Overview
For thirty-seven year old Tandi Crawford, the past is a double-edged sword. On one side is the agonizing mystery of her mother's early death and her father's brutal indifference. On the other is the all-too-vivid recollection of one unforgettable summer and the teenage romance that won't let Tandi rest. The fantasy of getting together with a boy she hasn't seen in more than twenty years has pulled Tandi through many a bitterly lonely night with a husband who's too busy to notice that he's lost her.After vowing never to live in her father's house again, Tandi finds that her failed marriage has brought her and her young son back to that very same dusty doorstep. And when her daydreams of reuniting with her long-ago lover unexpectedly become an exciting and passionate reality, Tandi discovers that little in her world is what it appears to be.
As all of Tandi's relationships intensify, so does her need for answers to the questions that have haunted her for so long, from the enigma of her mother's demise and her father's emotional distance, to her husband's coldness--and her lover's scorching heat. Each step closer to the truth will reveal its own secret--secrets that will change Tandi's life forever...
"A superb story. . .starts with a bang and ends with a full-blown Fourth of July fireworks display." --QBR, The Black Book Review
"With a suspenseful plot. . .The Honey Well demonstrates how the perils of blackmail, trickery and deceit can overshadow the simple rewards of life."--Upscale Magazine
"Mallette delivers a powerful tale exploring issues of social justice and family solidarity." --Publishers Weekly
"Solidly written, earnest suspense. . .well-drawn and convincing."--Kirkus Reviews
"Part love story, part mystery novel--complete with a surprising plot twist and a life lesson learned. . .clever and suspenseful."--The Washington Post
"[A] thoughtful and persuasive cautionary tale of infidelity."--Essence®
"A juicy, captivating read." -Today's Black Woman
Gloria Mallette is the author of five novels. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and son. She is hard at work on her next book.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
In this fifth novel by Mallette (The Honey Well, etc.), 37-year-old Tandi Crawford is holding onto her marriage by her fingertips. She "couldn't say she knew the exact moment she felt her marriage was over; she just knew it didn't end all at once." Her husband, Jared, spends all his time at his busy Queens law firm, too preoccupied to notice Tandi and their 11-year-old son, Michael. This leaves Tandi bitter and depressed, not to mention hurt when she finds out Jared cheated on her. When she finally decides to leave, she and Michael move into her father's house, a place she vowed she would never live again. Her father is distant and rude; to help herself cope, she dreams of reuniting with her first love, Brent. Miraculously, he appears, but their fun in bed turns sour when Tandi realizes he's no Prince Charming. Meanwhile, Tandi is forced to confront all the unanswered questions in her life. Why is her father a crotchety, bitter old man? Is he her real father? What really happened to her mother, who disappeared years ago? Can she forgive Jared and bring their family back together? As her reality crumbles around her, Tandi is forced to acknowledge that she's made some mistakes of her own. Mallette's balanced perspective and well-rounded characters will keep fans riveted. Author tour. (Oct.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.Booklist -
Tandi has always had a tumultuous relationship with her father, Sporty, who raised his children as a single parent. Although she is married to Jared, a hardworking attorney, and has an idyllic son, she feels unloved and unappreciated. She leaves her husband and retreats to the only place she can go until she is able to make it on her own--her father's house. Her brother insists that she prolong her stay after Sporty has a stroke. After he antagonizes several home-health aides, Tandi threatens toDISTANT LOVER is a passionate, emotional story encompassing the perils of Tandi Crawford's efforts to live a normal adult life even though examples of normalcy was never within her grasp. Tandi grew up without the presence of a mother's love and in the presence of a father who displayed hostile indifference. Additionally, her father offered no input about the mother she never knew.
DISTANT LOVER is the sixth published work by Gloria Mallette, and with it comes the realization for me th
In this fifth novel by Mallette (The Honey Well, etc.), 37-year-old Tandi Crawford is holding onto her marriage by her fingertips. She "couldn't say she knew the exact moment she felt her marriage was over; she just knew it didn't end all at once." Her husband, Jared, spends all his time at his busy Queens law firm, too preoccupied to notice Tandi and their 11-year-old son, Michael. This leaves Tandi bitter and depressed, not to mention hurt when she finds out Jared cheated on her. When she fina
DISTANT LOVER is an emotional story written with a frankness that
is unbridled. Ms. Mallette weaves a simple tale with an emotionally
deplete main character, and questionable secondary characters who
added substance to Tandi's story. Solidly written, DISTANT LOVER
showcases Ms. Mallette's uncompromising honesty about life. This
story casts a penetrating look at family and consequences. And it
raises questions about a bizarre yet believable family situation.
Thi