Thursday, April 22, 2010

SUGAR: REVIEW AND BERNICE McFADDEN GIVEAWAY, PART TWO

BLOGGING TODAY
WITH THE AUTHOR OF

SUGAR


AND


GLORIOUS


TODAY IS
BERNICE MCFADDEN DAY!
***********************************
SUGAR
BY BERNICE L. McFADDEN

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Bernice L. McFadden’s beloved debut Sugar was hailed by critics across the country who praised her graceful voice and revolved at her talent for telling a complex story with insight and clarity. The New York Times called Sugar “Vivid.”

This remarkable book is the story of a young prostitute who comes to Bigelow, Arkansas to start a new life. Sugar moves next door to Pearl Taylor, who is still grieving for the daughter who was murdered fifteen years before. Over sweet potato pie an unlikely friendship begins, transforming both their lives - and the life of an entire community.

MY REVIEW:

SUGAR by Bernice McFadden is a novel that rings true with its authenticity of the African American life in 1950s in America. Set in Bigelow, Arkansas, SUGAR is a story of love and loss, tragedy and triumph, friendship and forgiveness that revolves around the two main characters who play so well off of each other. With Bernice McFadden’s astonishing talent, the story of Sugar Lacey and Pearl Taylor comes to life through vivid descriptions and such powerful imagery and depth of feeling, that it is astounding to think that this was her first novel.

The book begins with a unequivocally serious depiction of the murder of Pearl Taylor’s daughter, Jude. This shocking opening makes the reader sit up and take notice from the start and will take on more meaning later in the book. Fast forward fifteen years and the story shifts to the story of Pearl and Sugar.

Sugar made her entrance into Bigelow complete with prostitute costumed long blonde wig and daring red dress. Having been left by her mother at a brothel as a child, she grew up in the only world she knew and the only life she felt worthy of. Secretly, Sugar wanted to be a songstress, a singer of love and hope, seduction and sadness. But she realistically thought of how difficult it would be to become a singer what with her background and as a young black girl in those times.

Sugar moves in next door to Pearl Taylor, a sixty-year-old woman who lives a simple life with her husband Joe; that is until Sugar arrives. Although the two women are so opposite, we find that after a shaky start, a perfect bonding takes place. Sugar reminds Pearl of her beloved Jude and can look past Sugar’s outer shell and appreciate her inner self. Pearl doesn’t pay attention to her neighbors, while Sugar pretends not to as they are all afraid she is there to steal their husbands away. Even Pearl’s husband is against the relationship he can’t understand. Pearl works hard to help Sugar become a good church goin’ woman. Unfortunately, some of the town still feel Sugar is just too much for them, even with Pearl’s backing, to convince. A person from Sugar’s past comes and although he is up against Pearl who is ready to fight him off, he is still a strong reminder to Sugar of where she came from and who she really thinks she is.

Watching to see if good can triumph over evil and allow Sugar to overcome her past that really was no fault of her own, readers will cheer and ache along with this character as she must make a decision about where the rest of her life is meant to be and where it will take her. With the kind of story and characters that you immediately become involved with, readers will not be sorry to meet Bernice McFadden through this, her first novel, SUGAR.


GIVEAWAY: PART TWO

THANKS TO BERNICE MCFADDEN
FOR THE TWO AUTOGRAPHED COPIES
OF EACH OF THESE AMAZING
BOOKS TO GIVE AWAY, SO TWO
WINNERS WILL WIN BOTH SUGAR
AND GLORIOUS !


--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!
HOW TO ENTER

+1 ENTRY:
COMMENT ON THE INFORMATION, OR REVIEW, FOR SUGAR ABOVE THAT YOU FIND WOULD ATTRACT YOU AND MAKE YOU WANT TO READ THIS BOOK

+1 MORE ENTRY:
COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU LEARNED ABOUT BERNICE McFADDEN FROM THE INTERVIEW FROM EARLIER TODAY THAT CAN BE FOUND HERE

+1 MORE ENTRY:
COMMENT ON HOW YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW IN MORE THAN ONE WAY, MAKE SEPARATE COMMENTS SO THEY COUNT AS MULTIPLE ENTRIES

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, MAY 10 !

GOOD LUCK!
*******************************************

31 comments:

Colleen Turner said...

I love any story that pits people that have experienced serious diversity that find others like them to commune and grow. It sounds like a very interesting read.
Thanks,
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I am a fan on facebook.
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I follow via google connect.
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I follow via email.
candc320@gmail.com

Margie said...

I like the idea of the unlikely friendship that develops between the two women....and how Pearl can look beyond the obvious in Sugar and see what is within.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

I follow the blog via GFC
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

From the interview....
she had good advice to give to new writers, that is, to write what is in their hearts. She also mentions that they need to participate in the marketing, etc.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

also have you on my igoogle reader
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

email subscriber
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Facebook fan
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

traveler said...

I am an e-mail subscriber. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I am captivated by this beautiful book and Sugar is emotional and filled with wonderful characters and relationships. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

She entered fashion college and later on Travel and tourism. Then attended Fordham for writing. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

bookmagic said...

I follow with Google friend connect

boommagic418@gmail.com

bookmagic said...

I like any book about starting over and I think it must be very difficult for Sugar.

bookmagic418@gmail.com

Thanks for the giveaway

Anonymous said...

I am a email subscriber.
debp
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I really like stories of friendship, how it evolves, and changes the characters.It also sounds as if the story uses an accurate historical setting.I would like to read it.
debp
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I think it would be a very interesting book to read. Please enter me in contest. Thank you. Tore923@aol.com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I love a story where someone is able to triumph over the raw deal they their life has been. i also love to watch the dynamics of a friendship between woman of such an age difference.

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I also subscribe through email

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I can't wait to read Glorious- I just love historical fiction.
I also was unaware that most mainstream book clubs did not offer books by writers of color. I have enjoyed Harlequin's "Kimani Press" and until recently never knew if the writers I read were black, white or other.

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Linda Kish said...

This is what interested me:
"SUGAR is a story of love and loss, tragedy and triumph, friendship and forgiveness that revolves around the two main characters who play so well off of each other."


lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I “like” you on facebook

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

GFC Follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Jennifer said...

I follow you via google.

Elise at caliblue7@gmail.com

Pamela Keener said...

I love the fact that Pearl sees the goodness within Sugar that apparently Sugar does not. I am rooting for good to reign over evil & I hope Pearl's wisdom shows Sugar she is indeed worth it.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(AT)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I like that she says that even though she is an African American writer her and others writers stories are universal and deserve to be put out there for all of us to see and not hidden.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I follow via Google reader.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I follow via e-mail so that I don't miss a thing & also so that I can put the books that intrigue me in my book file to be purchased later.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I follow via Facebook.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

bison61 said...

wow-left by her mother at a brothel, this sounds like an interesting book

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

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