Customer Reviews

What You Owe Me

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When you look at this book you may gawk at the length but as you read you will forget about the size and be mesmerized by the story. What You Owe Me is the story of Hosanna Clark and Gilda Rosenstein. One black, one Jewish, both determined to become successful businesswomen at the end of World War II. Hosanna has the desire while Gilda has the formulas to form a cosmetic company.

Fast forward to Matriece "Triesey" Carter, she is the daughter of Hosanna. Matriece makes it her personal mission to avenge what she believes is Gilda's betrayal of her mother. This is done at the expense of her relationships with others.

There are many other characters with their own stories. Campbell weaves this tale so that everything and everyone's story has closure and just maybe a little too "happily ever after". You have Vonette, Matriece's sister, and her Mexican brood who was not interested in Hosanna's dreams. Uncle Tuney, Hosanna's brother, and his decades-long litigation against a Texas magnate to regain his family's land. Blair, Matriece's friend from the old neighborhood who "made it". Mooney, Hosanna's financial "backer". The Montgomery family, a rhythm and blues star, Gilda's children and a host of other characters. There is more to say about the characters and their stories but to do that would give the story away and this is must read from a fabulous author.

I enjoyed how the book opened and ended with the voice of Hosanna. She boldly claims "closure is what I'm seeking. Death ain't nothing but another opportunity." What You Owe Me should appeal to all because demonstrated are relationships across racial and economic lines and also some classism within a class. Campbell demonstrates that money can not buy happiness and love but love of family, despite material wealth, can bring so much joy.

This is an excellent selection for any reading group, as it would provide a lively and lengthy discussion. This is a moving account of betrayal, love and healing.

Bebe Moore Campbell continues to prove that she is a gifted storyteller and her latest novel, What You Owe Me lived up to this reader's expectations! Initially, one might be daunted by the thickness of the book...but make no mistake by delay reading this book...cause it is truly a page turner...in fact the writing was so compelling that I tried to read this book in one sitting and almost succeeded. The story is well-crafted with a good storyline; realistic and dimensional characters; vivid imagery and shocking plot twists and turns.

In spite of better race relationships today, it is still often surprising to hear of an African American and a Caucasian being good friends more or less business partners. So, of course, this was even more surprising and suspicious when Hosanna Clark(an African-American woman) and Gilda Rosenstein(a Jewish woman) decided to embark on a friendship and business venture in the 1940s. As many would predict, the business would take off and be successful, however, Gilda would disappear along with the assets. Hosanna would be doubly betrayed: financially ruined and emotionally bereft. Although, Hosanna would make a go at it as a solo entrepreneur, she would never achieve the fame or status that she deserved and years later, when she passes away, her small cosmetic company dies with her. But Hosanna leaves behind a daughter, Matriece, who is determined to right the wrongs suffered by her mother by taking on a mission to collect her mother's debt.

What You Owe Me is a story that spans 50 years and introduces one to the lives of Gilda and Hosanna as well as their offsprings. While the story is primarily about Gilda, Hosanna and Matriece...their stories are intertwined with a host of secondary characters in the book as well as the subplots involving these secondary characters. Campbell exposes us to the themes of friendship, education, absentee parents, interracial relationships, parent/child relationships...but resounding throughout all of the themes and relationships is "what you owe me". In the end, Campbell shows that understanding, acceptance, forgiveness, and reconciliation are necessary in order to come to terms regarding troubles of the past and to heal from the wounds of yesterday.

Pick up What You Owe Me by Bebe Moore Campbell today! This is an engrossing and emotionally rich story that you will want to read and experience for yourself. I don't think you'll be disappointed in this stellar novel from Bebe Moore Campbell.

What You Owe Me opens p with Hosanna Clark, Gilda Rosenstein. Gilda opens the door to somthing special for both of them With Gilda's knowledge of cosmetics and Hosanna's energy they start of producing lotion for black women. Gilda and hossana become partners, they become friends as well.

As time goes by they are doing well but Gilda somehow disappear and take all the assetes that they made. Hossannafeels betrayed and finacially ruined. Hosanna's tries to persue her dream alone but we all know that back in the 1940's no AA could not start there own business and succed, years latershe pass away and her small business dies with her.

Hosanna leaves behind two daughter Vonetta and Matrice. Matriece is smart and determined as her mother Matriece starts recognize that white firms are competeing not only for black concumers but also for black professional talent.

Matriece decides to take a mission to collect her mother debt.

Bebe Moore Campbell takes us on a trip down the road in the 1940's this was and excellent book this story as many characters but all storied have a closure it was just a excellent read . if you have not picked up a cop of What You Owe Me. what are you waiting for?

Peace Love and Blessings goes out to Bebe Moore Campbell

Before I read this book, I thought it would be a very straightforward tale of betrayal, revenge and reparation. In some sense, it is just that. But there are so many other things going on in this book that I think the main story gets lost somewhere.

The first 11 chapters of this book is a fairly tight and riveting story of Hosanna and Gilda's relationship. We hear the story of Hosanna and Gilda in Hosanna's first-person narration. It is post WWII L.A. Black people have not prospered the way they should have. Hosanna is a maid who is strong willed and ambitious. She doesn't want to wash people's floors for the rest of her life. Although an optimist, Hosanna is very emotionally hardened by the relentlessness of daily racism. At one point later on, Matriece, Hosanna's daughter says "She was born the wrong race and the wrong gender at the wrong time." There is a clear message even in these early pages that Hosanna could have been a success if it weren't for the tragedy of racism.

Along comes Gilda who is a Jewish woman. She is, as seen through the eyes of Hosanna, a timid woman who is simply surviving day to day from the ravages of her past. She is a Holocaust survivor of the Nazi death camps. Because this first part of the book is told from Hosanna's viewpoint, we never get a real bead on Gilda. For me, she remained a very remote figure, even later on when the POV switches to the third-person omniscience of the author. She is molded not just by her experiences as a prisoner but also as a person who finds herself in Hosanna's forceful presence. Even though it is true that she takes off with the money she and Hosanna make from their small cosmetics venture, it is very difficult to actually hate Gilda.

At about chapter 12 the focus shifts, in more ways than one. We are now in present day LA and Hosanna's daughter Matriece is living the bitterness of her mother. She is working for Gilda, who is now a cosmetics giant (think Estee Lauder) and biding her time to get the reparations she is owed. But this isn't the only story. The narrative splinters all over the place. We get a story of an unhappy singer and her relationship with her absentee dad. We get a story of a woman who is slowly losing touch with her son. We get a story of a man with a gambling problem who is desperate for money. We get the story of the directionless son of a powerful black businessman. There are a lot of little stories all interconnected that get a lot of attention but the main story of Hosanna's legacy gets buried somewhere amongst them all.

Of course there are some interesting themes that run through all the stories. The treacherous waters of parent/child relations run through all the stories. Matriece and Hosanna's relationship is just a back-drop for all the other parental relationships in the story. And the title alone "What you owe me" is strongly thematic of the entire book. Reparations is a heavy undercurrent in here. Gilda's receipt of a check from a Swiss bank with the money from her parents' savings (including 50 years of interest) is just a tangible (and ironic) example. Everyone in the book is seeking some type of reparation for something owed. But while the message of reparation is unmistakably clear, the answers to the question it raises is not so clear. Is it worth the time, effort and emotional toll to seek what is owed or is it better make a fulfilling life with what you have?

I wish the book had been more focused on Matriece's struggle and Hosanna's legacy. As it is, it becomes almost anticlimactic. I did like the book because, although I found these other people's stories somewhat distracting, I couldn't help but like them, become very involved in them and root for them. This is a testament to Ms. Campbell's the absorbing storytelling. While I can't give this book 5 stars, I do think it is a good absorbing read and I do recommend it.

This novel was a bit lengthy, but dont let it dissuade you from reading it. It was a very enjoyable read spanning three generations and fifty years. In the early part of the novel, the two primary characters, Hosanna Clark and Gilda Rosenstein, one black, one Jewish form a friendship and business only to end in Gilda betraying Hosanna. The remainder of the story includes an interesting cast of characters who are largely members and friends of both families including one of Hosannas daughters (Matriece Triesey Carter) who learn of Gildas perfidy from their mother and feels obligated to right the wrongs done to her mother. The plot thickens as the history, hidden agendas, and background of the characters are revealed. Without revealing too muchthere were lessons to be learned in the lives of these charactersthe pain of vengeance, peace of atonement, and the power of forgiveness. Campbell crossed race and socio-economic lines to bring life to a great novel.

Although some parts were slow and in this readers opinion I think it could have been shortened, this was a true page-turner, especially in the last 1/3 of the book. You'll leave with a message that we all need to consider...

A book about love, hopes, desire, fear, racism, devotion and loyalty all wrapped into to one book. I really enjoyed this book it was so interesting. It is truly amazing to me that an author can take all of these different characters and describe them so vividly and have their lives intertwine. Mrs. Campbell you are an awesome writer who has a knack for describing, you leave nothing to the imagination. I have been reading all my life and I have read thousands and thousands of books but I must say that this is the best book that I have ever read. I have encouraged all of my friends to read this book for a little black history, I told them it would make you look at life a little bit differently or at least make you think about life and your position and role that you are playing in life be it that you are a husband, wife, mom, dad, aunt, uncle, friend, etc.... what do you contribute to your life and the ones around you. Although I really enjoyed the ending of the book I dread coming to the end I wish that it could have been longer or maybe a second book. Thanks Mrs. Campbell for your enlighten spirit, there was something in this book for everyone keep doing what you do I will continue to look forward to your new books, from your new fan.

This book began in such a powerful way. The first hundred pages are an excellent story of friendship and betrayal. You really feel for these women and I wished that Hosanna and Gilda had developed their own companies and competed that way. But Hosanna died and took the wonderfulness of the book with her. The story takes a Judith Krantz turn with all these characters that seem to have nothing to do with the story of Gilda and Hosanna. Though excellently written, the story becomes all powder and fluff. Perhaps this is to show how surface people in this industry are. I'm trying to finish this book but too much time is spent on these vapid characters that I'm just not feeling. The story becomes like everything else out there. What a shame for a book with such a promising start. I'll try and finish it, but I'm in no rush.

It's very rare that I call a book a page turner, but this was one of those books that was impossible to put down. From the very first chapter where the ghost of Hosanna Clark begins her narrative and the vivid images Ms Campbell draws with each character, I am sorry that the book had to end.

This is the story of two women, (one black, one white) who meet when they are working as maids in a hotel. The black woman, Hosanna, who is transplanted from Texas befriends Gilda, a Holocaust survivor and together the two of them feed off each other's strength and draw the best out of each other . They soon use that strength to begin a cosmetic company marketing to black women.

But Gilda skips out on Hosanna and all Hosanna can do is funnel her anger and hate for Gilda into her own company and pass on her grudge to her daughter Matriece.

What follows is a book that forces all of the characters to confront their choices in life, and makes everyone examine what a grudge can do to the soul, how secrets can devour your life, and how the act of forgiveness can be cleansing.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to laugh, cry, and feel inspired all at the same time.

"What You Owe Me" is an engaging five-hundred-thirty-three page drama that was well worth the wait. While having the multi-layered developmental syle of the master storyteller, Morrison, [Toni], Campbell's books are far easier to read, and have such a natural flow that they become can't-put-down books. Campbell's gift is her ability to make characters in her book come to life. In each of her books, the character's voice is clear and distinctive.

As a writer, who happens to be Black, Campbell delivers a well-written story for readers, regardless of ethnicity.

Ms. Campbell's personal appearance exudes meticulousness, which is even more apparent in her writing. Campbell is obviously dedicated to her craft and takes pride in producing quality not quantity. Again, "What You Owe Me" was worth the wait.

I can't wait 'till my book group discusses "What You Owe Me," as I'm anxious to hear whether or not they share my opinion.

If I were to rank Ms. Campbell: Tied for #1 Your Blues Ain't Like Mine, & What You Owe Me, #2 Sweet Summer, #3 Brothers and Sisters, #4 Singing in the Come Back Choir.

I've alreay cast the movie. However, a television series would work.

I was surprised at some of the not so good reviews, but as a published author myself, I realize that the taste buds of readers vary. I, personally, was not intimidated by the size of the book. If grade school kids aren't intimidated by Harry Potter books, then I can't imagine grown folks being intimidated by this book. Size matters. The bigger the better. I love a nice long book I can spend time with. Quickies are okay sometimes.

I must admit, I enjoyed the book more in the beginning chapters when it was being told in first person by Hosanna. But when the story switched to third person and started documenting Hosanna's daughter, Matriese's, life, I thought: Wow, this is a brilliant switch up. It was as if Hosanna had passed the torch to the next generation. In being truthful with this review, I must say that Hosanna brought such a fiesty kick to the story. I was hoping Matriese would have that same fiesty attitude and I was dissapointed when she didn't. This is why I give the book four stars instead of five. A fiesty headstrong character adds spice and kick to a fiction novel. So when the story switched to third person, it did lose that kick, but it didn't lose good story telling.

I did start to wonder what the deal was when characters starting turning up here and there, but I'm patient. I knew, from the reputation of Mrs. Campbell that proceeded my reading this novel, that the story would tie together. I wasn't one bit worried. For a minute I even felt like I was watching a version of the soap opera The Young and the Restless.

This is my first time reading one of Ms. Campbell's books and this is the first time I have ever written a review on amazon.com (and for another author under a different publishing house than mine to say the least). But this was just one of those books that I felt compelled to share my thoughts on.

I once saw Mrs. Campbell speak. Well, actually I saw her twice. It was once in New Orleans at the Essence Music Festival and once in California where she spoke along side Eric Jerome Dickey, Omar Tyree, J. California Cooper and an up and coming author. It was in California where I heard her read an excerpt from this title. I knew I had to have it right then and there. Because of my own writing schedule, it has taken me all the way up until now to get to this book. Besides the excerpt Mrs. Campbell read, one other thing I remember during one of her speaking engagments was that Mrs. Campbell was asked if she had ever read a book and thought to herself "I wish I had written that book myself". She responded with a book by Toni Morrison. If someone was to ask me that same question today I would respond "What You Owe Me" by Bebe Moore Campbell.

Avid readers who are not initially intimidated by the size of the novel will appreciate it more so than a virgin to the likes of true literary works who, of course, will be intimidated by size. I've come to learn that how well you enjoy a book is partly based on your attitude and preparations before indulging. I'm not saying that just because you prepare yourself a nice hot bubble bath and a chilled drink before reading a book that that is going to make the book good, but some literary works require preparation. I take reading seriously and I, like many other things in life, like to prepare myself.

If you are looking for a quick read, then this is not the book for you. If you are looking for an enjoyable read with excellent plot and crafty word structure, this is worth the investment of your time and money.

Before opening the book Mrs. Campbell owed me an excellent read. After completing it, the debt is paid in full!!!