Customer Reviews

The Warmest December

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Once again Bernice McFadden is on the scene and takes us to a place which vividly surpasses our wildest imaginations and makes us question whether The Warmest December is fiction or real life. Step Into Kenzie's world, where you discover a childhood lived in fear with an abusive and alcoholic father, Hyman Lowe aka Hy-Lo. Imagine Kenzie's childhood where most days were filled with sadness, pain, anger, harm and too many issues/situations that a child shouldn't have to live with. And then come full circle to One Warm December, where Hy-Lo/the Teflon man lay dying in a County Hospital, very much alone, estranged from family and himself. It starts on one cold winter morning, Kenzie is drawn by some unbeknownst force (maybe it was compassion, maybe it was pity for an old man who could no longer harm her) to take two buses daily to the hospital to be at the bedside of whats left of Hy-Lo. Hard-living had taken its toll on him and he was now a simple shell of the man he used to be: a man who was like Teflon and took to the bottle every day of his life to stifle out any emotions that tried to leak through when he was sober...which wasn't often. He was a man who was so horrible, that at the age of 5, Kenzie would start hating him and everyday of her life she would wish he was dead. A man who was like Teflon because he didnt allow anyone to get close enough to close the hole in his chest or the space near his heart. As Kenzie visits Hy-Lo and sits and waits for death to have its way with her father, she reminisces regarding yesteryears, and the memories of the past are filled with years of pain, hurt, abuse, anger and sorrow brought on by the wrath of Hyman Lowe. The wrath affected all of those who lived in Apt. A5: Della, the timid and scared mother; Malcolm the growing and daring only son; and Kenzie the only girl child. The trials and tribulations that this family experienced were so hauntingly and depressingly realistic that I pondered whether the storyline was fictional or factual. As I read, always lurking in the back of my mind was whether Hy-Lo was abused as a child by an alcoholic parent. I wondered if this was a generational issue and one that would take Malcolm and Kenzie to break the chains that appeared to shackle this family daily24/7, 365 days a year, for more years than I care to remember. The Warmest December is well-written and the subject matter is fierce and intense. The writing is vivid, graphic and yet lyrical; told in a storytelling fashion as only McFadden can do with supreme justice. As I read, oftentimes, I wanted to rush the story and get to the end so that I could quell the pain that I was experiencing. The message/storyline was so powerful that I was unable to read this book in one sitting; incidents would happen which would force me to set the book aside and come back at a later time. I couldnt give up reading this book though and there were times

when I wanted to; but then I would be drawn back because I wanted to know if my questions would be answered. Turning the pages of The Warmest December was sometimes emotionally hard but it was also hard not to turn the pages. I knew the answers lied deep within and I was determined to read until the very end to find out what made Hy-Lo tick and to discover whether Kenzie could end what appeared to be a vicious cycle. In the end, I discovered that "Some stories start out happy, go bad in the middle, and end up happy at the end. Still others start out bad, get worse, and still end up happy in the end. Hy-Los story started out bad, curdled up and soured in the middle, and ended up worse but for Kenzie there was still hope for change. Kenzie finds what she needs to sweep away the pain, open up the windows, and air out the hurt; letting in some joy and patching up that space near her heart; she learns how to apply a fresh coat of pain and move on with her life." I'm happy that I stuck with the Warmest December because I truly found closure in the midst of the Lowe's Family storm. Seeking wonderful literary reads and fiction that resounds with reality? Then check out The Warmest December and Sugar by Bernice McFadden.

The Warmest December by Bernice L. McFadden is a very haunting, depressing tale of life in home with an abusive alcoholic father. This is the haunting, depressing tale of a mother who wants her kids to have a better childhood than she did even if it means she has to suffer physical and mental abuse. This is the haunting, depressing tale that some people live with every day of their life.

In The Warmest December, I met Kenzie (our narrator), Della (her timid mother), Malcolm (her younger brother) and Hyman Lowe better known as HyLo (the father, the alcohlic, the tormentor). The story starts out with Kenzie telling us that she almost forgot she hated her father. She forgot how the sound of her mother's crying ate holes inside of her and ripped a space open near her heart. Those words pulled me into the story the way the unknown forced pulled Kenzie to the death bed of HyLo the father she's hated since she was 5...the father she's wished would just die and let everyone be happy. As Kenzie sits and watches her father or at least the shell of the man she has hated for so long she reminisces about her childhood. She tries to remember happy times but all her memories are filled with hurt, pain, abuse, anger, hatred, and sheer sadness that no one should have to deal with. Kenzie remembers the shouting, the bruises, the banging on the walls, the trips to the liquor store for HyLo, and the smell of gin and vodka that was ever present on HyLo's breathe.

I know none of what I've written so far will make you run to the nearest store and pick up this book but I will be the first to tell you that you should do just that. Why would I tell you to go out and buy this book? I'm telling you that because this book contains two lessons that everyone should learn. The first lesson is that alcoholism exists and it's a disease that not only affects the alcoholic but everyone around them in more ways then they could ever know. There are times when alcoholism is passed from one generation to another unknowing to the original alcoholic. The second lesson is that you are responsible for how the story of your life ends. There is a passage in the book that says "some stories start out happy, go bad in the middle and end up happy at the end. Still others start out bad, get worse, and still end up happy at the end." This was not the case for HyLo his story "started out bad, curdled up and soured in the middle, and ended up worse" Well Kenzie didn't want her life story to be that of HyLo but she wasn't sure how to change the writing that already seem to be on the wall. She eventually found a way to erase that writing and part of it was going to visit HyLo. During those visits and after dealing with her own bouts of alcoholism she realizes that she needs to get rid of the pain and let some joy into her life.

I gladly give this book a rating of 5 because the writing is so vivid and real that I actually felt the blows and heard the screams from HyLo and Della...I too hated HyLo and wished he would just die so that everyone could find some happiness in the life that he had thus far ruined...I too sat next to that bed and felt chills go up my spine by just the sight of the man who turned my life upside down...and I too felt that change that came of Kenzie on that warm December day.

The Warmest December paints a vivid and sorrowful picture of the life of Kenzie, a young woman whose alcoholic father is hospitalized and hovering at death's door. His daughter seemingly does not like her father, doesn't really know him, yet she visits him frequently perhaps to bring some closure to their painful relationship. As a child she endured beatings, humiliations, and other equally tragic events all at the hands of Hy-Lo, her drunken father. Kenzie and her younger brother are forced to observe how Hy-Lo abuses his wife, a woman who seems bound to him not just in name but other inexplicable and invisible reasons.

This was my first Bernice McFadden read and I enjoyed the lyricism and imagery of her writing. McFadden takes an abundance of words to draw, paint, shape, and sketch her characters. Her technique and skill allows the reader to delve deep within the story and feel their sorrow, share their pain. Also there are a lot of characters in this story and some stand out (e.g. Priscilla) and refuse to leave your mind long after the story has ended.

The story's timeframe jumped from past to present without warning and I'll admit this did result in a little confusion on my part. But nevertheless, the story is tightly written, impressive, and may give one a few things to think about - family, pain, misunderstanding, the price of forgiveness, and the struggle of redemption.

Cydney Rax

The Warmest December by Bernice McFadden deals with the detrimental effects of alcoholism... how the disease and its negative effects on the human spirit spread from one generation to the next. I appreciate the fact that Bernice McFadden did not sugarcoat the associated physical and mental abuse that alcoholism caused for Kenzie Lowe (the main character) and her family.

At the tender age of 5, Kenzie wished death upon the book's alcoholic culprit. As an adult, before her childhood wish is granted, Kenzie realizes the causes of the culprit's disease, which lead to her own.

We all know or have had to deal first-hand with people who suffer from alcoholism and, in many cases, have been negatively effected by their disease. After reading this book, the pain, hurt, guilt, and shame that the disease has imposed can be released, allowing one to move forward.

I just recently completed Bernice McFadden's second novel, The Warmest December. What a compelling, heartbreaking, gut-wrenching story, that's sure to pull at your heart strings. Page after page, I couldn't imagine what would happen next. My heart ached for the Kenize and Malcolm Lowe and the pain they had to endure from their abusive father Hy-Lo(Hyman Lowe)There were times when I thought how could anyone be that cold-hearted and mean-spirited and then you meet Gywenth Lowe, his mother and their grandmother,who passed the genocidal traits down to her sons. What enraged me even more was that their mother Della, had the opportunities time and time again to save her children and herself as well but, sacrifices it all for what she values. Her own mother couldn't convince her, she was playing with fire. Her confession at the end of the book, was truly a shocker but, gave me some type of understanding as to why they endured so much pain and heartache at the hands of a mad-man. I found that even in those situations of domestic abuse, women try to convince themselves and others that, they're loved, well-cared for, etc. This story gives insight into the lives of abused children and all they suffer as children and possibily adults. You see the toll that it takes on other family members and friends of the family as well. Berince did a beauitful job bringing such a touchy subject to light and giving Kenize Lowe the strenght to share her story with the reader. Bravo!! Bravo!! Bravo!!

As I expected, The Warmest December is a very gooood book. Bernice McFadden can tell a story. When I started this book, I couldn't put it down until I finished the entire book. The theme reminded me of Gal, by Ruthie Bolton. Can't wait for her next one. Thanks for a well written book.

A painful, honest and encouraging look at the complexity of abusive relationships. Reminiscent of Toni Morrison...well worth the read.

With the Warmest December, Ms. McFaddens writing has joined the likes of sister Toni Morrison. Both authors weave tells so vivid that a reader cannot help but feel all the emotions of the characters. at times i was tempted to but the book down because of the descrpition of the fighting. in the Warmest December i couldnt help but feel the the blows that Kenzie took form her father, the hate she felt for Gwenyth and Hy-Lo and the sorrow Kenzie held for her mother. The use of the hospital (with it being a depressing place), the nurse and the meetings to bring forth memories of Kenzie's past was great. But it was a shame that ONE person (already in hell) took an entire family through hell.......and im not talking about Hy-Lo, im talking about his mother!!! while Hy-Lo was not a strong father figure, there really wasnt a choice for him. he just did what was shown to him. and this was passed from family member to family membe until one comes to grips with reality.

Sugar is a great book but this, in my eyes, is a work of art. Ms McFadden keep up the good work. i look forward to you next novel.

Bernice McFadden is a gifted storyteller. If you enjoyed her previous book "Sugar", you won't be disappointed. Ms. McFadden's voice will be described as "classic literature" in years to come.

The Warmest December is the kind of story that leaves you speechless. I was hooked from the very beginning where the main character tells us that she forgot to hate her father. From that point, her healing can begin and she gathers an understanding of and begins to recover from generations of an affliction that affects not only her as an individual but her entire family. Bernice puts the pain of alcoholism and its legacy down on paper expertly.