Blackberries, Blackberries (Paperback)

~ Crystal E Wilkinson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

An enchanting, haunting collection of stories by Crystal Wilkinson, a self-described Black, country girl and poet from rural Kentucky. The stories explore the joys and pain of the women of "Affrilachia", and will touch the reader profoundly.

About the Author

A self-described Black, country girl, Crystal E. Wilkinson grew up in rural Kentucky. She serves as the assistant director of the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning in Lexington, Kentucky. She is a charter member of the Affrilachian Poets, a group of performing African-American poets from the South, and serves as chair of the creative writing department for the Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts. Her work has appeared in American literary magazines and journals.

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Toby Press; First Edition first Printing edition (July 7, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1902881346
• ISBN-13: 978-1902881348
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #649,116 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Collection of Short Stories, July 19, 2001

By	The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

Blackberries, Blackberries is a fictional debut novel from Crystal Wilkinson. It's a compilation of short stories, about African American women who're struggling to survive in the rural South. Stories of hard-working women that we can identify with and experience their trials & tribulations, their laughter and happiness, and their sorrow and tears. Poignant stories about working woman, their relationships, their families, their children and their friends. Wilkinson's stories penetrate our bones and souls and leave an emotional impact long after we've read the last story. Most of the stories are told in a narrative format and it takes the reader several stories before they get into the flow and style of the author.

With that aside, the reader will enjoy that each story is different and unique and creatively crafted. There are 18 short stories in this 180 page book. Some of my favorite stories were Tipping The Scales a story about a woman who finds Mr. Right when she wasn't even looking; Mules about a young girl who confronts a predator and wins; Waiting on the Reaper about a lady who's young and now is old still waiting for ole man death; and Peace of Mind about a single mom who has a couple of weeks to herself from her 3 young sons who are away at summer camp. I really enjoyed Peace of Mind as it was one of the few stories that involved dialogue.

Wilkinson's stories come from the ordinary and the extraordinary. From black, country women with curious lives. From struggle, from fear, from love, from life, from the gut, from the heart. Black and juicy, just like a blackberry. If you enjoy short stories, stories that are matter-of-fact and told from a narrative perspective then check out Blackberries, Blackberries by Crystal E. Wilkinson.

Reviewed by Yasmin A. Coleman

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Soulful Stories, November 16, 2001

By	The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

What better person to write a collection of short fictional stories about
the lives of African American women who're struggling to survive in the
rural South than the author, Crystal E. Wilkinson whose debut novel,
Blackberries, Blackberries is a winner. Wilkinson self-described Black
Country girl was born and raised in rural Kentucky and teaches creative
writing at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning in Lexington,
Kentucky.

This book is compiled of eighteen stories in which African American
Southern women speak about their trials, tribulations, sorrows, laughter
and tears. Each story told in narrative form has its own level of
emotion with uniqueness. It's about truth telling and how each woman
deals with her problems. You can feel the emotions of these women as you
read their stories. Some of my favorites were Humming Back yesterday a
story about a woman who looks over her life from twenty years of hiding,
Waiting for the Reaper about a lady who is old and is still waiting for
ole man death, and the best story Peace of Mind about a single mom who
has a couple weeks to herself from her three young sons who are away at
summer camp. This story is hilarious and seasoned with soul.

Wilkinson's stories may be fictional but feel so real. Only a true
Southerner could write such stories. This book is one in which all
African American Women can relate to.

Reviewed by Dorothy Cooperwood

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars D.J. Parhams, Author of The Blues for Annie Mae, June 30, 2007

By	D. J. PARHAMS "BLUES AFFICIANADO" (CHICAGO, ILL.) - See all my reviews

I thoroughly enjoyed this book of short stories. Wilkinson has a great country dialect and appeal. She reminds me a great deal of another great short story writer, by the name of J. California Cooper. Her characters were real and compelling. Her first literary effort was great and definitely outstanding.

Ms. Wilkinson gave me the understanding and inspiration to complete my own work...hats off to this great author. I will forever cherish this book and I anxiously await her next project.