Customer Reviews

When Love Calls, You Better Answer

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was so thoughtful and inspiring. Anyone who reads it can surely learn something and take something away from this uplifting story. I especially liked the wisdom the narrator passes on, using old adages, sayings, common sense and astute observations about people and human nature. Some of my favorite passages:

"Life can either be like a car or a garbage truck, its up to you. you can take the car on a journey and learn something around every corner, or you can pick up trash at every stop. But you'll take on so much of everyone else's garbage til your own life starts to stink."

"Self esteem is for the self, but that aint where all of it comes from. It comes from the people around you. if you are around people who tell you that you're dirty, then that's how you'll feel. If they show you love, then you'll learn to feel loved."

Despite her disappointing childhood, Bernita Brown has landed on her feet. With a completely disinterested birth mother, Bernita spends most of her childhood with her Aunt Babe--just barely out of childhood herself--whom she adores. Unfortunately, the feeling is not mutual, as her Aunt views her as an unwanted inconvenience. Desperately seeking love for herself, Bernita's Aunt drags the child along to witness the seemingly endless supply of men her Aunt Babe chooses to give herself to. So Bernita grows up in a house lacking love; and when she decides to go away to college to better herself, she is physically attacked by both her aunt and her mother. But Bernita goes anyway.

Years later, Bernita has launched a successful career in social work--managing a shelter for abused women. Her mother is still alive, but the two are not in contact. Aunt Babe, years later, has passed away...but remains ever regretful of how she treated her young niece. Aunt Babe is determined to help her niece find the loving man she needs and deserves. After witnessing Bernita become involved in a series of disappointing relationships, Aunt Babe realizes that she must reach out to her in a way that she was never able to while alive to help her find The One....and conspires with another man from The Other Side who is equally committed to finding love for the son he never knew while alive. And besides....the two of them are made for each other......

Often funny and sometimes sad, this is a tale that will make readers rethink the relationships that they have with their loved ones, and perhaps incite some to right a wrong....a great read.

DYB

When Love Calls You Better Answer is one of the best books I read this year. Bertice Berry's writing reminds me a little of Tina McElroy Ansa and Pearl Cleage. I say Ansa because of her use of a voice from the grave, and Cleage for the literary prose and the subject of women being empowered. Berry's combination of these two styles is what makes this book such an interesting reading experience.

Bernita Brown was born to Buster, who was not interested in being a mother; she only has this baby to prove to her sisters that she can get pregnant. Ultimately, Bernita is raised by her aunt Babe who hated her for no apparent reason other than the fact she was living. The hatred she felt from her aunt and mother and witnessing her aunt Babe search for love in the arms of multiple men, Bernita knew she wanted more for her life. It was a good thing that a teacher saw the potential in Bernita and arranged for her to go to college. Just like crabs dragging each other back, Buster and Babe beat and berate Bernita for choosing college. Once Bernita leaves the home, she never looks back. Fortunately, for Bernita, Babe is watching over her from heaven. Unable to reveal herself to Bernita, Babe watches as Bernita makes the wrong choice in her relationships with men such as Tyrone Phillip Thomas, Jimmymack, Re Member, and Rev. Evans (Van). It is apparent that listening is not Bernita's strong suit, because Babe is whispering advice to her from her heavenly watch. After a devastating exile from the Wellness Center, the church she gave her all for, Bernita is ready to change her life and Babe finally can reveal herself. Babe has set in motion for Bernita to find her true love, but when love calls, will she answer?

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how Berry used different scriptures and old adages, made them common sense and relevant to everyday life. I also enjoyed the theme of women being empowered and taking a bad situation and using it to their advantage. There are so many aspects of this book to discuss, I cannot put them all in one review. I will just say read the book. It is a short book but packs a powerful punch.

Jeanette

APOOO BookClub

I love this book and the story it tells. I was angry each time I had to put it down, because life would call me to another venue. It was a joy to read and I am so glad I bought it

This book was very slow and hard for me to read. I still haven't finished reading it. It's too slow. However, I will eventually finish it as I've paid money for it. In my opinion, it was not a good book. If you want to read it, I would suggest borrowing it from the library instead of spending your money on it.

I had never read any of Bertice Berry's works and I will definately be picking up others. When Love Calls You Better Answer, is one of the most enlightening books I have ever read. I also put it up there with Tina McElroy Ansa as well. Having your ancestors speak to you and guide is something that I believe all of us would like to have. This book takes you to another place and I hated it, when it ended. I kept wondering how or if Vernon and Douglas would hook up in another way other than being friends and I was not dissatisfied. I can't wait until I get Redemption Song.

Although this is an enjoyable book, I would not count it as Bertice Berry's best, because in my opinion, that honor goes to (1) Redemption Song and (2) The Haunting of Hip Hop. It is an easy read and has its good moments, as in when the title line comes up (which reminded me of the song by the same title).

Bertice Berry is one of my favorite authors and her fiction debut, "Redemption Song" is one of my favorite books. Therefore, I expect nothing but the best from her and she delivered with this wonderfully witty, inventive, and sage-filled book -- "When Love Calls You Better Answer." This tiny little book packs so much into its less than 200 pages that you're hard-pressed to fit into a comment box all of the wonderful things this book offers.

I very seldom read books twice, but had to because this book is the March reading selection of one of my book clubs. I appreciated the book even more the second go round and picked up some of the subtle nuances I missed during the first reading. Who doesn't want to know and have a friend or relative like Aunt Babe? She is everyone's mother, cousin, sister, wife, lover, friend, pastor, advisor, confidante, spirit-leader and guide all rolled into one. All of the characters are fully realized and developed. Even the minor characters have distinct personalities and contribute to the story. None of these characters are left-over, throw away characters.

Bertice's writing style is very similar to J. California Cooper's. Their writing has a very lyrical and rhythymic flow to it -- especially, the down-home vernacular often employed by their protagonists. Both writers also call on the appearance of the ancestors and use them in such unique and creative ways. Bertice is truly a gifted storyteller.

I highly recommend this book. You will enjoy it and may actually learn a little something about yourself and what it means to LOVE.

If you like this book, you'll probably also like "Jim and Louella's Homemade Heart-Fix Remedy." Another great book in Bertice's growing catalog.

I started reading this novel and couldn't put it down. I finished it in a day. This is a must read for anyone who has given up on love.

My best friend, who lives in Virginia, called me as soon as she read this novel. She insisting that I find a copy of it and read it, as it reminded her of me. I found it on Amazon and in no time, it was delivered. Granted...it was from a library and not brand new, but I was pleased nonetheless.