Nappily Ever After: A Novel (Paperback)

by Trisha R. Thomas (Author) "CLINT TOOK A DEEP BREATH..." (more)
Key Phrases: Tyson Edwards, Donnely Kramer, Venus Johnston (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
African-American advertising agency executive Venus Johnston has had enough. Enough of the painful, expensive hours spent relaxing her "good" hair and enough of her four-year relationship with medical intern Clint Fairchild, which has lasted too long without a ring. She shaves her hair to a quarter-inch stubble, tells Clint to pack his bags and spends the rest of Thomas's empowering debut novel building a new life to match the new woman she's become. Clint, on the rebound, meets beautiful, longhaired and marriage-ready Kandi Treboe and proposes on an impulse, despite evidence that he's not over Venus. Meanwhile, Venus confronts issues of sexual harassment and racism in her predominantly white Washington, D.C., firm, where she begins to receive threatening notes. The crisis at work fuels Venus's fears that she's not strong enough to survive her new freedom. Has she made a mistake by abandoning the security of her boyfriend and her long, straight hair? Kandi develops into a complex character, with her own set of concerns and a sense of humor about the lovers' triangle. Her perspective provides an interesting counterpoint to Venus's obsession with the consuming culture surrounding black women's hair. Clint's confusion over his choice between the two women is treated honestly, and Venus's discovery that she has moved to new psychological territory carries emotional weight. This exploration of an African-American woman's journey to self-acceptance is not without flaws (spotty writing and loose ends tied up too fast), but Thomas refuses to let her characters slide into stereotype, and she keeps the pace fast and funny. (Dec.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist
Venus Johnson has been cultivating a relationship with Clint Fairchild, supporting him through medical school and hoping to end up as a doctor's wife. But at 34 she's run out of patience with Clint's reluctance to commit. She ends their relationship and sheds her shoulder-length, chemically straightened hair in a bold act of liberation. But the less than encouraging reactions from friends and colleagues leave her pondering the politics of hair and beauty. Venus puts her considerable energy into her career as an advertising executive, hoping Clint will come to his senses. Clint struggles to find spiritual support to get through his internship and finds solace in Kandi Treboe, a long-haired beauty eager to take up where Venus has left off. When Venus is threatened by a stalker, she realizes that her personal insecurities and career woes accentuate a need to discover who she is and what she wants. Thomas offers painful but amusing insights into the politics of beauty, black culture, and male-female relationships; her first novel places her in a league with Terry MacMillan and Bebe Moore Campbell. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press (December 26, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609808982
• ISBN-13: 978-0609808986
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #116,742 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I CAN RELATE, December 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Nappily Ever After: A Novel (Hardcover)

I saw this book listed in Essence magazine and knew I just had to have it. I just recently cut off all my "beautiful" relaxed hair. I saw the title of the book and I was intrigued. I read this book in two days. I can totally relate to Venus because the feelings she had about her hair, the insecurities of not having long hair (her ex-boyfriend's new girl had long hair) and all that, those are feelings I've had. I've had my hair relaxed for ten years and cutting it off is very hard. It's like her friend stated in the book, "It takes a strong sister to cut it all off." I could not put this book down. After reading the first chapter, I had to know how it ended. Buy it for you and your friends.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Combin' Thru the Naps..., January 3, 2001

By	B! (Round Rock, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nappily Ever After: A Novel (Hardcover)

Loved this book!

I've spent a few a nights, Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons doing hair for a sistah or two in the dorms, and as a straight, black man I was always amazed that no matter how broke they were. . .or how much they hated it. . . how strong a ritual it was in their lives (I didn't understand it, but I'm VERY THANKFUL for it, because it really helped me pay my way through school).

"Nappily Ever After" gave me some deeper insights on how much importance some women place on what their hair looks like and how it can get wrapped up into all aspects of their lives. The author showed all sides of a sister in Venus from her towering strengths to some of her weaker sides; but most importantly, Trisha R. Thomas showed the journey she took going from one extreme to the other...back and forth a couple of times.

The writing is crisp and relaxing, the characters were rich, and the story really keeps you in the pages (although I think the connection of the characters in the end was a little trite and convenient). This is an excellent debut novel and I'm recommending it to all the folks I know.

Look forward to your next book, Ms. Thomas!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a page turner but......., February 10, 2001

By	Dera R Williams (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Nappily Ever After: A Novel (Hardcover)

I finished reading this book almost a month ago but I just wasn't ready to write a review at that time. I needed to think on it for a minute. I had read several reviews and was eager to get into it. This book was a good read but it just wasn't what I expected. From the reviews I really thought it was about a sister who gets tired of her long permed hair and cuts it off and goes natural and finds herself and makes some kind of political statement about black womenhood, self-esteem, self-empowerment, et al. Well, Venus does in a way finds herself but not quite how I envisioned. I thought the storyline would carry us through the various reactions and experiences because she has made a drastic change in her appearance. There were some reactions, I just thought there would be more regarding corporate America and other areas. Instead it seemed it was not about the hair but about the issues and baggage that plagued her. Venus nurtured a relationship with Clint, was there for him through the tough years of medical school and when she presented him with an ultimatum, he couldn't be a man about it and step up to the plate. I won't spoil the rest for those who haven't read the book, but he kicked her in the stomach. I understand his point too, the man always has his ego and pride to protect. But the premice still seemed to be that from all the confidence Venus gained when she cut off her hair (shackles) in the end her happiness was still defined by having a man. That was the way it seemed to me. Again I don't want to say anymore. The book was a indeed a page turner so that is why I rated it f stars. It is always a treat to hear a fresh new voice. I will definitely read the author's future books.