An Open Weave

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Vivid, concise descriptions of revelatory moments distinguish major's first novel, which otherwise suffers from lack of narrative momentum. In the Western town of Buttonhole, a small group of friends and family prepares for a birthday party. Awaiting the return of the teenage Imani, who has disappeared with her troubled, pregnant friend, Amanda, are Imani's grandmother, Ernestine More, the blind matriarch known for her powerful beliefs and intricately woven fabrics, and her mother, Iree, who suffers from prophetic but debilitating seizures. Also present are Ernestine's brother, Jeremiah, a local handyman, and two family friends. To pass the time, the would-be partyers tell stories about their pasts and remember Ernestine's son, Ezekiel, who vanished years ago under suspicious circumstances but who remains for Ernestine the bulwark that ``shores up a family splintered and stunted.'' The group also reminisces about the close friendship between Imani and Amanda, who, as she prepares for her baby, must resolve her feelings about having been abandoned by her mother, unacknowledged by her father and left to grow up in others' homes. Iree's climactic vision and Amanda's health crisis abruptly close the narrative, which comes off like a collection of short stories bound together by a plot line that is neither consistently interesting nor clear. Some of these stories are gems, but a less cluttered setting would have made them shine all the more. (Sept.)

Library Journal

This first novel hones in on the members of an extended African American familyespecially the womenand the joys and sorrows that hold them together. Down-to-earth, gritty, and honest, the story shows how these women weather difficult situations by relying on one another for love and support. Although grandmother Ernestine is blind, she has the extraordinary ability to look into a person's soul. Her daughter, Iree, can see into the future during epileptic seizures. And Iree's daughter, Imani, demonstrates wisdom beyond her years as she helps her best friend through a difficult pregnancy. The language in this book has an eloquent, lyrical quality that pulls you right into the story; it's not surprising that Major is a poetry teacher and editor. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries.Lisa Nussbaum, Euclid P.L., Ohio