Through it all BJ struggles to feed, clothe, and support these beloved grandsons with limited financial resources.
Ricky - affected by drugs in the womb - struggles with school, joins the swim team, and falls off the rails a bit (selling drugs). I was glad when he gave his Uncle Quentin a richly deserved 'what for'. Luther, a good student and caring brother, loves Grandma's cooking, reading, and football. Luther and Ricky move from grade school through college, with some ups and downs along the way. The story, told in rotating voices by all the main characters, follows the lives of these people for more than a decade. SPOILER ALERT: The rest of this review might contain (what you consider) spoilers. Tammy, a white woman married to a black man, is funny when she talks about the attitude she gets from black women.Īnd Nurse Kim is David Lee's skilled caregiver, a sexy lady whose 'caregiving' is all-inclusive (and maybe a little over-the top). Tammy is BJ's neighbor and best friend, a caring helpful woman who BJ can confide in. Two other major characters in the book are Tammy and Nurse Kim. Lee David has become a shadow of his former self, largely unaware of his surroundings, who lies in bed watching "Dora the Explorer" (a children's show). To top it off, BJ's worried she might have to put Lee David - a good man and loyal spouse - into 'one of those places'. Her oldest son Quentin, a wealthy chiropractor who's distanced himself from the family, has just married his fifth blonde Caucasian wife.īJ's middle son Dexter is in prison and constantly sends letters complaining about his wrongful conviction for carjacking (he did it), talking about his big plans for the future (delusional), and asking for money (which BJ doesn't have).īJ has Dexter's number though, and she lets him know it.īJ is also concerned about her two sisters: Arlene - proud of her psychology degree - is a single mother who dotes on her obese 29-year old son Omar (Arlene overfeeds him).but she won't let him grow up Īnd Venetia - a religious Bible thumper - has a lovely house, a cheating husband who 'travels' constantly, and two children bound for college. Trinetta then takes off for Atlanta with her new guy, leaving the kids behind.īJ also has other things on her mind. Betty Jean (BJ), an African American hotel employee, lives in a middle-class, mixed-race neighborhood in Los Angeles with her husband Lee David, who has Alzheimer's disease.Īs the book opens BJ's drug-addict daughter Trinetta drops off her two school-aged sons, Luther and Ricky, 'for a few days' while she 'applies for a job'.
0 kommentar(er)
