Join Books.org — it's free

Women's Fiction, African Americans - Fiction & Literature
Here and Now by Kimberla Lawson Roby β€” book cover

Here and Now

by Kimberla Lawson Roby
Write a review
Log in to track your reading progress.

Overview

Brilliant and vibrant, Marcella Jones had the whole world in her hands, until she gave her heart to the wrong man. Tyrone was handsome and charismatic, but he left her destitute, raising two small children alone - and yearning for the kind of life her dead-end job will never provide. Marcella's elder sister Racquel, lives in a fine home, has a fulfilling career and the love of Kevin, her handsome, successful, supportive husband. Yet her desperate longing for a child is driving her into a deep depression and away from Kevin. In the tradition of Waiting to Exhale and Big Girls Don't Cry, Here and Now is the poignant story of two strong, intelligent women facing tragedy, surviving loss and terrible sorrow, and ultimately learning that only with each other's help can they heal the hurt and celebrate the joy in their lives.

Synopsis

Brilliant and vibrant, Marcella Jones had the whole world in her hands, until she gave her heart to the wrong man. Tyrone was handsome and charismatic, but he left her destitute, raising two small children alone - and yearning for the kind of life her dead-end job will never provide. Marcella's elder sister Racquel, lives in a fine home, has a fulfilling career and the love of Kevin, her handsome, successful, supportive husband. Yet her desperate longing for a child is driving her into a deep depression and away from Kevin. In the tradition of Waiting to Exhale and Big Girls Don't Cry, Here and Now is the poignant story of two strong, intelligent women facing tragedy, surviving loss and terrible sorrow, and ultimately learning that only with each other's help can they heal the hurt and celebrate the joy in their lives.

Nava Hall

Roby's narrative is fast paced. . . the story never develops to a central crisis or point of tension, [it] gives the book the feel of someone sitting at a kitchen table relating a story to a friend. -- ForeWord Magazine

Reviews

There are no reviews yet. Log in to write one.

Editorials

Nava Hall

Roby's narrative is fast paced. . . the story never develops to a central crisis or point of tension, [it] gives the book the feel of someone sitting at a kitchen table relating a story to a friend. -- ForeWord Magazine

Library Journal

Roby hit the Blackboard best sellers list with her debut (originally self-published) Behind Closed Doors (Black Classic, 1997), about suburban African American women. She's likely to do it again, with this story of sisters Marcella and Raquel, raised south of Chicago, whose lives diverge because of the choices they make. Raquel, the older, seems to have it all--good job, fine husband, nice home -- but what she desperately longs for is children, while Marcella -- unmarried, living in the projects -- finds her life limited by the two children she had with her high school football star lover. Raquel seeks infertility treatment, revealing her hidden past, while Marcella seeks higher education, and just when things look up, tragedy strikes repeatedly. Roby's dialog rings true, and her strength as a storyteller outweighs her weakness as a writer who tends to record every detail of her characters' movements. Readers of Terry McMillan and Connie Briscoe will likely embrace this book as they did Roby's first; buy accordingly. --Michele Leber, Fairfax Cty. P.L., Arlington, VA

Book Details

Published
October 1, 2001
Publisher
Kensington Publishing Corporation
Pages
384
Format
Mass Market Paperback
ISBN
9780758200648

More by Kimberla Lawson Roby

Similar books