“And
another thing, Carla, good people come in all colors and types, just the same
as bad people. But you're just too scared to find that out!” -April Sinclair,
COFFEE WILL MAKE YOU BLACK
April Sinclair's COFFEE WILL MAKE YOU BLACK (Harper Collins, Adult ) is considered adult fiction though it tells the story of an African American girl named Stevie from ages 12
to 16 living in Chicago from 1965 to
1970. The story begins with 'tween Stevie asking her mother what a virgin is. When Stevie is 16, she tries to lose her virginity to her boyfriend but couldn't go through with
it. Her boyfriend breaks up with her and her best friend harshly tears into her for not giving in to
the boyfriend. At the end of the book, Stevie considers that she might be attracted to a woman.
What makes COFFEE memorable to me is that it's one of the first books I've read where the main protagonist has to struggle with both racial
issues and her sexuality simultaneously. I read the sequel too.
While I lived in San Francisco, I saw April Sinclair once. (Her bio says she lives in the Bay Area.) My nerves took over and I
didn't know what to say or do. So I just smiled at her in passing, and she smiled
back. To this day, I still regret not stopping to tell her how much I enjoyed
her books.
Have you read April Sinclair's COFFEE WILL MAKE YOU BLACK? Have you ever had a friend who was unsupportive at a time when you needed support?
20 comments:
I have not read this book either :) I'm very lucky, I'm a twin, so I've always had a very supportive best friend when I needed it.
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
Yeah you have to at least say hi. I did that with Henry Winkler the Fonz. So I nodded and he nodded back. He didn't give me a thumbs up though or say "Heeeeeeeeeyyyyy."
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Sounds like a great read.Yep, I did have a friend who was unsupportive when I needed her most.
Stopping by from Betty's blog.
Have a nice day!
I think this would be a very interesting book to read; different type of plot; one I hadn't seen before. I wonder sometimes if friends aren't supportive because they don't know how to be supportive in a given situation. Might make them uncomfortable, they might not know how to respond or what to say. I know when my mom died, I didn't think my husband was as supportive as I thought he should have been. Few years later when his mom died, he realized what I had been going through and he did comment that he felt bad he wasn't more available to me during the time of my grief with my mom but he just didn't know how to help, what to do, etc. So I wonder too if others are like that in other given situations.
betty
I think Betty has hit the nail on the head about friends not always knowing what to do. No, I haven't read this book. Not sure it is one I would enjoy anyway. I no longer want to read about the angst of young females.
Some people just don't know what to say or do so it may come off as inconsiderate too.
I haven't read this but the girl's friend doesn't sound like a very good friend. Talk about worst advice ever!
Debbie
Yes I have been very fortunate to have kept several beat friends through the years
Yes I have been very fortunate to have kept several beat friends through the years
I've never come across this one. I'm sure she would have appreciated your telling her how much her books meant to you. That "friend"? Not a friend. I had several of those in elementary school, but they did not remain in my orbit.
Seems like an interesting book. I've never had to face that situation. My friends are very supportive
"Have you ever had a friend who was unsupportive at a time when you needed support?" Uh, yeah. All too often.
The premise is indeed intriguing. Those issues are a struggle as they are let alone for one so young.
You reminded me of a time I was wandering around a favorite art gallery when I noticed the artist herself sitting in a corner with her drawing pad. she invited me to sit with her and I became so flustered all I could do was squeak "Thank you, no. I must be going" I berated myself all the way home!
Fascinating! Sounds like a terrific read!
I haven't read it, but it sounds like a great one. And yeah, friends can suck sometimes!
I read it a few years ago on a friend's recommendation. I actually thought it was a memoir, but at some point I realized it didn't feel like nonfiction, and discovered it was indeed a novel. I do recall the peer pressure.
I've never heard of this, but it sounds really interesting.
@DoreeWeller from
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Hi again! Swinging by once more to follow your lovely blog.
Happy Weekending!
Nooooo! Why didn't you tell her? I bet she'd love to hear it and you'd have a very nice memory of her.
This sounds a very very good book.
@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter - Jazz Age Jazz
Nooooo! Why didn't you tell her? I bet she'd love to hear it and you'd have a very nice memory of her.
This sounds a very very good book.
@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter - Jazz Age Jazz
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