From Publisher's Weekly:
In Brice's accomplished debut, African-American Shay Dixon, a burnt-out grad student, has a “visitation/fantasy/fever dream” featuring Nina Simone, the high priestess of soul, who counsels Shay to “go home.” To do that, she must face Nona, the drunken failure of a mother she's not spoken to in seven years and blames for a harrowing childhood that left her emotionally scarred. Still, she takes Nina's advice, heads home to Denver and discovers that Nona's now an A.A. member with a good job, a lovely home and an adorable three-year-old girl, Sunny, Shay's half-sister. Their reconciliation is complicated by Shay's stubborn anger, Nona's A.A. sponsorship of a troubled young woman and Shay's sexual awakening. Brice's straightforward prose is dead-on in describing the challenges Shay and her mother face as they reconnect.
13 comments:
Wow, Carleen, this rocks!
It's also, of course, absolutely deserved.
Enjoy the ride you're just getting on; it's a blast!
Carleen! You must be over-the-moon with this dream review. I'm so, so happy for you and can't wait to buy my copy.
Amy MacKinnon
This is tremendous!!! I love the "accomplished debut"!!! Have you stopped smiling yet??
What a wonderful review! Congratulations! How wonderful for you! You must be jumping up and down.
I was reminded of the earlier discussion on your blog about what distinguishes AA fiction from other fiction. Here, the story sounds as if it could happen in a family of any ethnic background, yet PW puts the fact that the heroine is African-American in the beginning of the first sentence. Did that make you feel funny? It did me, because it seemed gratuitous.
Judy, This ride sure has its ups and downs. :)
Amy, Thanks...so glad to know at least a few folks plan to buy a copy!
Sherry, "Accomplished debut" is very cool! Definitely doing a happy dance.
Shauna, Interesting, isn't it? I imagine PW felt it important to let booksellers know that the book is about black folks...hopefully just to let those booksellers who sell only AA books know about the book and to hip booksellers who might get asked by customers for an AA book.
EXCELLENT and oh so deserved. Frame that sucker, Carleen!
Ditto, Carleen! PW to start...wow!
Excellent!! However, I'm not surprised.
Awesome review! And if I didn't have more reason to be excited to read your book, this just fuels the fire! The Brice household must be ecstatic! If I were nearby, I'd buy you some champagne to celebrate!
Maryann, SS & Diane, my friends, thank you!
Ello, don't let distance stop you. :) Have a drink for me!
Kudos!
Now, what about the secret news you've shared with the LLL but not your blog pals?
Therese, Still don't have permission to post yet...but hopefully soon! Thanks for asking!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! See, this is exactly the kind of stuff I'm always missing out on when I'm away. This is so right on target and I'm glad that for once, PW and me are in sync. It IS a fantastic story and the prose is perfect. Nothing but more good news coming for you, my friend.
Post a Comment