Customer Reviews

Zora and Nicky: A Novel in Black and White

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

One does not know when or where love can be found. Nor does one have control over who they will fall in love with. Nicholas (Nicky) Parker was minding his own business, certainly not looking to fall in love, when he walked into a Bible class held at his boss' home. Looking for a deeper insight into the Bible, Zora Nella Hampton Johnson decided to attend a Bible class at the home of the white woman she befriended when she visited her father's church. She noticed the good -looking Nicky, but it was the traditional hymn they sang and heartfelt prayer, that had her on her knees and her butt in the air crying out to Jesus. Nicky and Zora felt the attraction but, because of their different backgrounds, getting involved in a relationship was the last thing they thought about. Zora and Nicky by Claudia Mair Burney is a novel about a relationship damned before it could begin.

Nicky, is the son of a racist southern Baptist preacher. He was supposed to attend seminary school and follow in his father's footsteps. However, Nicky really just wanted to be a writer, but was unable to write and was working as a snack machine stocker. One Sunday, Nicky walked out of church, disenchanted with his father's teachings and organized religion.

Zora, the Black American princess, daughter of a mega chuch pastor, had everything. She graduated from Spelman college and was employed at her father's church. She drove a Lexus and lived in an apartment with designer furnishings and expensive artwork, thanks to her daddy's generosity. Zora wanted to be a painter, but this occupation was unacceptable to her father, so she unhappily channeled her artistic expressiveness to please him. One Sunday, while listening to her father's new age sermon, and wanting to hear something more traditional, Zora walked out of church. It was the following Thursday, that Zora and Nicky met.

When I first began reading Zora and Nicky by Claudia Mair Burney, I became concerned that the author was going to bombard me with an overload of scriptural references and sermons. Even though there were a lot of biblical references, they were well placed and helped to illustrate the author's meaning. Ms Burney did an excellent job of developing the characters and allowing them to work through the emotional conflicts and inner turmoil they must have felt as they entered into a relationship that went against everything they had been taught or believed. Burney explored the sterotypes of both races and racism (subtle and intentional) and forced the characters to face their own prejudices. Her argruments were so precise, I found myself joining in the debates between Zora and Nicky. After reading this novel, one understands that getting involved in an interracial relationship is not easy; there is much to be considered. I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it be added to your summer reading list.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub
Motown Review Book Club

Every once in a while, on that rare occasion, you come across an author like Claudia Mair Burney. Her style is like a gust of fresh wind, blowing in, spinning through your mind, uncovering secrets and polishing old truths to a new gleam. She makes you laugh out loud, gasp, and even cry.

The strange thing is that such gusto comes in the form of a love story--not my usual genre--between pastors' kids from opposite ends of the spectrum: beautiful and black, Zora, with her prosperity-minded parents; and white Nicky, a creative guy stifled by his family's uptight expectations. When Zora and Nicky jointly, yet in separate locations, flee their fathers' church services one Sunday morning, they are intent on finding something more meaningful than shallow religious games and societal pressures. They meet for the first time at a home Bible study a few nights later, and the spark between them bursts into a raging flame.

Burney does a great job taking us into the minds of these conflicted souls, as they work through issues of race, belief, unclean thoughts, and family conflicts. Each has a cross to bear that the other knows little about. And yet, through their constant seesawing of emotion and feelings, they hold strong to the best they see in one another. They're both exasperating at times, even stubborn--and that's what makes them so believable. How can you not love these characters?

In the end, Burney pulls these numerous, varied-colored threads of society, romance, history, and theology into one beautiful tapestry. She gives Zora a chance at reconciliation. She allows Nicky to make a surprising gesture of solidarity and servanthood. And, in so doing, she reminds me again why I can't wait for each of her books.

This is my first time reading a book by Ms. Burney, but it certainly will not be the last. Her writing style is fresh, intelligent, introspective... Weaving in scriptures and songs were unique, interesting, compelling....the poetry and writing were wonderful, touching, heartfelt. The story is an interracial romance, but so much more as two people try and find their place in love, life and Christ. The interplay of family, race, "church life", stereotypes, friendship was thought-provoking. Most any reader will see themselves or someone they know in this book. What a wonderful love story on more than just a romantic level. I highly recommend this book and was sad to see it come to an end.

This book is a work beyond anything I've read in awhile and I read alot. It was statement of love, humility, and sacrifice. It was one of acceptance of yourself and of others, it is an awesome testament to what a relationship with God can be about within a love relationship between two people. It puts some hard issues out and for those not ready to question themselves or the church this may not be for you. But, in those questions it never gave any answers, it prodding you to reach for Jesus for those questions to be answered , those that the "religious people" think are improper. My thoughts of Jesus have always been that of a rebel and a savior, someone who questioned a lot of things and so did these two characters. Caught in others expectations of them Zora and Nicky find each other and at the same time find themselves and God finds them both. The secondary characters of Linda, Billie, Richard and the main characters parents deepen the storyline without detracting from it. This is not a romance novel, it's a love story so don't expect any sex there isn't really any but it moved me in ways no romance novel ever could. At two points in the book, I broke down and cried like a baby, it was so overwhelming I had to put the book down and release. It was rush of relief in this book. But, don't worry because you'll laugh alot, too it's not with its lighter moments. It's freeing to know like these two characters that God loves us even in our mess and that I can be Jesus for those I come in contact with, what a powerful book and a powerful statement of love. Ms. Burney I am waiting with baited breath for the next book you pen, this was truly a work given to you by the holy spirit.

i wish i could give this book more than five stars because it deserves them. mz burney has created a pair of characters who are unapologetic about who they are, where they come from and what they want out of life even though they don't always seem to know what that is. zora's character is very well defined but it takes a little longer to get a handle on nicky. if you've ever been to the south you'll recognize both of the main characters in people you probably already know but mz burney puts an energetic fresh spin on them. the sex scenes are really good considering this falls into the christian fiction category.

What I love about this book is the fact that the writer doesn't let you hide the unresolved issues you, the reader, might have. From go she had me challenging everything I held dear, to how I percieve the world to how I look at my race. As in life, sometimes we don't get a break. It was refreshing to see the two main characters getting a dose of the real world.
The reason I didn't give this a 5/5 is because I felt the writer was a bit biased when it came to mega churches, and pastor's kids. Jesus ministered in small crowds as well as large crowds. Not every person is called to go to a large church, and neither are they all called to go to a smaller church. And all PK's don't come out with severe emotional issues, and not all Pastors of big churches are racists waiting for the KKK card,not practicing christians, hypocrites, neither do they treat their children like dogs or scum.
Also, I'm in an interracial marriage and I grew up in the south. Neither my black family, nor my white hisband's side of the family protested our marriage.
This is a tough review for me to write, because the things I loved about this book outweighed what I didn't, but those negatives are still valid points.
I guess because the opening to the book (for the female lead and the male lead) was so astoundingly good, I didn't think that the writer would fall back on to the "the parents are racists, so that's going to be the major conflict" machina that is soooooo prevalent in interracial romances, and it gets a little old.
I hope this helps.
Skatergurljubulee

There are very few books that really grab me intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. I can name on one hand the number of novels that I've read more than twice because I could not say goodbye to the characters and story. Zora and Nicky is one of these books. I loved the prose, the message, the story of struggle and love. The characters not only try to make sense of their unconventional relationship, but also their faith. This is my first Claudia Mair Burney book, but it won't be my last. Brilliantly written, I highly recommend Zora and Nicky.

OMG! I really did not expect to experience the level of JOY that I felt while reading, and upon completion of, this book! What an absolute experience. That's the only way to describe it. I am a BW and a PK (preacher's kid), married to a WM who is also a PK, so needless to say, I totally relate to so much in this story. This book was TOO real and TOO personal an experience!

I like the fact that this book makes one consider the fact that despite years of people fighting for and losing their lives for the sake of freedoms and liberties, we still have a LONG way to go. And that's real! And for those who disagree and believe that we're leaps & bounds better than before, I'd love for them to walk with me & my husband through a supermarket with our kids. Theirs still much hate in existence.

There's one scene near the end of the book where "Z" and Nicky are walking down the street and come under verbal attack by some young men (African American). She immediately lets go of Nicky's hand and later they argue over that. I understood WHY the writer wrote it into the story and felt that it came from someplace real inside of her. I've done the same thing; not in shame of who my husband is, but in fear of what my love for him could bring about because someone couldn't tolerate me showing my feelings for him publicly.

My final thought has to do with the "church issues" brought to light in this book. Clauda Burney, THANK YOU! If/when I share with people the outward distaste shown toward my husband and I by certain "brothers & sisters" supposedly inside the body of Christ, they think I'm exaggerating. So, I'm feeling a bit vindicated in reading what I've personally experienced and know to be true. PEOPLE, sinner or those who say that they are not, are just people; prone to error and bad judgment unless they are truly humble and living the life that they confess.

(sigh)...

What a wonderful, deep, reflective type of reading experience!

First off, I want to congratulate Claudia Mair Burney on a very well written book. A book about two people searching for answers from God and in the process found each other. The flow of this story just came together so easily; it was quite easy to follow along. You could not help but love Nick and Zora and wanted things to work out for them.

While reading this book, I came to identify with a lot of what was happening in the story. People's perception of others can be biased at times, until you really get to know them and spend time with them to see what they are all about.

Nicky and Zora was a journey of two people from different background and color who came together because of their love of Christ and in that found their love for each other.

I thought it was so funny the first time Nicky laid eyes on Zora, he knew she was the woman he was going to marry and spend the rest of his life with but his father who happens to be a minister and a racist certainly did not want that, that man really needed to be slapped most of the time, to think he could beat the love of Zora out of Nicky. Zora's father was not better and for a pastor he certainly lost God along the way.

I loved this book and definitely recommend it. Zora and Nicky, a journey of faith and love was just excellent.

Zora Hampton is very aware of her African heritage. How can you not be when your father is breathing it down your neck 24/7? But her father treats her with the utmost respect and gives her anything she wants. He makes sure she has the perfect car, apartment, and even boyfriend. Her father doesn't seem to take in her considerations though because he has ignored Zora's love of painting. Zora's not sure if she's happy with her current lifestyle and even though her dad's the preacher of one of the biggest churches in the city, she seems to have lost her way to God. Nicky Parker is the All American rebel. He's hot, can't stand his racist, preacher-father, and he got a girl pregnant. He decided to California to get away from his father and get rid of his player reputation. When he returns he seems to have left God in California. This unlikely pair is brought together at a Bible Study far from each of their home churches. There is instantly a spark of love and neither one of them can get the other off their mind. These two have nothing in common except that they are both preacher's kids or PK's as they like to refer to themselves. Within a week of meeting each other circumstances throw them together at every opportunity, creating a love so deep that nothing can tear them apart. Could it be the hand of God?

At first I was anxious to read this book, but when I started it I was really bored. There was still something there though that wouldn't let me put the book down. Whatever you do, read at least 100 pages into the book and you'll be hooked. I am so glad I continued reading because this is one of the most memorable books I have read in a while. It made me feel so many different emotions and really contemplate my life. Usually when I think of a love story I think about those cutesy little Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies. Well let me tell you, Zora & Nicky is not a book like that. It is one of the most powerful love stories I've ever read. It is not only love between Zora and Nicky, but their love and relationship with God. These characters go through thick and thin to be with each other, defeating all odds. If you are looking for a love story that will open your eyes to the world, then Zora & Nicky is the book for you. Even if you are not looking for a love story, still pick it up and read it. There are so many lessons to be learned whether you are white, black, yellow, or red. The characters in this book are so well developed that the reader can actually feel the character's emotions. I know if I was in Zora's position I wold never give Nicky away either. I think a round of applause is definitely in order for Claudia Mair Burney for a stunning, heartfelt novel.

I'm sorry that this is such a lengthy post, but I truly felt so different after reading this book that I had to gush about it! Even if Christian literature is not your thing, you should still read the book because there are so many more themes in the book besides the whole God thing. Trust me, this is the first Christian fiction book that I have ever read, and as you can see, I loved it!