Too Beautiful for Words (Hardcover)

by Monique W. Morris (Author) "In case you don't know, I don't live in a group home no more..." (more)
Key Phrases: dope game, other pimps, Baby Jesus, Black Panther, Gladys Knight (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In this earnest, flawed tale of life on the streets, Morris, a senior research associate with the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, uses the familiar coming-of-age format to tell the story of Peaches, a high school girl led astray by a wily pimp, Jesus, who first seduces her with visions of the high life and then convinces her to sell her body. Raised by her grandparents after her mother's death, Peaches is the perfect victim for the fast-talking ex-con, who cures her of her churchgoing ways and turns her into his prime moneymaker, making her an example of feminine hustle to his other girls. The story takes several twists when Peaches becomes pregnant, gives birth to a son and thinks about escaping to a new life. She is encouraged when she meets Chinaka, a Black Panther actively battling the system, who befriends her and tries to convince her to walk away from Jesus before she comes to a bad end. When the story's focus shifts to Peaches's child, Jason, the narrative falters at first, but regains its momentum as the young man tries to come to terms with his criminal father's legacy. Told alternately from the first-person perspectives of Peaches, Jesus, Jason and Chinaka, the story is delivered in colloquial, dialogue-rich prose. Morris attempts to inject her grim tale with humanity and give new meaning to the old adage about the sins of the father, but the novel is often transparently didactic. As a result, the bloody conclusion comes as an ugly surprise; meant to be redemptive, it is chilling instead. 5-city author tour.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review
"Morris is an incredibly talented storyteller with the gifts for showing the complexities of life." -- Julia Boyd, author of Can I Get a Witness?

[In] Too Beautiful for Words...Morris builds literary bridges so that people can navigate through the cultural meanings of Blackness. -- Dr. Manning Marable, author of Speaking Truth to Power

“Refreshingly original, personal, and intimate.” -- Kirkus Reviews

“The voices leap off the page...this book is simply “too beautiful for words.” -- Black Issues Book Review

“Too Beautiful for Words is intoxicating and quietly devastating in its power.” -- Essence

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Amistad; 1st edition (September 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0066211050
• ISBN-13: 978-0066211053
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,689,280 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's Not a Pretty Picture!, October 19, 2001

By	Yasmin Coleman (PENNSYLVANIA, USA) - See all my reviews

Too Beautiful For Words is a well-written, riveting and poignant debut novel from Monique W. Morris.

The storyline opens in the late 60s/early 70s; Morris introduces us to the streets of Oakland where prostitutes, pimps and drug dealers roam from sunrise to sunrise. On a bright, sunny day, Peaches, a young impressionable teenager meets up with the likes of Jesus, a well known pimp. Longing for attention, Peaches, mistakenly believes that Jesus loves her but in reality he turns her out sexually and then puts her on the streets as his #1 prostitute. When Peaches becomes pregnant with Jesus' child she seeks a better life for herself and her young son, Jason. Unfortunately, trying to get away from Jesus would cause her more than she ever suspected. Young Jason watches what happens to his mom and subconsciously he stores it in his memory bank until a later date when Jesus will have to pay up for the havoc he invoked years before.

Too Beautiful For Words is a sad, devastating and heart-wrenching story about what happens when you're in the fast lane, running with the big dogs, in the mean inner-city streets. A common theme running throughout the story is "Love Don't Love Nobody" not even blood relatives. Morris presents a raw and realistic look at what happens in the underground world of pimps, prostitutes, lascivious sexual escapades and drugs. Morris' character development is excellent as she gives us characters that make us cry, others that fill us with hate and yet others who make us think. One of those characters who made us think was Chinaka, a former Black Panther who had befriended Peaches. Just as Chinaka tried to rescue Peaches, 20 years later she sets her sights on Jason, who is looking to get into the family business. Will Chinaka have too little to offer too late or will she be successful in breaking the vicious cycle that threatens to take Jason to an early grave?

It's been a few weeks since I read this book...but it seems like only yesterday. This is a book that stays with you long after you've finished the last page. If you're looking for a compassionate read with a strong message then check out Too Beautiful For Words by Monique W. Morris.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reality, August 14, 2002

By	anonymous (East Palo Alto, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This book really captured inner city struggles of many of our Black youth, as 2 of the more prominent dichotomized philosophies grappled within the mind & heart of the main character, Jason: Capitalism vs. Spirituality. Short term survival methods vs. continuity and enlightenment within a race of people. The antithesis of blasphemous, Morris was actually ingenius in her usage of Christianity as a metaphore for that which captures the mind & appearant soul of a young woman, Peaches. Morris is matter of fact. She reserves judgement of both prostitution (the medium of the story) and spirituality, not to be confused with religion, (the underlying focal point of all of the conflict within the book). The most thought provoking book I've read in years.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More than I expected, September 6, 2001

By	Kimberley Wilson (VA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I thought this would be a grim little story about street life but it is so much more. Yes, parts of it are extremely ugly. This a about a pimp, a hooker and their son after all but ultimaltely it's about hope and the human spirit. I know this will sound trite but Ms. Morris's fiction really is too beautiful for words.

Kimberley Lindsay Wilson, author of 11 Things Mama Should Have Told You About Men.