This book tried to cover so many topics: inner-city violence, politics, single parenthood, girls-who-have-to-turn-to-stripping-to-survive, renegades, men-on-the-DL, light-skinned-blacks-who-take-advantage-of-the-race, corrupt cops. It was a lot - probably too much.I couldn't get into the whole past lives thing, nor could I buy into the idea of vigilante justice; however, I loved the idea of West End. My dilemma is: is it okay for us to kill someone who killed or raped or stole? What about restitution? I know the book tried to imply that the people Blue went after were remorseless, but what if they would have been remorseful one year later? And if 'bad' people don't come into West End because they are scared they'll be killed, have we truly addressed the issues that were causing the problems in the first place? Is the way to fix the problems in our society today to kill all the drug dealers and users?I did finish it and it held my attention, though at times you could guess what was going to come next. Most of the time I was just like "Ok, when is this going to end?" Not one of my favorite Pearl Cleage works.
I forgot that I already knew Pearl Cleage. I was reading the book and I kept telling my friend that it sounds like "What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day". That said, it is a different story. Pearl Cleage just creates the same kind of peace in a novel with her word choices.Baby Brother's Blues: A Novel, tackles many of the social issues faced in Black America. It doesn't however, hit you over the head with warnings and proverbs. It simply gives you a 360 view of the issues and the people involved in the issues. It presents you with a small portion of Atlanta on lock down by one Blue Hamilton. Hamilton believes that he is a reincarnated free man. His job is to protect the women and children of his neighborhood and to provide them a safe place to live. The story chronicles the lives of several of the residents.Cleage is a wonderful storyteller. She mixes beautiful language with urban lives to create stories that appeal to all people. This is my second Cleage novel and I guess I gotta read the rest.
What do You think about Baby Brother's Blues (2007)?
Should have read this one first between SEEN IT ALL AND DONE THE REST but oh well. The first story that takes place in Atlanta's West End-- a decent Black community that is taken care of by Blue Hamilton, a protector. This story has many layers, domestic violence by returning vets from Iraq, political corruption, drugs, men on the down low, neighborhood crime (home invasions) and those that cleaned up when the answer was not so easy. Pearl Cleage puts in all together beautiful and creates a story that makes you continue to turn the page. Read this one first AND THEN read BABY BROTHER BLUES.
—Nancy
