Soul Kiss

Soul Kiss is by far one of the best first novels I have ever read. Read is a gross understatement. I devoured this book in two days. I could have completed it in one, but as with any luscious meal, it required savoring. It was as anticipated, as delicious, and as satisfying as Thanksgiving dinner. This story flows as elongated poetry. Brilliant and beautiful, Shay Youngblood's writing style stirred my emotions and awakened every sense. Kudos to Shay Youngblood.

Damn! This book deserves a bestselling status. It was hauntingly nostalgic,erotic and sad, but funny at the same time. My mother left me in the hands of strangers too, but my life story is not as entertaining as the narrator's. I would cringe at the mere thought of seducing my father or worst, posing nude for him. Sometimes I was moved to tears as I read the narrator's painful quest for love and the feel of belonging. I was not surprised at her fettish for self gratification considering the fact that she was a lonely,healthy teenager. Neither was I phased by her desire for same sex relationships. I think she should've acted upon her sexual attraction to women. Forget about childhood games. I was looking forward to a deeper, more mature relationship between the narrator and one of the objects of her attraction. Nevertheless, I admire Youngblood's subtle, erotic approach. I can't get over the fact that it was a tease, but hey, it makes us think and undoubtedly seduces the imagination---especially with a little poetic flavor.

The language of this novel is so beautiful that I found myself rereading sentence after sentnce to savor the words. I finished this book in two days not because I read it quickly but because I could not put it down. Youngblood's words are the kind you should enjoy slowly and read some outloud to feel them on your tongue.There are parts of this story that are disturbing. Mariah gets raped as a young teenager--devasting--but written in a way that does not sensationalize it or provide fodder for perverts. The sexual attraction between Mariah and her father disturbs but rings true and is thankfully not acted upon.The part of this book that i related to most is a story most lesbian and bisexual women will find very familiar. It describes the pain felt by adolescent Mariah as she loses the love of her "girly girl" friend to heterosexual puberty. I think we have all been there.Unlike other reviewers i don't think that this book contains any sexually explicit scenes. I don't think that the plot is unfocused or the story depressing. This is one of the best books i have ever read--and i have read a lot of books. It is as near perfect as humanly possible. It has a spiritual beauty to it that will resonate in your soul long after reading it. It does indeed kiss your soul.

I was looking for a story to read that would have a young girl as the main character; I also wanted to read such a book in first person. That's how I found "Soul Kiss". After reading reviews I purchased the book last fall and just finished it in January. I found "Soul Kiss" to be immensely satisfying. It's the story of Mariah who is sent to live with her two elderly aunts; her mom drops her off and Mariah begans to wish to be reunited with her mother in the worst way. She carries these yearnings for many years and has various adventures as she reflects on the events which happen in her life. The writer Shay Youngblood has a style I wish I could call my own. I adored the imagery she used; the descriptions of some Mariah's thoughts about how much she yearns for her mothers ("I miss my mama, but I don't want to. I am seven years old and yesterday is today, tomorrow never comes.") It was just a pleasant and poetic type of fiction; the kind I've love to be able to read all the time. I love the book and I hope you will get a copy, read it and enjoy it too. It's that good.

I picked this book up in the library while waiting for my son. With little expectation, I started reading it, checked it out of the library and finsihed it the next day. It is well written and moving with a new twist to the lives of women both black and white. As an avid reader of novels by African American women is find that many of the stories blend together in my mind after a few days. However, SOUL KISS will stand out.