African Books

This is my favorite storyteller and her short stories are wonderful. They transport you to another time and place. The thing I love best about this book is the little life lessons she puts in it not preachy just real things you can relate to and learn from.

I have heard for years what a great writer J. California Cooper is and how people love just about anything she produces. Despite hearing all of the accolades and praises for this author, life happened and I never got around to reading one of her works. I could slap myself for all of the years I missed out on the tales from this adroit storyteller. Her dialogue brings Hurston to mind, and her characters in THE MATTER IS LIFE are just as strong as any of the greats. In fact, I am adding Cooper to my list of greats after reading this collection of beautifully human stories about how people can get in their own ways and how life is life.

My favorite story in this collection happened to be the longest. Could it be that I was able to savor even more of Cooper's wisdom in "The Doras?" It's possible, but more than that, this was a story that had me hanging on to every word about a woman with a dream for her daughters. The narrators in all the stories seem to be sages of sorts; the narrator isn't always a central character in the piece, but she seems to know all the goings on of the people of whom she speaks. This was refreshing and different, and I felt as though she and I were having an all-out gossip session. Don't get me wrong; the stories in this compilation are deep and to the point. There is a lesson to be learned within each tale's contributory pages.

I just can't say enough about how much I enjoyed this reading journey. My only complaint is that it was over too soon. Luckily for me, there are numerous other Cooper releases for me to enjoy.

Reviewed by CandaceK
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

J. California Cooper has a way of crafting a story that makes you feel as if you are sitting in the room with the characters as they go about their daily lives.

These stories make you actually FEEL what the characters are going through, and when the stories end, you feel like a friend has walked away.

I definitely recommend this book and any others by this author.

I need more stars.

J. California Cooper is one of the best authors of our time who doesn't receive the praise due to her. Her short stories are filled with colorful characters that keep you turning the pages. I'll read anything she releases. Ms. Cooper is in a class by herself. Much love and support to you. I can't wait for your next release.

This book is a wonderful mosaic of characters, perspectives, and lifestyles. I've always seen Cooper's books in the store, but didn't pick one up until "The Matter is Life." I haven't been able to put the book down and am looking forward to picking up more of her short story collections.

Last week, I finished the novel, The Moanin' After, by L.M. Ross, and thoroughly enjoyed it to the last drop! Delectably delicious!

"Please sir, may I have some more?"

Now, I don't want to tarnish the ending for those who have still not purchased the novel however, let me first say that people are sleeping on an exceptionally talented author. During my e-mail correspondence with Ross, I discovered the book was not selling favorably. So on that note, go buy the book and support this gifted writer! There are no excuses!

In The Moanin' After, Ross focused primarily on David Richmond, dancer extraordinaire, fashionista and former member of the boy band Da Elixir as well as exclusive heir to the group's royalties. He is haunted by the passing of his best friend as well as the "hemorrhoidic" desperate Faison "Browny" Brown, another member of the group who will do anything to achieve fame and fortune. While contemplating the meanings of life and love, David is reunited with Bliss Santana, a tortured soul who comprehends his pain but embodies secrets of her own. Lastly, David's sanity is challenged when he meets Kindred, a vision of purity, like sunshine after a fresh spring rain. But is he genuine or simply a manifestation of David's grief?

The last few chapters were so powerful that I simply cannot give anything away. The story line and plot twists added a fourth dimension to the characters and reached the depths of my soul. Ross evoked strong emotions, something that NEVER happens when I read a book. Most emotional scenes merely scroll insipidly past my eyes but throughout those last chapters, I stopped reading and began FEELING! I experienced a mental orgasm of sentiment, an authentic catharsis and I'm left in absolute admiration and amazement!

Ross informed me that the book was structured such that first time readers weren't left wondering about the first book, Manhood: The Longest Moan. The flashback scenes were particularly beneficial as I read his previous novel a year ago. While there were numerous grammatical errors, Ross surpassed his peers and shined through with an astounding story and extraordinary prose. His poetic roots were woven throughout the story and he succeeded in crafting a thoughtful and eloquent conclusion worthy of the greatest writers.

I really can't type anything more except: "go buy this book!" The length of both novels may discourage some unsophisticated readers however, if one is willing, you won't be disappointed. L.M. Ross has done it again and I'm quite sure this will not be the last we hear from him!

For the two weeks that it took me to complete this novel I felt as though I was holding a beating heart in the palms of my hands; the heart that belonging to that of Mr. L. M. Ross. "The Moanin After" was worth the wait and a moan that was needed. Ross proved that there is life after death, life after tragedy and life after disease. Ross makes us aware of the fact that no matter what may happen, life indeed goes on. This was more than just a novel. It was a lesson on life with the most important point being that your life speaks whether you are dead or alive. Each day we live we create our own legacy with a permanent marker that will be our story until the end of mankind. Love was another important lesson in this story. We each love and desire to be loved in our own unique way and if we stopped to understand this in others, most of us would realize that the love we desire is right in front of our eyes. Also, Love is not a quitter. It endures through the toughest of times. You can't break up with love.

Although the first novel was titled "Manhood," this story was David's manhood. David had to cope, accept and embrace. David the dancer was used to using his legs to dance, but now David had to use his legs to simply stand. While David appeared to have lost his rhythm he never struggled with the beat.

Once again, Ross has mastered the art of placing the reader inside of the story. I felt as if I was one of David's ghost; watching him, listening to him and following him. I fell in love with David in "Manhood the Longest Moan," but here in his moanin I began to respect and honor him.

This is a timeless masterpiece.

I like to think that LM Ross writes books just for me. They always seem to land on my desk at just the right moment. They always seem to speak exactly to what I am experiencing. I can wrap myself up in them like blankets and feel related to, understood...and the things that I don't understand are explained to me.

A sequel to a book as great as Manhood: The Longest Moan had to have been a scary task to tackle. It was a grand work of poetic fiction that conjured the greats: James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Ntozake Shange. What makes the sequel as equally brilliant, is Ross' resolve to not duplicate the voice of the first novel.

The Moanin' After speaks with a new timbre. The story of David, Tyrone, Brownie and Face continues, even beyond the grave for two of the characters. David's voice is more primary in this work, and the tone is deeply spiritual, ethereal and esoteric this time around. I don't want to give the storyline away, but I must say that the story centers around the awakening of David, there is a riveting return of Bliss Santana, and a surprising twist involving Tyrone that should tweak the interest of anyone who read the first book. If you haven't, then you must begin with Manhood and continue with Moanin'.

The feelings of grief, heartache, friendship, love, connection, resolution and salvation are palpable in every word. These characters live, breathe and dance through Ross' brilliant storytelling until they are palpable. This is the kind of writing contemporary fiction writers are incapable of...and Ross truly has no contemporaries. He is head and shoulders above the rest.

L.M. Ross's The Moanin' After is a book about choices--choosing to live, choosing to die, and choosing to forgive. In this, Ross's second novel, we follow his protagonist David on his harrowing journey through grief. Ross beautifully shows us that grief is not a solitary process. David touches lives in his quest to understand and accept the deaths of his friends Face Depina and, most importantly, Tyrone Hunter.

And author Ross also makes choices. Ross has grown as a writer since his first novel. In it, Manhood The Longest Moan, Ross used his gloriously beautiful figures of speech to excess. He created six or eight metaphors, similes, etc., and strung them together. In The Moanin' After, Ross wisely chooses the two or three best of his creations to make his points. And he makes them amazingly. The reader can revel in his descriptions. A poet at heart, Ross knows his subjects: jazz, New York City, gay life, and what it means to be a Black man. His word portraits rapturously evoke, sometimes bringing chills down the spine.

If anyone deserves a deal with a major publisher, it is Ross. An editor at Little Brown, Simon and Schuster, Clarion, or any of the other "big" publishers could work with Ross and turn him from a very good writer into a great one. The man knows how to use words in a commanding and beautiful way. He truly deserves better than his present editor and publisher.

His current publisher apparently is dedicated to bringing African-American writers to the marketplace. What a fine and noble goal! But when every page has five to fifteen errors, how can this publisher be taken seriously? The reader is forced to wade through sentences filled with repeated words and words left out. Time and time again, verbs of two different tenses (think "was"/ "were") are both given, as if the reader might want a choice in the sentence. Or could it be the editor or proofreader couldn't make the choice him or herself? And the commas! My lord, my lord...they are just thrown in willy-nilly. Someone needs to send this editor a grammar book--STAT!

L.M. Ross needs to be read, not decoded. If there is a publishing god out there, please let Her send an angel to plop Ross's next manuscript on the desk of an editor familiar with the English language.

Ross serves the gay community, the Black community, and the community at large with his humanity and his word paintings. Read The Moanin' After--it has power and grace. And after you read it, pass your copy on to your publisher friend...you know, the one who sits in an ivory tower office in Manhattan, waiting for the next great African-American author.

I just finished L.M. Ross' latest gift to the world. Once again, Mr. Ross has given us a profound gift and another taste of his genius. I LOVED The Moanin' After. Far too often these days, African-American authors of "gay" material or otherwise, tend to write for (what seems to be) readers with a 7th grade education, at best. Not this writer! He really takes you on an emotional journey, in which maturity and intelligence is a must; as well as some experience in that indefinable condition known as the human heart. As with his brilliant work before this - Manhood, The Longest Moan - again, Mr. Ross made me think..and not just coast along, when reading. How refreshing. How challenging. How adult. How REAL! He made me use my brain, and more importantly - my heart! Congratulations, Mr. Ross. You deserve KUDOS! If you crave intelligent, adult reading with raw and heartfelt emotion - this one's for you! We need more from you, Mr. Ross! Thus, we wait.

Professor Godfrey Mwakikagile is unquestionably one of Africa's leading academic and public intellectuals addressing our continent's problems today with intellectual verve. One has only to read his book, "The Modern African State: Quest for Transformation," among others, to appreciate this.

A Tanzanian by birth, but a Pan-Africanist in outlook, he draws inspiration from two African titans, the late former Presidents Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, my native land, who saw Africa as one, even if a fragmented whole. Dr. Mwakikagile also takes a continental approach, providing a sharp analysis of the modern African state which, he contends, is deeply flawed. Few would disagree with him. Just come to Africa and see for yourself. Those of us who live here know this to be true, painfully true.

I just wish that his works were more accessible to members of the general public. As hardcover and library editions, the cost is prohibitive; and as college textbooks, accessible to only a few.

His work is outstanding, nonetheless. Africa has many intellectuals of his stature and calibre, but few as committed and analytical, and as compassionate for the masses as he and a few - very few - of his colleagues are. One is also reminded of firebrands such as Wole Soyinka and Ngugi wa Thiong'o and my fellow countryman George Ayittey, an economics professor and author of "Africa Betrayed," and "Africa in Chaos." Africa is indeed in chaos. It is, in fact, chaos!

We wish we had more of such committed intellectuals. And it would be even better if our leaders paid attention to what they say. Unfortunately, they don't. Instead, they destroy them. While other countries highly value their intellectuals and the contributions they make, African countries - the leaders in particular - destroy ours. And you wonder why Africa has lost so many of them to other countries where they have the freedom to think and say what they want to say? And you wonder why so many of those still in Africa end up in the grave or rotting in prison?

Our leaders can stop this brain drain, the carnage, and the persecution of these committed intellectuals and others - just plain ordinary folks - who demand their natural right to be treated as human beings in their own countries. But such fundamental change is impossible without transparency and accountability. And it is impossible without democracy, true democracy, not the counterfeit kind so prevalent across Africa. And the author make this clear, abundantly clear, in his masterpiece, "The Modern African State: Quest for Transformation."

African leaders, nothing but dictators, may hate to hear what Dr. Mwakikagile says in this book and others. But they would at least be of some service to Africa if they heeded Voltaire's advice: "I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to death your right to say it."

Unfortunately, they are not that enlightened, because of the darkness in their mind.

An excellent book, well-written, packed with vital information, highly analytical, and professorial. But not pro-African, I'm sorry to say, in spite of all its merits.

Why highly intelligent and educated people like Godfrey Mwakikagile and others of his ilk write books so critical of Africa, is beyond me. What they say is true. Rwanda made history - it was our Nazi Germany. So did Somalia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Angola, Congo, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Sudan and many others, leaving indelible scars on our continent. We couldn't even hide that from the rest of the world, and still can't, I'm ashamed to admit. They all made history. And many continue to do so.

But why help our detractors and enemies make Africa look so bad? You can say - we already look bad! And we do. It's all on television, on the radio, and in newspapers worldwide, in all kinds of languages. But that does not mean we Africans should also harp on it, like these African writers and our enemies do.

Remember the old saying: Do not air your dirty laundry in public. Although you may not always want to keep it in the closet. But don't just toss it out there in the yard, either.

Say something good about Africa, even if it's not much. So nothing good comes out of Africa, just because we have all these wars, AIDS and other diseases, hunger, illiteracy, poverty and corruption? Come on!

If Mwakikagile had plenty of good things to say about Africa in the same book, in spite of all its negative aspects, I would have been tempted to give it the highest rating, five stars, for excellence. I'm sorry I can't.

Professor Mahmoud Mamdani, a leading African scholar who teaches at Columbia University, uses Godfrey Mwakikagile's book "The Modern African State: Quest for Transformation," as a textbook for graduate studies. Other professors use the book as an assigned or recommended text for graduate students in African and development studies and international affairs. It is also found in graduate school libraries across the United States like all the other books written by Godfrey Mwakikagile who, himself, is becoming an increasingly influential African scholar.

But that is not the only reason why his book, "The Modern African State...," got my attention. At a recent academic seminar on Africa, one of the participants cited George Ayittey's work, "Africa in Chaos," together with Godfrey Mwakikagile's "The Modern African State...," in his discussion of civil conflicts on the continent. Most of the participants knew or had heard about Ayittey. But that was the first time some of us heard about Mwakikagile, although quite a few had. His work, "The Modern African State...," equally trenchant as Ayittey's, is a great contribution to the growing literature about post-colonial Africa written by the Africans themselves.

It is interesting to see that more and more African intellectuals are taking an "internalist" approach to Africa's problems instead of always blaming external forces for her plight. Dr. Mwakikagile is one of them.

But such an approach must be balanced with an analysis of external involvement, including colonialism. Africa is still reeling from its devastating impact. However, this does not mean that all of Africa's problems should be placed entirely on the shoulders of her former colonial masters, as many Africans who take the "externalist" approach are fond of doing.

Most of the problems Africa faces today - rampant corruption, mismanagement, brutal repression, ethnic conflicts, hunger, illiteracy, endemic poverty and disease - are either caused or exarcebated by the Africans themselves; not by the former colonial masters who are now even being asked by some Africans to go back and rule them again. Things are that bad. And it is African writers like Mwakikagile who should be commended for taking up the challenge to tell the truth about their continent, however bitter.

It would be even more encouraging if their kith and kin here in the United States, African Americans, also faced this reality, instead of romanticizing Africa. Randall Robinson of TransAfrica is the exception, together with a few others; although their attitude is not the same as the attitude of black conservatives who are sometimes extremely hostile toward Africa and usually don't want to have anything to do with - "that place." Foregetting that white Republicans and others don't care about them either. They don't even want them in the Republic party. Alan Keyes knows that. Brilliant, highly articulate, he should have been the standard-bearer of his party, but still was not nominated as the Republican presidential candidate because he is black. And, yes, African!

But bad as their attitude is, one must not entirely ignore what black American conservatives - they hate to be called African Americans - say about Africa. Africa's problems can only be solved by Africans. We can help them, but the initiative must come from them.

It is also in this context that Dr. Godfrey Mwakikagile's highly acclaimed work, "The Modern African State: Quest for Transformation," must be viewed; although, unlike black American conservatives who hate Africa and by extension hate themselves, he writes out of deep concern for the well-being of his continent as much as his compatriot Professor George Ayittey does, as do many others.

This is a work of mature scholarship by one of our finest and most mature African intellectuals writing about Africa today. Having read his other writings as well, there's no question that they meet the criteria of informed scholarship and standards of rigorous analysis one would expect from a writer and scholar of this calibre.

Africa has lost an entire generation since independence because of bad leadership. And the author is blunt about it.

Highly critical of corrupt leaders across the continent, also notorious for brutal repression, he's mature enough to be on guard against blind acceptance of multiparty democracy patterned after Western parliamentary institutions, unlike many other Africans who have embraced wholesale the virtues of multipartyism as it is practised in the West, without taking African realities into account, simply because they have suffered so much under the one-party state, de jure and de facto.

Neither the one-party system, suppressing dissent, nor the multi-party system, promoting sectarianism, is ideal for Africa. The author is critical of both, yet realistic enough to give multiparty politics a chance in this highly unstable continent whose most combustible elements include conflicting ethnic loyalties transcending nationalism. How to defuse this highly volatile situation is one of the most urgent issues Godfrey Mwakikagile addresses in his book, "The Modern African State: Quest for Transformation."

I have only one complaint, although even this does not in any way impair the quality of his work or diminish the validity of his central thesis. AIDS is devastating Africa. Entire communities are being wiped out. The author should have devoted at least an entire chapter or two to this pandemic which has already killed more than 20 million Africans, and is killing millions more every year. May be that is a subject for one of the books he may write in the future. I hope so, on a continent with so little hope.

Mwakikagile's work is a masterpiece of fact and analysis. In the one book he manages to extensively cover the 'rebirth' of Liberia, the 'powerless' state of Sierra Leone, 'ethnic cleansing' in Rwanda, 'stateless' Somalia, slavery in Mauritania and Sudan, and the fall of Mobutu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire). Any one of the topics is the subject of a book in itself.

Mwakikagile uses the precedents of the history of other African countries, as well as other countries around the world, to make a case for the fragility of the 'African State' as an institution owing to structural flaws.

In his introduction he states, "In a very tragic way, Sierra Leone is Africa, and Africa is Sierra Leone. So is Somalia, Congo-Brazzaville, the Central African Republic, Kenya and Angola. And so is Rwanda, Burundi, Congo-Kinshasa and Nigeria."

This sets the tone for the rest of the book that is full of comparisons between countries. At times this can be confusing for someone trying to concentrate on a single issue. But then Mwakikagile deliberately does this to bring home the fact that Africa is not, or should not be, considered a collection of numerous unrelated states, but a continent with a common experience much closer than many would care to admit.

Mwakikagile does not pull any punches in condemning those who he considers guilty of causing the current woes of Africa. He also does not hesitate to name the continent's heroes.

The whole book is a great read for scholars and people merely interested in affairs on the continent. Some scholars may quibble with some of the facts as he presented them, but in general the book reads as a piece put together by someone who has taken the trouble to research his facts properly.

Recommended reading for anyone wishing to get up to speed on African affairs.

What an amazing and touching story! Even though I am not Jewish, I cannot help but love Patricia Polacco's stories of the Jewish faith and culture. What is most striking about this book is the comparison and contrast to African-American culture. Of course, first and foremost this is a story about friendship between a lonely old woman, a little boy, and a tailless cat. It's absolutely delightful.

What a sweet story of connection. My 4 yo liked it a lot, and i was moved to tears. Lots to the story.

What a beautiful story to show children that, despite our differences, i.e. age, race, family background, we still have some many important things in common. Characters have wit, charm and integrity. Story is very moving and good for all ages.

This is one of the best children's books I have ever read. In fact, it is one of the most beautiful (in language and illustrations) books I have read--period. Patricia Polacco is a master at bringing diverse, meaningful relationships to life. Every sensitive, mature parent should buy this book for his/her child!

This is the story of a loving friendship between an elderly Jewish lady from Poland named Mrs. Katz, and an African-American child named Larnel. Mrs. Katz lives alone in her apartment and doesn't have anyone to visit her. (It's not stated in the book, but, since this appears to be a predominantly African-American inner city neighborhood, one wonders if she was left behind by the Jewish community when the more affluent members moved to the suburbs? In real life it has happened...) Larnel's mother stops by to visit her every other day or so, and brings Larnel with her.

One day, Larnel gets the idea to give Mrs. Katz a kitten from the litter that was born in the basement of his apartment building. (Get the pun -- Katz/cats? Actually, the name "Katz" has nothing to do with "cats," but it's cute anyway.) Mrs. Katz names the kitten Tush, which is Yiddish for "bottom," because it has no tail. Larnel agrees to help her care for Tush, and from this sharing, a lifelong friendship grows.

The story is well-written, the characters are well-developed and "real." The illustrations are vibrant, beautifully done, and ethnically accurate. Well, almost. There are a couple Jewish bloopers. For one thing, the menorah sitting by Mrs. Katz's window only has seven branches. A Hanukkah menorah has nine -- eight for the eight days plus an extra for the "servant" candle. The seven-branched menorah mentioned in the Bible was specifically for the Jerusalem Temple, and is not usually found in the home. Since Hanukkah was mentioned in the story, I have to assume that this was supposed to be a Hanukkah menorah.

The second blooper is the scene in the bakery. Mrs. Katz is shopping for PASSOVER -- a time when no leaven is to be found anywhere in a Jewish home. It is not just a matter of eating matzoh. The entire house is cleaned of anything even resembling leaven, and even owning leavened products is forbidden. That being the case, why is she shopping for her Passover feast in a bakery, of all places? She is clearly pointing at a cake or some rolls, and these would NOT be served on Passover! So nu, maybe she's a Reform Jew and not so strict? But in that case, why is that very Hasidic-looking gentleman in the corner shopping there? Surely HE would not serve bread for Passover! (...)

These are relatively minor quibbles, given the overall good quality of the book. But when it comes to children's books, I insist on total accuracy with regard to Judaism, because these are the images that will stick in the mind for years to come. Granted, this is not a "Jewish" book per se, it's a multicultural book -- which is all the more reason to pay more attention to the Jewish details, lest the reader(s) be misled. For the bloopers I'm docking it a star, but it's still a great story and I highly recommend it to both Jews and gentiles.

This was a great novel. I especially enjoyed the characters. They were all easy to visualize.

A white boy who is mute witnesses the rape of his black friend. The rape ends in a murder that he does not witness, and all kinds of problems flow from there. I don't want to tell too much of the plot, but it has a supernatural element. Set in the early 1960s in the south, the racial element plays out against this background of crime and hypocrisy in a small southern town.

I would also highly recommend Son of the Endless Night, by Ferris.
Son of the Endless Night

If you like coming-of-age stories (and Phantom Nights is one), then you will probably also like Summer of Night--a great story!

Summer of Night (Aspect Fantasy)

Take one rape and murder case, add a misunderstood child, and mix it all with some good old Southern hospitality, and you get a ghost tale that will make your skin crawl. Phantom Nights is an absorbing tale of murder, lust, racism, greed, and guilt. If you liked To Kill a Mockingbird or the film, In the Heat of the Night, you will find much to appreciate here.

Priest Howard, a wealthy Southern gent, has just died. Moments before his last breath, he accused his son, Leland, of being a thief in front of his black nurse, Mally Shaw. Leland is sure that Mally has evidence that will sink him in the upcoming elections. In the hopes of retrieving the evidence, Leland pays Mally a "friendly" visit, which ends badly for Mally. Leland covers up the evidence and believes the incident is over. There are only two problems. One, there was a witness. And two, Mally's ghost can't seem to rest until Leland's sins are brought to light and punished.

The characters are clearly drawn. The prose is written in a lyrical style that is poetic. This has real Southern flava. Has there ever been a more despicable character than the Bobby Gambier's mother-in-law? Leland Howard is the perfect bad guy, who starts out the book a suave, confident politician and gradually shrinks to a pathetic shrimp with an oral fixation. Readers who enjoy murder mysteries, ghost stories, or Southern fiction will love this so it has wide appeal. Read it in the summertime with a nice, tall glass of lemonade.

OK this is the 3rd book I've read by John Farris and I have enjoyed them all. This one is deeply satisfying. It's just a perfect supernatural thriller. Great plotting and characters.

You cannot do justice to this book by revealing the plot. What John Farris has created here is something very complex, deep, emotional, scary and timeless. John Farris never ceases to amaze me -- I wait for each of his new books with great anticipation and he never disappoints his readers. By the way, his publisher should really release the latest of the Fury book series: Avenging Fury. Why is it not on the shelves?? It is very sad that Farris is not more widely recognized and publicized. He has a unique voice and his previous books should constantly be in print and re-discovered. His publisher should really pay more attention to their greatest writer and make all of his novels available again -- mine are starting to fall apart!

The number one question I ask myself when I started this book is why haven't I heard of John Farris before now? My local bookseller at the time recommended the book after Mr. Farris had a booksigning at the store last year. I bought the book but it's sat on my TBR stack all this time. After reading this book, I have to admit that Farris is definitely a diamond buried beneath a ton of black coals of other less talented bestselling writers. This was the first time in a long while where I took the day off and read a book cover to cover. No skimming. Every word...every turn of phrase is literally an artistic masterpiece. I tried to research the author on the web, but he seems to be as much a phantom as the Dixie Traveler. Majority of the characters are multilayered and you do come to care for a great deal of them-none more so than Alex. Highly, highly recommended.

My five-year-old daughter was fascinated with this book even though it didn't include fairies, animals, or dinosaurs. I was very happy with the information they presented which gives some basic information about Dr. King while not treating his death in such a way that might overly upset sensitive children like mine. The illustrations are wonderfully done and my daughter looked them over carefully for a long time. It is a wonderful opportunity to launch more discussions about racism and the way we treat other people because of their gender, race, or religion.

I LIKE THE STORY BECAUSE HE TOLD THE LIFE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE BOY HIS FREINDS SAID THEY COULD NOT PLAY WITH HIM BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK.

Martin Luther King , Jr was born in Atlalta , Goagia. He was born on January 15 , 1929. He led the March of Washington on August 28, 1964 and gave his speech.
THe book was really great.

DR.king was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929. He played football when he was a child. He couldn't play with his friends because he was black and they were white. He wanted to change this and changed the world.
I really like the book. He inspired me to keep the Golden Rule.

DR.King was born in Alanta Gorgia. He like to play football &baseball. He played football in his backyeard. One day his friends couldn't play with him because he was black. He wanted to change this and changed the world.

Dr. Renford Reese places himself at the human epicenter of correctional policies by going into the prison system, (both physically and statistically), to try to critically analyze correctional policies. In doing so, he finds cracks, which he argues have managed to create a "Prison Race" due to high rates of recidivism, including the 3 Strikes Law.
The book does not excuse the crimes committed by those caught in the revolving door, but rather attempts to draw connections between values and the shaping of correctional policies whose policy threads are woven in our every day lives and statistically have impacted some more than others. This book is important for anyone interested in understanding correctional policies or looking to shape them, and also for anyone interested in creating programs, community change, and leadership.

Prison Race is a very informative and thought provoking book. Professor Reese does an outstanding job explaining the corruption behind the prison system and the consequences of counterproductive criminal justice laws.

It's a must READ!

Linda Redford

I would never know about this book if it was not for an email I received from Professor Renford Resse's student. However, after reading this book I can say that this book is a great and informative book but although a little short. Nevertheless, Professor Resse deliver the readers with a great insight of our shameful correctional system. It is books like this that will revolutionalized our policies and our law makers in the way we deal with the criminal justice system. As an American, living in a country that promotes justice and Human right thus, as an American it is truly sad and embarrassing to see people treated this way. Again, great book, I recommend it to anyone which I did here at Yale's social sciences department.

Prison Race is a very informative and literary book that clearly explains the corruption behind the prison system. Dr. Reese is very descriptive and detailed as he explains the counterproductive criminal justice laws that are in place, some of which have caused recidivism (the revolving door of prisoners.)

Chapter three was written solely by a former prisoner who shares his experience while serving a 12 year sentence behind prison walls. I found his experience extremely interesting and quite captivating.

While I applaud Reese for such a work well done, I'm a bit concerned that his focus was on male prisoners and said very little about female prisoners. I think by addressing the other gender, it would have given his readers a broader presepective.

Just a Thought!

This is the second book that I read by the famous Dr. Renford Reese, as a former student at Cal Poly Pomona, and have had the opportunity to take not just one, but two of Dr. Reese's political science classes, and I can surelyt say that Dr. Reese is nothing short of incredible. He is very intelligent, articulate, and charismatic, and he truly cared about every single one of his students. From my experience here at Cal Poly Pomona, I can say that Dr. Reese my favorite teacher of all time and that Dr. Reese is one of the most beloved Professor at Cal Poly Pomona. He is not only my former professor but my mentor. I am very proud to have Dr. Reese as my mentor. Never in my life have I met or had someone this influential in my life besides my parents. His new book, Prison Race is amazing, and is a must read for all, regardless of race, color, or political background. I would recommend this book to everyone, not just only to people dealing or people having interest in the criminal justice. You need to read this book if you are human being. It is essential for all of us to be educated about the problems in our country today i.e. the prison system. The problems that were created by some of us to keep others down i.e. the meant to FAIL correction system. Dr. Reese did an exceptional job in explaining "how" and "why" these problems came into existence.
Dr. Reese did a fantastic job describing the many injustices in our prisons. Prison Race is a very powerful book. Prison Race makes a compelling case that the United States has an injustice system at work i.e. our multi-billion dollar prison industry, and that it operates within this supposedly free society, out of eye of its people. The brutalities, cruelties and inhumanity widely prevalent in the way people are put in prison, kept there, degraded and mistreated, as recounted in this book's accounts of racist bias, medical care, prison labor etc. This book not only explains how the prison system work but how it is a multi-billion dollar industry. Prison Race also contains a chapter written by an ex-convict describing the life behind bars. And after reading this chapter we would think that being jail is dangerous because you are surrounded by other dangerous criminal but in fact surrounded by fraudulent prison officials. Towards the end of the book, there is a collection poetry written by inmates throughout California's prison. Dr. Reese have established his book an exceptional resource for understanding the new political economy of criminal injustice that today undermines what America stand for. I highly recommend this book! I believe that this book is extremely well written, easy to read and keeps the interest of the reader. Above all I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys reading and wants to feel as though the author is having a personal conversation with the reader.
Mahatma Gandhi said, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." I strongly believe that Dr. Reese did his part, in making this world a better place to live and now it is upon us to get educated and do our part. If you were not lucky enough to have had Dr. Reese speak to you in person, his words still carry strongly in this book. I am a better person today because of Dr. Reese and I am sure other people out there are better because of Dr. Reese. I hope that one day I can be like Dr. Reese and have a positive impact of the world. Thank you again, Dr. Reese for everything!

This book was very inspiring. It showed you just how God can work in apersons life even if they feel that they are not worthy of all the blessings that he has in store for you. It also show that God will strengthen you to pass the test even though the test seem so hard. Preachers also need that confirmation that you can and will make mistakes but if you pray and keep your hands in God's hand He will help you to overcome the things that we try so hard not to do, and when we do this then our lives will be a living testimony for someone to follow

This is an excellent book. I really enjoyed the way she described the angels. She is such a talented writer and I have had a chance to meet her in person and God has truly given her an excellent gift.

This book is wonderfully written, totally captivating and it really gives you a realistic look into the heart of God. I had to stop several times throughout just to reflect on His love and ask forgiveness for the times I've strayed and He kept right on loving me and bringing me back to Him.
Even if you know the story of Hosea, this book will give you a more in depth view of what Hosea went through and what God goes through continually with His children.

I love Christian fiction and tend to devour several books in a week. This book stands out because not only was it an entertaining read, it caused me to reflect and pray and strive to be a better Christian.

Absolutely wonderful!

Oh My Goodness is all I can say. I read this in 2 days but it would have been one if I didn't have to work. Totally Loved It!!! Thank you Vanessa Miller-the words in pages of the Rain Series helped me in my pesonal life. Made me rethink some things. I appreciate you being obedient and writing these novels!!

I've had this book for a while so yesterday I took it to the beauty salon with me so I'd have something to read while under the dyer. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. It's certainly a page turner. I hadn't even completed the book and I was telling everyone how good it was. So like I told them, "BUY THE BOOK". It's wonderful Christian fiction. I give this book two thumbs up, a diet coke with a cherry on top. Take a bow Ms. Miller. You got it goin' on!

Thank you for this book. It was exactly what I was looking for. My husband and I will travel to Senegal and Ghana early 2008 and we will be touring those places associated with the slave trade. I am also researching our family trees and am looking forward to returning to the Motherland.
The part of the book that gives a snapshot of each country on the west coast of Africa, things to take with you and proper behavior in each country was helpful. We would not want to do anything to offend our African brothers and sisters.
Continue doing what you are doing.

Sincerely yours,
Hazhin

This book opened my eyes. I was brainwashed about Africa and did not know it. It was if the book was speaking directly to me. This is a great book easy to read but alot of information

Roots Recovered is not only a practical travel guide, but also a valuable guide for tracing African-American ancestry! The resources and references in this book are extensive and the writers have traveled to these places--making it a treasure trove of information. The traveler can trace one's roots to specific African tribes. The book contains bits of history and is informative, as well as educational and helps Blacks with the misrepresentations about Africa. As a bonus, the reader learns how to travel for free or on a budget. I especially enjoyed these sections: useful phrases, watch you back, women travelers, photography etiquette and places of interest (not your ordinary ones). This book is a must read for anyone planning to travel to Africa.

I really like this book. The resources and references are fantastic and the author proves that he knows what he is talking about. His experiences were exciting, genuwine and informative. In addition there are individual chapters on various West African countries and what you might expect during your visits, plus great information on embassy offices, cheap air seats and safety. A must have for the traveler.

This book is very different. It is a travel book yet it touches upon history and brainwashing of African Americans and how travel to Africa can change the brainwashing. I love Africa so this book did not directly concern me but people who have a bad image of Africa should buy this book. This book is not what I expected but it was a pleasant surprise. This book will make a Black person not be afraid to go to Africa to see it because it informs you of all the misrepresentions.

This is a darn good book. If you like poetry, and I do, then you will love this book, cause it's filled with it.

When you read it, it makes you feel good, like when you are in your rocking chair sitting out on the front porch. Sometimes it rocks smooth and easy, and other times it rocks hard and really makes you think what life is all about.

"She Rose" is a powerful collection of poetry. The way Venus blends words and emotions into poetic verse is amazing. This is a book every Man will appreciate and every woman NEEDS to read. With pieces like "AMEN" and "I RUN" this book takes you on the journey of a powerful woman's into Godness. Venus is amazing!

Amazing book. I have read it many times and it inspires me each time.

She Rose is a beautiful, inspiring book filled with poetry that touches the soul of the reader. The poems range from magical to commanding. Each poem gives the reader an emotional stroke.

A fragrant rose amongst many thorns, She Rose: On a Journey from Girl to Goddess is entrenched in the tradition. Often, many ask why poets and spoken word artists, who come to us from the margin, must make waves in the societal ocean. Venus Jones clearly answers, "I want...women and the underrepresented everywhere to rise to their fullest potential so they may promise every nation a brighter and more beautiful future." She comes carrying the voices and visions of poets and writers such as Langston Hughes and Audre Lorde. Her words are not the distant and static monologues produced by so many other poets who lack a connection to what is humane. For Venus, poetry is not a luxury. It is a consciousness raising act, a call to be present and heard in a world that seeks to envelop us in the silencing clouds of materialism, sexual violence, racism, homophobia, poverty, war, environmental destruction and blind patriotism. There are indeed depths of wisdom in her metaphor and rhyme. For a new generation of poetic soldiers, Venus Jones and She Rose comes to us right on time.