Constance S

It was difficult to read this well written, seemingly honest memoir by Thomas Chatterton Williams when I realized I was at odds with his conclusion about the reason so many African American students do poorly in school. He writes that they feel the need to adhere to only one culture, the hip hop one, and distance themselves from all others. This is called "keeping it real". As a Black woman I see this as only one of the causes.

The hip hop culture through music,movies, TV and materialism is fed non-stop to our children and it is seductive. Nothing else seems to grant many youngsters the feeling of solidarity and the swagger and the elusive cool. To turn away from this is considered being disloyal and acting
white. It is better to remain with the group than to seek many other avenues of success through education.

Losing My Cool deserves four stars for creating a three dimensional picture of the hip hop world; and four stars for the very inspiring description of his awakening through his father's intellectual assistance and determination.I enjoyed his many references to philosophers and authors . I bookmarked and underlined his many well chosen quotations.

If the purpose of this novel is to show an enduring friendship between two disparate women, one an American, Pearl and the other, Willow, Chinese, the result is quite stunning. Every nuance of the relationship is explored through many years, even the agony they experienced when both women fell in love with the handsome poet,Hsu-Chih-mo (time for tears, readers) But,I was unimpressed with the author's descriptions of the throes of change China experienced at this time: the bloody civil war, the war with Japan and triumph of Chairman Mao and communism. My love for the people of China grounded in the books by Pearl Buck left me disappointed by her characterization of the majority of them. They came across as caricatures.
I don't think Pearl would have approved.

Clare Clark's prose is exquisite in this very intricately woven tale of life in the early 1700's Louisiana Territory when France began its settlement among the Chikasaw and Choctaw Indians.The three main characters, Elisabeth,Jean Claude and Auguste are very human with their virtues and frailties.The love scenes are sensuous but muted. The descriptions of primitive living by the settlers puts us there with them thanks to the research and skillful writing of the author, who, by the way lightens the pages with sprinkles of humor.

This historical fiction brings to mind Cold Mountain and Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier. Savage Lands is a totally satisfying read for lovers of good literature.