The Darkest Child

I couldn’t put it down. I loved all the twists and turns along the way. It’s a great read.

I can't say I loved this book, because I don't want to believe or imagine circumstances like this exist. But the story was gripping and I felt like I was watching it right before my eyes. A testament to how well the story flowed and how real the writing was. I don't know if this was a real story or based on a real one, but goodness, this hit me squarely in the emotions and nothing seemed fabricated.

WOW! That is what you say after the first chapter and again when you get to the last page. This is an amazing coming of age story narrated by then 13 year old Tangy Mae Quinn. Tangy is being brought up in rural GA circa 1954. This is not only a story of a young girl living in the home of a demented mother but also the struggle of survival in the racist south in the 1950's. First time author Delores Phillips does a beautiful job creating a picture in your head. There are a lot of charactors (Tangy is one of ten children), but I didn't have hard time keeping up with any of them and didn't ever feel like there were too many charactors. There were times while reading I laughed outloud and others I just wanted to cry for poor Tangy Mae. I will after say Rozell Quinn (Tangy's Mother) has got to be the most evil charactor I have ever read about besides the devil himself. She puts Mama Ruby in "The Upper Room" to shame by chapter three and if you haven't read "The Upper Room" I suggest you read that too! All in all this is a great debeut novel that is fast paced without a dull moment to spare. Please read and enjoy!

I loved this story. I was captivated from the very beginning. The author weaved words around her story that created an image, an image so clear, it was if you're there watching it all unfold with your own eyes. I literally could not put the book down. Now that I'm down reading it, I can't get the characters out of my head. I find myself worried and thinking about those kids as if they were actual living and breathing beings. I don't believe there is a better testiment for the author or this story. I encourage you to read this book, you won't be disappointed.

I just finished this book last night during a California "energy blackout". I read by flashlight! First off, this book is for all people. Absolutely terrific. I read many of the "bestsellers", Oprahs books, etc., but none of stood out as this book did. Not only is the book a story about family, it retraces the sad tales of the history of our country. It makes you realize the sad battles people fight alone as a family, but can conquer. I ended this book with gratitude for what I have, where our lives have come, but also wonder. Wonder about how often things like what took place in this book, still happen around us daily without our awareness. If you want to read a standout book, one that will captivate your spirit, go for this one. You will not forget your journey.

AS THE NEW YEAR IS UPON US, I OFFICIALLY OFFER YOU MY LIST OF THE 10 BEST BOOKS THAT I'VE READ IN 2004. THIS IS OUT OF ABOUT 84 BOOKS THAT I'VE READ THIS YEAR. EVERY SINGLE BOOK ON THIS LIST IS A MASTERPIECE WORTH BUYING. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED WITH GREAT LITERATURE LIKE THE FOLLOWING: "THE DARKEST CHILD"--Delores Phillips The finest, most dramatic debut I've read in years. Top notch and gut-wrenching. This is by far the best book of 2004. "BRICK LANE"--Monica Ali Superb entry into a world foreign yet all too familiar. Flawless, beautiful writing. "HOTTENTOT VENUS"--Barbara Chase Riboud A True Story. Which makes this book all the more shocking and tragic. By now you've heard of the kidnapped and dehumanized South African woman paraded in the 1800's Europe as a "freak" because of her huge posterior and the apron over her genitals. Chase Riboud chronicles the tale perfectly and makes it far more interesting than just history. The fact that "Sarah" was like a Pop Superstar of her day makes it all the more chilling in my opinion. A definite Must-Read. "FLESH AND THE DEVIL"--Kola Boof Totally original, unexpected black love story. Chock full of African history, U.S. black history, fantastic plot twists, pulsating sex, equally dazzling "lovemaking", brilliant observations about race, color and sexism and plenty of risk-taking by the sensational Sudanese-born Kola Boof, truly a NEW STAR in the "epic" sense. Fabulous! "DOUGLASS' WOMEN"--Jewel Parker Rhodes If ever a fictionalized story of a real person's life/real events makes you totally believe inch and detail of the fiction writer's imagination--this one is it!! Jewel Parker Rhodes is turning out to be one of our most ardent writers of historical fiction, her brevity and flair for honest human emotion making her just a little BETTER, in my opinion, than the queen of historical black fiction--Barbara Chase Riboud. You can't go wrong with "DOUGLASS' WOMEN", it's sensational. "ERASURE"---Percival Everett I know. I'm late reading this one. But it's classic, fantastic, the greatest book ever written about being a "black" writer today. SUPERB. 10 Stars. "A DISTANT SHORE"--Caryl Phillips Great novel about "human beings" ripped apart in their own world and then thrown together in new equally dreadful surroundings. A black man and a white woman are juxtaposed in England with terribly beautiful insight by the writer. It's a hard book to explain, except that it's about human beings finding their real true minds. Superb!!!! I give this one 10 stars. "DRINKING COFFEE ELSEWHERE"--Z.Z. Packer The breakout debut of the new Alice Walker and Toni Morrison rolled into one. Z.Z. Packer is outrageously talented and brilliant. These sparse, witty, intelligent, insightful short stories will bring you to tears, make you laugh and truly astonish you. "THE KNOWN WORLD"--Edward P. Jones This book starts off kind of "slow", but once you get into it, it's quite shocking, easily one of the mo