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Liked It “Story of upper class whites who try to move into Atlanta's predominately black neighborhoods. I enjoyed it because I recognized many of the places.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “Wow. This book had promise. But nothing was really resolved, and McCall's ending is pretty pessimistic in terms of race relations. But I suppose that's a valid view to have. I will say that I hated the black characters' dialects. Totally out of proportion, and if this had been written by...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“Painful to read because you fear it will not end well for the main characters. That one or more of them will make some minor mistake that will magnify into a major calamity. That said it was an interesting look at gentrification of a neighborhood from both sides. A topic I know very little about, as I live in a rural area of Ohio.
Karen K - Ohio wrote this review Tuesday, June 2 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I have to say the whole tree cutting incident didn't feel real or true to me. Tyrone's violence, Barlowe's regret at coming home in the nick of time, Sean and Sandy not calling the police or moving. Yuppie Sean would never attempt the cutting himself. I don't see how Sandy could call it just a minor misunderstanding. And can't believe neither wanted to call the police. I know the author was trying to explain Sean's later actions (which shocked and angered me) but the whole tree episode felt forced.
”“Wow. This book had promise. But nothing was really resolved, and McCall's ending is pretty pessimistic in terms of race relations. But I suppose that's a valid view to have. I will say that I hated the black characters' dialects. Totally out of proportion, and if this had been written by someone not black, totally racist.”
dirckhals wrote this review Monday, May 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Story of upper class whites who try to move into Atlanta's predominately black neighborhoods. I enjoyed it because I recognized many of the places.”
LIsa M wrote this review Tuesday, February 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I'm familiar with the area and the neighborhood he's talking about here and found myself on the third chapter before I left the bookstore with it.It's a really excellent take on the gentrification that's happened in Atlanta and I can see how even if a reader wasn't from the area, this book would resonate.The characters were real, recognizable, even if at times you didn't want them to be stereotypical (even as they struggled not to be).”
nerakg wrote this review Thursday, November 13 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Very good book on how urbanization has affected traditional African-American communities. The ending will keep you in suspense.”
holliwood1367 wrote this review Sunday, August 3 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“very timely”
EPL wrote this review Saturday, May 3 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Very good book- you can see the story from both sides and that makes it fascinating to understand what people may really be thinking in terms of colour. It makes you question your reactions as well and do a little soul searching.”
Nevine P wrote this review Monday, April 21 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Excellent and eye-opening book. It really made me see my neighborhood in a new light. Recommended read for all. ”
emiller wrote this review Friday, April 11 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“"Them" is one of the most provacative books I have ever read. It provides many questions of race and all of its insidious thoughts, but it does not provide the answers, that is for the reader to decide.Its enjoyable reading as he put the reader into the various situations of race from both sides of the particular problem . Read it its good”
Ray and Maggie M wrote this review Saturday, March 22 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
