral here, it is that a woman really shouldn't sell herself cheap. She doesn't need to lay down with every handsome guy she meets, the day she meets him.

Ms. McMillan has proven to the literary world that she is a talented and gifted writer. I couldn't wait to get my hands on her book when I read and insert of a chapter in Essence magazine. I knew it was going to be a good book. I found it too hard to put down. I read it everywhere I was at immersing into each character's personality and problems with men, family, and work. John was wrong for leaving Bernadine for greener pastures after she helped build his business. Robin was an ultimate dingbat for getting involved with the wrong man. Savannah was headstrong but still looking for Mr. Right and being pressured by her mother to get married. And Gloria was a spiritual and hardworking black woman making ends meet for herself and her son. In the end, the characters triumphed from their adversaries. Some of those critics were quick to put Terry in her place when this book came out but she has proven to be a great writer for the African-American female.

I think that many women have at some point been in one of the four main characters shoes. We've all been dumped for another woman. We've all made stupid decisions in relationships and we've all put ourselves in a self-defeating relationship at one point in time. I'd love to meet the woman who was born perfect - born with all the right ideas about love and relationships. Sure, I wanted to tell Robin and Savannah to stop slutting around but it didn't make me angry or annoyed with the book. I noticed that many of the other reviews expressed that they became angry with the book because of the premiscuous behavior that some of the characters were involved in. Those of us who have been lucky enough to realize that sex does not equal love should applaud Terry McMillan for showing this to other women who are behaving like Savannah and Robin. Furthermore, for those of us who have been in Bernadine's shoes I was so glad to see that there was light at the end of the tunnel - that she rediscovered herself and she rediscovered love with the RIGHT man. A worthwhile read for ALL women. No matter what race or lifestyle we lead every one of us faces similar struggles.

Several years before "chick lit" became fashionable, "Waiting to Exhale" was published. While the four main characters are African American, the book transcends all racial, ethnic and national boundaries. All four women share one problem universal to the entire female gender: men.

Savannah is a PR executive who is moving from Denver to Phoenix to be near her best friend Bernadine. Bernadine has just been told by her wealthy husband that he is leaving her for a white woman. Gloria is the owner of an upscale hair salon for black women in Phoenix and the single mother of a teenage son. Robin is a very smart woman at her job at an insurance company and an incredibly dumb woman with men.
The book narrates (two of the stories are told in the first person, two in the third) the dating trials and tribulations of these women. Any woman who has ever dated in her late 30's will recognize the cast of characters: the married men who "plan to leave their wives," the men who have no money and no credit, the commitment phobics, the men who discover they are gay...

I would recommend this book to fans of women's literature: both serious and lighter. If you're a guy, you should pick this book up with caution!

I liked this book. Better than the movie. I felt the movie didn't address the issues each woman had with her mother. Part of the fun of this novel was comparing the characters with somebody you know, or trying to figure out who was the most like you. I really felt for Bernadine. What her husband tried to do was about as low as you can get. The shame is that there are so many men out there like that, who, even though it may be over between them and the ex-wife, no longer give a hoot about providing for their children either. How they can treat a child they helped to create like garbage is beyond me. Savannah and Robin where both a trip. They felt like they had to have a certain type of man to define themselves. The character that I liked the best was Gloria. Maybe because she wasn't a size six, and seemed more real and down to earth to me. Actually, I think a whole book could have been done just about Gloria and what went on in the hair salon! I would absolutely say to read the book, even if you saw the movie. You'll like the read better.

I think MacMillan is a terrifically entertaining writer. Her dialogue is hilarious and her characters, though sometimes a bit clueless, are certainly endearing. I find this book deeper than How Stella got Her Groove back, but don't expect Dickens. She's a sharp writer with a good eye for detail and dialogue who presents a fine portrait of upper middle class black women. As I said in my review of Stella, it's nice to see a positive economic/social representation of black women for a change rather than the cliched drug dealers and basketball players. These women are successful financially and are working on their social lives. She makes me laugh out loud at times thanks to her great sense of humor

I bought this book when the hype started, and I wanted to see what the big fuss was all about. Believe me, it was--and is---the bomb!!! Everyone knows sisters like the ones portrayed here, and had the movie ended like the book, it would've been given it the poetic justice it deserved (Whitney, as Savannah..?? PUL-EEZE!!!). It basically goes through all if the issues that Black women have today: kids, divorce, employment hassles, and looking for a good brother. Savannah ultimately got what she wanted (to be alone), Bernadine got her redemption ($ka-CHING!!$), Gloria was finally forced to prioritize (as well getting a new chance @ some booty) and Robyn finally stopped being dumber than a box of rocks. And brothers, if the truth hurts, say ouch and GET OVER IT, SHEESH!!! A great romp and fun to read!!!