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Zora and Nicky: A Novel in Black and White [Kindle Edition]

Claudia Mair Burney
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)

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Book Description

Two Hearts, One God.? Should Anything Else Matter?

Zora Nella Hampton Johnson knows exactly where she comes from—and her daddy won't let her forget. Of course for that privilege he keeps her in Prada and Kate Spade, Coach and YSL. He chooses her boyfriend, her car, her address, and ignores her love of painting, art, and the old ways of her grandaddy's soulful AME church—where the hymns pleaded, cajoled, and raised the roof. Her daddy may be a preacher, but some-where among the thousands of church members, the on-site coffee house, and the JumboTron, Zora lost God. And she wants Him back.

Nicky Parker, a recent graduate of Berkeley and reformed playboy, also suffers the trials of being a preacher's kid, and he can't remember the last time he saw eye-to-eye with his white, racist, Southern Baptist father. What he does remember—and it will be forever burned in his brain despite myriad prayers to Jesus—is the way Zora looked the first time he saw her. Like Nefertiti. Only better. When they meet at a bible study far from their respective home churches, the first churlish, sarcastic sparks that fly sizzle with defensiveness. But God has a special way of feeding the flames and though of different flocks, these two lost sheep will find Him and much, much more.


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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The voice of beautiful Zora Nella Hampton Johnson-her name echoing the author of her favorite novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God-will take you up and carry you along until she utters her very last syllable. Anger, laughter and delight come from Zora's sharp, sassy tongue as if she is talking out loud. Burney's gift for voice is not limited to her heroine, though it takes her longer to get the other main character, Nicky Parker, the handsome but poor son of a racist pastor, to shine as distinctly as Zora. At this novel's heart are love and race-what happens when a self-described BAP (black American princess), the daughter of a famous megachurch leader, falls in love with a young white man. Zora and Nicky's dialogue about race is unflinching, with attitude, honesty and occasional humor. Burney pushes her prose to the edge of the edgiest in the "Christian fiction" genre, and then barrels right over. She doesn't sugar-coat, especially when it comes to sex, yet she manages to create a love story that's both erotic and chaste. Faith in Jesus comes to life on the page through Zora and Nicky's intense, if imperfect, soul searching. Though parts are a bit melodramatic, Burney gives readers a page-turner for all audiences, Christian and beyond. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Claudia Mair Burney is the author of the novel Zora and Nicky: A Novel in Black and White, as well as the Amanda Bell Brown Mysteries and the Exorsista series for teens. Her work has appeared in Discipleship Journal magazine, The One Year Life Verse Devotional Bible, and Justice in the Burbs. She lives in Michigan with her husband, five of their seven children, and a quirky dwarf rabbit.

Product Details

  • File Size: 690 KB
  • Print Length: 400 pages
  • Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (January 1, 2010)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B005MTBJ2W
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Enabled
  • Lending: Not Enabled
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #155,792 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews

The characters in this book are so well developed that the reader can actually feel the character's emotions. And Another Book Read  |  24 reviewers made a similar statement
I felt like the story addresses some very real issues for today's life. Karen B  |  14 reviewers made a similar statement
She makes you laugh out loud, gasp, and even cry. Eric Wilson  |  18 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars When Zora Met Nicky July 8, 2008
Format:Paperback
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.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Gust of Fresh Wind May 5, 2008
Format:Paperback
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.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful! April 15, 2008
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful in black and white April 15, 2008
By Eugenia
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read!
Great, great, great,great,great READ! I couldn't put this book down. The story often brought tears of laughter and also sadness. Claudia knows how to bring you there! Read more
Published 18 days ago by Gabby
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
Picture painting writing style that takes you into the characters' world and thoughts. I enjoyed every page and was left wanting more. Read more
Published 1 month ago by K. Stevens
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful!
I loved the authors approach to the differences between zora and Nicky. I loved Nicky. I loved the trials zora endured and overcame in this story

This was a great... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Charlotte collier
4.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking, good read
The book explores the tension between two people of a different color and their families' lack of acceptance of a interracial relationship. Read more
Published 2 months ago by W. Verwey
1.0 out of 5 stars The Ending was uncalled for & is not how an interracial relationship...
I understand this book is a Christian romance, but it did not have to be this preachy. From the beginning to the end it preached at you about devoting yourself to Jesus which... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Reagen Dozier
5.0 out of 5 stars Unforgettable
I can honestly say that for the second time in my life, I have read something that left me speechless. Read more
Published 3 months ago by C. Ellis
4.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
This book was really good and showed a real relationship between two people of different races. Color doesn't always matter
Published 4 months ago by Kim
4.0 out of 5 stars Courageous and captivating
Claudia Mair Burney writes this story with such believability that you almost wonder if it's partly her own personal story. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Debra A. Shelton
4.0 out of 5 stars Great contrasts
This book contrasts two completely different worship styles and then seems to point out the hypocrisy in both of them without completely tearing down one over the other. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Thomas W. Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
I really enjoyed this book. In my family we have black, white, and golden people. I felt like the story addresses some very real issues for today's life. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Karen B
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