When Love Calls, You Better Answer: A Novel

This book was so thoughtful and inspiring. Anyone who reads it can surely learn something and take something away from this uplifting story. I especially liked the wisdom the narrator passes on, using old adages, sayings, common sense and astute observations about people and human nature. Some of my favorite passages: "Life can either be like a car or a garbage truck, its up to you. you can take the car on a journey and learn something around every corner, or you can pick up trash at every stop. But you'll take on so much of everyone else's garbage til your own life starts to stink." "Self esteem is for the self, but that aint where all of it comes from. It comes from the people around you. if you are around people who tell you that you're dirty, then that's how you'll feel. If they show you love, then you'll learn to feel loved."

I was not disappointed with this one! I thought that Redemption song left me wanting more...so did When Love Calls. I laughed, cried, and gave gratitude for my own challeges as I read through Bernice's. Bertice Berry is an excellent writer and pulls you right in to a down home talk with 'Big Mama' (we all have those) I was so sad to see the characters leave me but glad to see a good woman find love through pain and healing. I hope that you will pick this one up--I will be reading this one again soon!

Ms. Berry has written a novel that is the quintessential black love story. When Love Calls makes you laugh and cry. I felt as though I knew Bernita because her travels in life are all too familiar to ones I have heard of before. (Some roads I have traveled myself a few times). When Love Calls, warmed my heart. The uplifting love letters, the prayers of forgiveness and the unbelievable love shared by the characters was so beautiful. When Love Calls is a novel I plan to share with those in my sister-circle who have fallen into the trap of believing that true love is impossible for them. Thank you Ms. Berry for writing such a refreshing and moving novel.

I'm going to give it straight; Dr Berry needs to make more than a book a year; They are SOOO Good. No lie; It's like sitting down and talking to your elderly neighbor about things that went down back in the day or on someone; Anyhow, you got this sister Bernita; Her mama didn't want her, her aunt got saddled with her, and hated her(but with time, she saw the error of her ways), her father left her, her granddaddy couldn't stand her, and that just added up to a pot full of NO LOVE right? well, not quite; See, when one don't recognize something good, another will; and that someone was Bernita's principal Mr Morris, who took her in and made sure she went to college along with his wife(who look beyond the surface and saw some of herself). Well, Bernita makes a good life careerwise for herself, but her personal life leaves plenty to be desired. Between her first husband,a pretty boy, manipulative, no good closet homosexual, her proceeding relationships, to a brother with issues, another white boy with a quasi-religious calling himself Re Member, and on to a minister who has a little extra on the side, it all adds up to a good fun and enjoyable read; You can't help but love Aunt Babe though; and even though most of her life wasn't good, it was good to know that she met someone who saw past the exterior and looked at the interior; Very good book; I love all of her books, and I know it isn't writing something, but I truly wish I could see some more of her books.

When Love Calls You Better Answer is one of the best books I read this year. Bertice Berry's writing reminds me a little of Tina McElroy Ansa and Pearl Cleage. I say Ansa because of her use of a voice from the grave, and Cleage for the literary prose and the subject of women being empowered. Berry's combination of these two styles is what makes this book such an interesting reading experience. Bernita Brown was born to Buster, who was not interested in being a mother; she only has this baby to prove to her sisters that she can get pregnant. Ultimately, Bernita is raised by her aunt Babe who hated her for no apparent reason other than the fact she was living. The hatred she felt from her aunt and mother and witnessing her aunt Babe search for love in the arms of multiple men, Bernita knew she wanted more for her life. It was a good thing that a teacher saw the potential in Bernita and arranged for her to go to college. Just like crabs dragging each other back, Buster and Babe beat and berate Bernita for choosing college. Once Bernita leaves the home, she never looks back. Fortunately, for Bernita, Babe is watching over her from heaven. Unable to reveal herself to Bernita, Babe watches as Bernita makes the wrong choice in her relationships with men such as Tyrone Phillip Thomas, Jimmymack, Re Member, and Rev. Evans (Van). It is apparent that listening is not Bernita's strong suit, because Babe is whispering advice to her from her heavenly watch. After a devastating exile from the Wellness Center, the church she gave her all for, Bernita is ready to change her life and Babe finally can reveal herself. Babe has set in motion for Bernita to find her true love, but when love calls, will she answer? I really enjoyed this book. I loved how Berry used different scriptures and old adages, made them common sense and relevant to everyday life. I also enjoyed the theme of women being empowered and taking a bad situation and using it to their advantage. There are so many aspects of this book to discuss, I cannot put them all in one review. I will just say read the book. It is a short book but packs a powerful punch. Jeanette APOOO BookClub