A Family Affair (Hardcover)

by Marcus Major (Author) "On the way to his seat in the den, Leonard Moore threw a playful punch at his youngest son, Myles, hitting him square in the..." (more)
Key Phrases: Gorgeous George, Echelon Mall, Starks Bar (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Major reunites some of the cast from his popular debut, Good Peoples (2000), in another engaging if predictable tale that explores the erosion of trust and commitment among the members of an African-American family. Jasmine, a 17-year-old teenager blossoming into womanhood, is adjusting to living with her Aunt Peg and Uncle Leonard Moore in Camden, N.J. Jasmine views her successful cousins, Amir and Myles, and their beautiful wives, Marisa and Kenya, as role models and yearns to find a soul mate of her own. But first she's got to test the rules. Abandoned by her parents, Jasmine is troubled by adults and their refusal to understand her feelings about trust. She's determined to be her own person, in spite of the strict rules set by Aunt Peg, and she's also reluctant to recognize the benefits of a good education. Major is especially adept at highlighting the conflicts between the older and younger generations. Conscious of the poor choices made by Jasmine's mother, especially involving men, Peg will do whatever is necessary to ensure that her niece avoids a similar fate. Things get complicated when Jasmine meets Darius, a young man with a troubled past, and Peg and Leonard's relationship seems to be heading south. Older teenagers interested in romance, the target audience for this novel, will be drawn by the inviting jacket art, depicting an attractive African-American couple.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
In this sequel to Major's first novel, Good Peoples (2000), Myles and Marisa Moore are recently and very happily married. Meanwhile, Myles' attractive, intelligent, and strong-willed teenage cousin, Jasmine, has moved in with his parents. She is very enamored of Marisa, although her circumstances have made her angry and bitter. Myles' brother, Amir, and his wife, Kenya, share in the family's concern for Jasmine, especially when Darius, a resident of the halfway house that Kenya runs, is released at 18 and begins to date Jasmine. Marisa convinces Jasmine that if she is determined to date Darius, then she must introduce him to the family and not sneak behind her aunt's back. The family's woes are compounded when Myles' and Amir's father is caught cheating. Now the brothers and their wives must show tough love for the rebellious Jasmine and also provide unconditional support for their mom as she rebuilds her life without her husband of 40 years. A loving portrait of a family sharing good and bad times. Lillian Lewis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult (December 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 052594768X
• ISBN-13: 978-0525947684
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,189,734 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Moore Family Is Back!, February 10, 2004

By	Brian K. Walley (Clayton, Delaware) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Marcus Major came on the scene in 2000 with Good Peoples, a fresh, funny, original spin on the guy-girl relationship novels. A Family Affair, the sequel to Good Peoples, brings back the original characters and he adds a few new characters such as teenagers Jasmine and Darius.

Jasmine and Darius, two teens with troubled pasts meet and this definitely turns into "A Family Affair" as her family members are worried about her seeing this young man since some of them believe that he's "bad news". Another major storyline involves the parents of Amir and Myles...

For fans of Good Peoples, it's pretty fun revisiting Myles, Marisa, Kenya, and Amir and the inclusion of the younger characters, Jasmine and Darius, gave this novel a nice breath of fresh air. Marcus Major writes realistic and fun novels and there were several laugh out loud moments as well. His novels are always written in quick, concise chapters that keep the story flowing and the laughs coming. The other nice thing about his novels is that there isn't a lot of "over-the-top" drama that can really get old and annoying.

Marcus is just a writer who, up to this point, hasn't disappointed. If you've enjoyed his previous novels, you'll enjoy this one too. The addition of the younger characters should appeal to a younger audience more than perhaps any of his other books.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Major Talent, January 7, 2004

By	Phillwrite "novelist, judicious reader" (NJ United States) - See all my reviews

Ever since I came across Major's work through the "Discover Great Writers" program at that other book outlet I have been a huge fan. Mixing equal parts humor, drama, and grown folks'... Major spins tales that grip the reader, hold them in a death clutch, and will not release until the last page. A Family Affair, Major's newest release, follows this same well established pattern. I burned through the pages, gave up some much needed sleep in a rush to reach resolution. The best novels have a "what if" premise that explodes in ways the reader never envisioned. For A Family Affair the premise is what if the family patriarch, after close to forty years of married bliss developed that past mid-life crisis that has been well chronicled. The ride to find the answer will shock and absorb you in Major's skilled hands. The book is worth the price alone just based off the barbershop scene where the wife eavesdrops on a naughty phone conversation. Read the book and you'll see what I mean. Marcus Major is a great talent, one that definitely deserves a host of accolades.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Family Affair, February 28, 2004

By	Bill Holmes (Sharon Hill, PA United States) - See all my reviews

Having been a fan of Marcus Major's work since reading Amir and Kenya from the anthology Got To Be Real through A Man Most Worthy, I was not disappointed with A Family Affair. The novel was well written and I read it in one sitting. It was refreshing to see the importance of family, love and commitment through its characters and their respective strengths and flaws. Marcus did a wonderful job displaying the family bond between Peggy Moore and her niece, Jasmine. I found it also interesting that he focused on the friendship between Amir (Myles's brother) and Carlos (Myles's best friend) when it came to marriage and commitment. They both had much in common than either realized besides the fact that their respective spouses, Kenya and Jackie, work together. The dual lovemaking scenes was beautifully written yet hilarious. The addition of Jasmine to the Moore family and her love interest, Darius, was innocent yet sweet. Perhaps there is a sequel in the makings for these two young lovebirds? Only Marcus knows for sure.

I enjoyed the appearances of Ibn, Mike and Stacy from 4 Guys and Trouble (my personal favorite). It was nice to get an update on some of those characters. The only minor exception I had with A Family Affair was that both Ibn and Stacy seemed out of character in this book to me. There were several scenes I found myself scratching my head and asking, "Was that really Ibn?" Also, I didn't realize who Stacy was until Chapter 17.

I'm glad we also had an update on Myles and Marisa from Good Peoples. It was encouraging to see they're happily married and prosperous. If you enjoyed Good Peoples, but haven't read A Family Affair yet, then I won't spoil the ending for you. You certainly won't be disappointed.