Pearl Cleage - What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day: A Novel

Pros: Beautiful language, great plot
Cons: Short, more effective if read aloud

Ignore the fact that this is an Oprah Book Club choice. This slim novel packs a powerful punch, tackling subjects far more difficult than the touchy-feely gushy stuff Oprah embraces on her talk show. Pearl Cleage's rhythmic style is reminiscent of Toni...

Pros: Gave Terry McMillian a run for her money -- the better buy, of the two.
Cons: Pearl Cleage's first novel -- the experience will make her writing better.

Hhhhhhhuuuuuuummmmmmm.... the best way to put it: it was decent.
What I liked most about the book was that it got right to the point. You don't sit, reading page after page of boring details that really don't contribute to the story's main...

Pros: The language, the rhythm, the inspiration
Cons: The sadness, the fact that it might not be accessible to everyone

This wasn't an Oprah Book when I found What Looks Like Crazy... A friend dragged me to a reading to get us out of our Winter slump. It worked.

I wish that everyone could hear Pearl Cleage read from this book. She has this amazing...

Pros: Touching, well-written, humorous, satisfying story
Cons: May be too graphic for some; wish the morality were more consistent

Each time I went to the bookstore last year, I saw WHAT LOOKS LIKE CRAZY in the quality paperback section. I picked it up and put it down many times. Then I decided to read all of Oprah's book club books, so I finally bought it.

I was not...

Pros: Engaging and attention-grabbing.
Cons: Girly -- and it was an Oprah book. *groan*

I'm dubious of the whole "Oprah Book Club" thing. I've been sucked in by the hype before, picking up a book or two that aren't in my normal areas of interest, based on the comments that the group of twelve women give after reading this...

Pros: see what having HIV is really like
Cons: Excessive cursing

This book was great. I found it very interesting to read the many problems people HIV experience in daily life. From restrictions on just how intimate intimacy can be to the fear of "full-blown AIDS" as the heroine puts it.

I really...

Pros: engrossing
Cons: wish it was longer!

This book touches on just about everything of social importance in the 90's and 2000's. The topics of HIV (and the amazingly true ignorance around it), crack addicts, teenage pregnancy, adolescent rage, nasty sex offenders, and general corruption are...

Pros: Can't think of any!
Cons: lots profanity and a predictable stupid plot

I'm sorry but i am sick of books and movies always ending in such a predictable yet unrealistic way. Everything always works out for the good guys and the bad guys get screwed. If only real life was like this, but in real life, nice guys finish last....

Pros: Easy to read, spellbinding
Cons: language, couldn't put it down

This has to be one of the most honest informative fiction books I have read in a long time, and I read about 2-3 books a week. It honestly portraits the day to day dilemmas that someone with HIV has. It is very heartwarming and honest.

Ava...

Pros: powerful and moving
Cons: none

When my aunt lent me this novel, frankly, I didn't know what to expect. She is very much the typical white middle-class christian SAHM, so just the fact that it was a book about a black woman with AIDS surprised me. And as I got into it, I was amazed....

Pros: interesting, not very long
Cons: leaves you wanting more

In my opinion this book was great.It was fiction for some and reality to others. I would recommend it to any adult male or female.the book was written beautifully and I would gladly read anything else that she writes.This is definitely a book of the 90's...

Pros: Light and Fun, yet deep (GO FIGURE)
Cons: None

This book was a pleasure to read. The writing style is light and easy to read. If you read the first two pages, you probably won't put down.

It basically is about a black woman with aids and the relationships with those around her. Heavy you...

Pros: fast read
Cons: didn't want to put down

I saw this book at the library and almost passed on it but something, maybe the title, caught my eye. I a so glad I read this book.

The writer, Pearl Cleages, just hooks you from the very beginning. I could hardly put it down and in fact...

Pros: Wonderful
Cons: Story was too short.

This was the first book I read recommended by Oprah. What a delight! It's a wonderful story which makes you feel at one with the characters. You live through the pain...and laugh with them at the good moments. I wanted at times to be able to reach out to...

Pros: informative, diverse
Cons: harsh at first

I loved this book. I actually ordered this book and read it before it was on Oprah's book Club. I purchased the book because I have previously participated in HIV/AIDS Awareness activities and wanted to see what this author had to say about her...