Brass Bed and Other Stories

As a fan of her writing, I was prepared to read a collection of short fiction stories but was pleasantly surprised to find that The Brass Bed and Other Stories is an insight into the author's life and mind. And as a baby boomer, like Ms. Cleage, I was totally captivated by her musings, insightful remembrances of famous blacks, and her own experiences. It was sensitive, lyrical, yet quite compelling.

Pearl Cleage is a WONDERFUL storyteller. Her short stories here echo the warm, authentic voice readers of her novels have come to know and love.

Pearl Cleage is a master story teller as is evident in this collection of short stories. She weaves interesting tales that masterfully explore the often explored topic of racism. Though an often explored topic, Ms. Cleage handles it with expertise that lends itself to a wonderful product. We see deep into her characters and how their personal self images interweave with interactions with the outside world to form various "shades" of racism and self perception. This is a short collection...but oh so sweet.