Taking After Mudear

TAKING AFTER MUDEAR, the long awaited sequel to Ugly Ways , picks up six months after the Lovejoy sisters buried their mother whom they referred to as Mudear. Although the funeral is over, Annie Ruth and Emily remain with Betty as they await the birth of Annie Ruth's child. Mudear is dead but she's not gone, as each one of her daughters experience her presence in different ways, but are too afraid to speak about it. Betty is content having her sisters with her as she resumes the role of "mother" that she was thrust into at the age of eight when Mudear "changed" and left her to take on those responsibilities. Mudear abandoned her duties as wife and mother, leaving her family to fend for themselves. She slept or watch television during the day and worked in her garden at night. She never left the house or communicated with anyone outside of her immediate family. Annie Ruth gives birth to her daughter MaeJean who is born with a birth caul over her face. This pleases Mudear as she was born with a caul too. Mudear wants MaeJean for herself so that she can raise her better than she raised her "ungrateful" daughters. Once MaeJean leaves the hospital and is safely at Betty's house, the strange occurrences are heightened to the point the girls can't deny it and they realize Mudear is not through with them yet. When readers pick up a book by Tina McElroy Ansa, they can be assured they will receive elements of hurmor, the supernatural and lots of drama. A prolific storyteller, Ansa picks up right where Ugly Ways ended and I was pulled back into the story as if several years had not passed since I read the previous book. As with Ugly Ways , Ansa included alternating chapters told from Mudear's point of view. This time she includes baby MaeJean's thoughts. The story was repetitive at points, but once it got past that, it was Ansa's engaging style. Reviewed by Paula Henderson of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

After several years this third book that i have never stopped checking the book shelves for has finally arrived with loads of lol moments, i do sugguest that you brush up on the second book just to make this book more enjoyable, not to say that it is nessessary to do so.....A FUN READ!!

Oh Wee! This book took me right back down south to my grandparents farm in the summer time... complete with some nabs, a Nehi grape soda in a glass bottle and a pack of salted peanuts! Oh how that sand would be white it was so hot - and were wore no shoes!...Ms. McElroy Ansa made her fans wait a LONG time for this book - but it was worth the wait! Mudear, and her three daughters and Poppy in a small southern town. Mudear is dead and boy does she have a story to tell...The 'change' where Mudear does not leave her house for 30 years... Her three daughters, Betty, Emily and Annie with their OWN issues! This is a GREAT story that is full of surprises and a plot that will leave you hearing the back pourch door slam on that old spring...WONDERFUL AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE of the folklore of the south!