4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The More Things Change..., August 24, 2009
Author Roland S. Jefferson has written a novel that not only takes us through a little history from the 1960s era, but shows us that the more things change, the more they remain the same.
September was ready to become the young lady that being a debutante and a high school graduate signified that she would be. Along with this new transition in her life, September also wanted to become a woman by taking her relationship with Bennyboy to an intimate level beyond the friendship they shared since September was a child.
Going away to Wisconsin on a full scholarship for nursing, while Bennyboy and his best friend, Perry, headed for Howard University to finish medical, school created a distance that September was not ready for. Taking Bennyboy's lack of attention for a possible new relationship gave her the prompting needed to experience life outside of what September was accustomed to in Los Angeles concerning racial tension, rights and the overall treatment of Negro people, as they were called in the 60's.
While September involved herself in fighting for rights for Blacks in the South, Bennyboy lost himself in a very beautiful woman, Aiyana, who left her college to attend Howard to be close to him with an agenda of her own. Perry warned Bennyboy of Aiyana's initial intentions, but Bennyboy was swept up in her beauty and ignored all the signs of who Aiyana really was.
In spite of the fact that September had become a totally different person, taking risks that surprised her parents and friends, she and Bennyboy had a connection that could not be denied. What, if anything, would become of their friendship? Will Bennyboy continue to see Aiyana despite Perry's warnings? After all, a lot of women wanted to date and ultimately marry a doctor in those days.
There is so much more to White Coat Fever, but it is truly a story that lets us see that there is nothing new under the sun. Same thing, it just happens on a different day. I found myself humming, "she got white coat fever" to the tune of Jungle Fever from Spike Lee's movie. I enjoyed the story because it could have been written in the present and readers could still relate. I recommend this book to those who enjoy a history lesson, romance and a little mystery.
Review by Sharel E. Gordon-Love
APOOO BookClub
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Whole Crew Loved It!, August 29, 2009
August Book of the Month
White Coat Fever is a condition that many college women in the sixties could have been easily diagnosed with. Some would easily undermine their own intellectual abilities in order to land a man bound to be a successful doctor. It didn't matter which kind or even if they were already married. Nuptials were simply a minor snag in the plans for many women who were not beneath sharing a man, if it meant in the long run there was a chance to be the next in line to marry him. Some were even sent off to school with enough money for one semester and orders to return home as a doctors wife. While this book is based in the sixties it has you wondering if White Coat Fever still exist and if it does, are the roles the same or have they been reversed.
I really enjoyed this story. I expected it to be a love story. It was so much more. The character development was amazing! I could see the events as they unfolded before me. It was a period book in the sixties. It follows the lives of three friends from the summer of their graduation from college and high school respectively thru the next four years. The underlying theme is white coat fever and how deathly ill it can make someone.
I really enjoyed how the author vividly describes the time period. I could feel the fear during the civil rights movement. I felt September's love for Bennyboy and her disappointment in her first relationship.
During our meeting I could tell that the author, Dr. Roland Jefferson, was a really nice person. He genuinely wanted our feedback as a book club. He was even gracious enough to tell us about other authors he enjoyed reading. I must say Dr. Jefferson has been my favorite author that has visited with RWA. I didn't want to stop our discussion with him.
Many members of our club agreed that the only thing we didn't like about this book was that there wasn't a sequel, hopefully after our meeting he will reconsider and make this a series.
Reviewed by:
Courtney Owens
[...]
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun and Fast Paced -- An Easy Read, June 17, 2009
This review is from: White Coat Fever: A novel (Hardcover)
White Coat Fever is not one of those books you start reading, put down and come back to later. Jefferson draws you into the story immediately and refuses to release you until the very last page. The characters are rich and the setting - well if you experienced the 60's you'll feel as if you're part of the story and catch yourself looking for your place in history. The novel rings true on so many levels. It will make you laugh. It will make you cry. Perhaps best of all, it will make you think.
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