All American Dream Dolls

as i sat in my bed, munching on junk food and reading this book, i kept looking around wondering where the hidden camera was! david haynes aptly captures some of the moods women experience with his depiction of deneen. she is a well drawn character that i could totally identify with.as with his other books, haynes creates a subtle theme that, if you allow it, will slowly blend into your mind. i find myself thinking about some of the themes that he talks about, such as learning to love self or buying into commercial concepts of beauty. his story craftily weaves the theme within the plot so well that you don't realize that your view point may have been changed.the theme and the subject will not bat you over the head. haynes employs a light touch in his writing style, so if you are looking for a formula type of story, then you won't find it here. instead, read about the characters, read about their development and let the characters reveal to you the connecting thread of their story.all of this and a wry humor, too. mr. haynes should be lauded for his skill in developing interesting characters and weaving their lives within an engaging and subtle theme, as well as his consistent use of humor.

David Haynes is a master of making what appears to be senility seem normal - An African American version of American Beauty. His wit and realism hit me to the core. I related so much to his character, Deneen, that I wondered if Haynes was my long lost brother attached unnoticeably to my hip pocket describing emotions that I've feebly experienced facing many of my life's challenges. I applaud All American Dream Dolls and David and admire "his" ability to capture the heart, essence and nuance of a complicated woman so superbly. In addition to the main character, Deneen, the author sensitively depicts the complicated mother/daughter relationship as well as the sacrifices a mother makes to ensure the success of her children. MUCH KUDOS David!

. . .and a seemingly hopeless protagonist who redeems herself. I loved this book. Couldn't stop laughing and was surprised to find myself so sympathetic by the end. I love Haynes' resistance to a pat, happy ending (though the ending is definitely uplifting).

My week off work has been spent with my nose buried in novels. Out of the six I've plowed through this week (all by Black authors) All American Dream Dolls is my favorite. It reminds me a bit of "She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb, except Deneen has soul, a sharp wit, and a way with words. I admit the first 40 or so pages left me wondering "What the hell?" But the real fun began when she was fully ensconsed in her mother's house, and was fully aware of her state of mind (totally crazy). I laughed out loud more than once, and also found myself completely relating to ole girl! David Haynes accurately writes from Deneen's point of view, that of a woman who needs a little time out from the world, and finds it in snack foods, hot sex, and hair-do's. I've got other books by the author, but this one, by far, is my favorite. It's one of the books you can give to friends at Christmas - if they have the sense of humor and wit to "get" this novel, that is. KUDOS!

This book is one of those surprise reading experiences. Begun with very little expectations to speak of, I soon found myself on a fast-paced, no-holds-barred adventure to . . .In the crazy 1990s Haynes' Deneen is a heroine for single working women all over . . . Exhale, and get your s@*! together! This story is at once hilarious and wise. Pass it on . . . KDP Toronto, Ontario