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Susan S. (Salida, CO)
Still hungry for more!
Care and Feeding seemed more about mystery and wondering to me. I fought to get past the feeling that I should know more, to recognize names and people from the book – and found that even when I found out what I wanted to know, I felt dissatisfied. Does that mimic life? Could we or should we know more? Multiple generations of women, all affected to a varied degree, by trauma and their separate and shared past and future. Hot modern topics – abuse, sexual assault that is either denied or overlooked, African Americans in middle America looking for truth and a place to fit in, families reeling from economic hard
…more times, differences that may seem irreconcilable or insurmountable, eating disorders, coming of age with parents in trouble or in prison. Would be a good book club book with so many things to ponder. (less)This book tells the story of 3 sisters when one of the sisters is caught up in fraud. The sisters are all different in their stability and current family situations, yet they all had the same upbringing. The book goes back in time to explain their upbringing and events that molded their current state. It bridges changing emotions as each sister's current story unfolds. This is a thought provoking book and you find yourself changing your mind about how you feel as the book unfolds. I would recommend this book.
Anna R. (Oak Ridge, TN)
Wonderful Story
I loved this book! It is so different from anything I have read in quite a while. The storyline was intriguing from the first paragraph and the characters were believable. Each one had difficulties and each responded to them differently. When this book is in paperback, I will recommend it for my book group.
Bobbi L. (Canton, GA)
The Care and Feeding of Ravenous Girls
Interesting read and a surprise in it didn't read like most books relative to African Americans. We've all read about towns that lose their prosperity and how it affects the town members but it's difficult to read of GOOD Folks taking monies for their own benefit (supplying their restaurant) . The daughter was of the age where she needed to make a difficult decision. In my opinion, it was the right one but it scarred her. The sisters played many parts and roles and they were all interesting.
Jane H. (Prospect, KY)
The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls
Although I really liked the body of this book, it took me a bit to really get into the characters. I think it needs a little tighter editing in the first 125 pages. After that, the story seemed to come together better and I became invested in the characters. I thought the book again lost its way in the ending and left me unsatisfied and frustrated. Again, I feel better editing would be beneficial to the last part of the book. The story is tantalizing but just disjointed enough in this version to make me not want to recommend to friends. Will be interested to see final version to see if editor agrees with this
…more assessment and makes some changes with the ebb and flow of the story. (less)
RebeccaR Western USA
Realistic Life Lessons from Desperate People
I'm glad I read this book, although I wasn't immediately sure I was going to enjoy it. The summary on the back cover says that not even the "sisters are sure exactly what happened," and I think that was some initial confusion for me as well. While it was clear that eldest sister Althea and her husband were arrested, I would have liked more information on the extent of the scam. There are some important issues handled in this book - bulimia, physical abuse, behavior problems in school (stemming from unstable home lives) as well as a variety of relationships. Perhaps most importantly, this book addresses an issue
…more that is pervasive in societies around the world and very much in the news in the United States at the moment: the casting of doubt on females who have been assaulted or abused with the question of why something was not said sooner. The answer is clear in this book and that is that people doubt you anyway or looked the other way when there was a cry for help, hoping that the problem would just go away and that they would not have to get involved. I think this book's plot contains important issues for book club discussions. (less)What is really a fascinating plot is made even better by great characters. They are troubled people and the author skillfully shows the roots,of their dysfunction.
Althea and Porter are sent to jail when their daughter, Kim, turns them in for fraud. Family is called on to care for teenaged Kim and her twin, Little Vi. The past continues to influence the present. A dark story that ends with hope for the future.
This is a debut novel that has made me a fan. I look forward to Anissa Gray's next book. This would make an excellent book club selection.
Laura P. (Atlanta, GA)
Family dynamics
Anissa Gray's family drama focuses on the Butler family. When their mother dies and dad, a traveling evangelist, is largely absent, oldest sister Althea takes over. Then Althea and her husband Proctor are imprisoned following a food stamp and charity swindle, and younger sisters Viola and Lillian have to take over the management of Althea's daughters, Kim and "Baby Vi." Trouble is they have problems of their own, as do both daughters. The novel walks the reader through a complex set of family dynamics as the whole family tries to sort out its problems. The characters are wonderfully drawn, with the story told in
…more the alternating voices of the three sisters, and the resolution of the story is satisfying without being corny or cloying. My only frustration was a sense that Gray was attempting to be so sure she had left no potential problem or issue unrecognized -- there's gay marriage (on the rocks, yet), bulimia, OCD, prison life, bullying, extramarital affairs, and more, but in the end the story feels like it's about people with real problems, not a catalog of potential issues. (less)
