Water in a Broken Glass [Paperback]

Rose Odessa (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0964763575 | ISBN-13: 978-0964763579 | Publication Date: September 2000

A talented sculptor becomes the centerpiece of a love triangle with the man of her dreams, and the woman destined to become her reality. In Water in a Broken Glass, Odessa Rose paints a landscape where identities sculpted by art and narrow boundaries are put to the test of life and all of its possibilities.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

African American sculptor Tonya has come a long way from her parents' cramped basement where she tried to make sense of her feelings while working with only three modeling tools and one bag of clay per month. She now has a major one-woman show coming up, having worked for 10 years in a sculptor's paradise, a bright third-floor studio only 20 minutes from her Baltimore home. She's also in love at last, with Malcolm, a handsome CPA, and both sets of parents have met and are ready for grandbabies. Then memories of the high-school fascination/obsession she had for Meyoki, a tall, dark (though not as dark as Tonya) transfer student, resurface when she walks into a bookstore and meets a tall, very dark woman who mesmerizes her, eventually changing the direction of her life. Rose's meditative insights into family closeness and loyalty and her exquisite sense of detail make this a promising debut and a strikingly unusual romance. Whitney Scott
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: La Caille Nous Publishing Company (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964763575
• ISBN-13: 978-0964763579
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #835,601 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Odessa Rose was born in Baltimore, MD. She is a writer of fiction. Her first novel, "Water In A Broken Glass," was published in 2000. It grabbed the #6 spot ont the "On Demand Best Seller List." Water was recorded for the Maryland School for the Blind and used in a graduate level literature course at Wake Forest University. Her long awaited second novel, "In the Mirror," was published in 2011. Rose lives in Baltimore with her husband and three children. She is currently at work on her third novel, "Kizmic's Journey."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This Novel DEFINITELY isn't broken! GREAT debut novel!, January 7, 2001

By 

ChickLitGurrl™ "Shonell Bacon" (Lake Charles, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Water in a Broken Glass (Paperback)

Like a lot of readers, I judge a book by its back cover. If you can entice me with the back, then you at least get a chance of having me BEGIN the book. Admittedly, the back of Odessa Rose's novel, WATER IN A BROKEN GLASS, wasn't what drew me into the novel, because once you have read it, you know that the back cover description just DOESN'T do this novel justice.

WATER IN A BROKEN GLASS is the tale of Tonya Mimms, a wonderfully talented sculptor, who has always felt that something about her sexually wasn't as 'normal' as all her friends. In her mission to be what everyone around her WANTS her to be, as well as the haunting thoughts of a high school incident that leaves her sexually-confused, Tanya finds herself immersing her entire being in the world of sculpting, and at all cost, avoiding love. Unexpectedly, she finds herself in a rainy day encounter with the handsome Malcolm Holland, a man who quickly becomes a part of Tonya's life, and whom Tanya falls head over heels in love with. Just when she thinks her life of career and love is complete, she meets the dark and beautiful Satin Pierce, a woman who has her once again, questioning her sexuality and what she truly wants out of life. Will Tonya finally learn to live for herself...or will she be swept into doing as others SAY? That's the big question in this romantic drama.

I was extremely impressed with Rose's grasp of language and description. An example can be found earlier in the novel, when Tonya has met Malcolm and goes on a bike ride with him:

"...I let out a little scream and grabbed him tightly around his waist, but I couldn't hold all of him. It was almost as if everything this man was and would be couldn't fit in my arms. And if I really wanted to hold onto him, I'd have to take pieces of him and streak them through my hair like dye, dab them behind my ears like perfume, stick them in my mouth like tongue kisses, and wear them on my legs like stockings. Oh, my hands could do wonders with his body, I thought."

Rose vividly describes her characters, and it was so easy to see them as the drama unfolded. Not only is WATER IN A BROKEN GLASS a romantic drama, but it also goes into self-discovery, coming-of-age, sexuality, self-esteem, with the ultimate moral theme being to follow your heart, to not let others keep you from your true happiness. Who you are and what you do may cause conflicts in your life, but in the end, if you aren't true to yourself, you're living a lie.

This was one of the first novels I've read where homosexuality played a theme with the main character(s), and Rose did an excellent job in writing the scenes and feelings of the characters in a tasteful and realistic manner.

It's a nicely paced novel that is both entertaining and thought provoking.

Shonell Bacon....

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The new Howard Street, October 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Water in a Broken Glass (Paperback)

Water In A Broken Glass is a really good read.It gives a view of Afro-American Lesbians that is seldom addressed and it doesn't focus on the sexual aspect. It concentrates on the feelings of the people involved, their fears and expectations. Odessa Rose has really done her research and gives a real look into the lives of her characters and Baltimore City. It was great to read book that didn't have unnecessary sex or violence on every other page. I really liked it!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved, loved, LOVED this book!, October 11, 2005

By 

Mizukan (chicago, il) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Water in a Broken Glass (Paperback)

My only question is, why on earth is it out of print?? I am an avid reader and try to read most African American lesbian-oriented fiction that I can get my hands on. The sad thing is, there isn't much out there, and of that that is, there isn't alot that's good...or true. What's wonderful about this book is that it's both. It's great writing---strong plot, great character development and tight storyline. But more importantly, its TRUE. I could relate to every part of this story---both those that I've lived and those I've only heard about. And my partner and every friend I've told to read this book have all said the same. Please get this book back into print and then, Ms. Rose, please pick up your pen and let us know what happenend next! We're waiting with baited breath!!!