Sins of The Father by Angela Benson

Sins of the Father by Angela Benson

Abraham Martin, a very successful businessman, has a lot of 'splaining to do as Ricky Ricardo use to say on the I Love Lucy show. At one point in time, his life was totally out of control. All of his decisions seemed to be for his selfish comfort. This is why there are so many secrets and so much emotional following two families in the novel. Really, I could not see a light at the end of the tunnel for Abraham Martin or any of his family and a friend.

I suppose this is why "Sins of the Father" by Angela Benson is a fantastic book. At no minute did I feel bored and want to put the book down to pick up another book. I could not put the book down. I read it between cooking, washing clothes, waiting in the car for my husband and in the doctor's office.

I especially loved the names of the characters in "Sins of the Father." It was impossible not to relate the characters in the book, Leah, Saralynn, Abraham, Isaac, Michael, Rebecca and Deborah to their counterparts in the Bible. At the same time, none of the characters in "Sins of the Father" are exact replicas of the Bible's heroes and heroines. This left room for my imagination to work overtime. It felt like I was piecing together a Biblical jigsaw puzzle or crossword puzzle.

I also liked all the twists and turns. Events took place in the novel that I never would have expected. In other words, what happens in "Sins of The Father" is totally unpredictable.

I definitely like the fact that Angela Benson doesn't preach. Each character struggles with some part of their human nature as they try to forgive and forget, prioritize the material vs. the spiritual, going forward in life and beginning again and striving to have unconditional love. I look forward to reading more books by Angela Benson.

Some Things I Never Thought I Would Do by Pearl Cleage

Pearl Cleage is one of my favorite authors. As a woman, I am a romantic. Pearl Cleage in "What Looks Like Crazy on An Ordinary Day" wrote about a very romantic man. Blue Hamilton is a mature, romantic, intelligent man too. I would go on a date with him just because of his name "Blue." Regina meets Blue Hamilton while in Atlanta.

Regina's goal is not to lose her family home. Regina has been in a rehabilitation center for substance abuse for quite awhile. Now, her house might end up back in the banker's hands. I can see why she wants to save her family home. Her grandparents lived their lives in this house. Regina was born in this house.

The house is more than a house. It's a home. After talking to Aunt Abbie, Regina heads for Atlanta. Visiting with Aunt Abbie leaves Regina's head full of pleasantries as well as a fantasy, vision or fairy tale. Aunt Abbie leaves Regina totally confused about what will happen or whom she will meet while in Atlanta. Aunt Abbie talks about a dark, blue eyed man amd a damsel in distress. Somewhere in her notes Aunt Abbie has written about a dragon too.

This is where I totally lost my mind. I love fairy tales. This story is written about an ordinary Black woman who is literally on her way to some early century adventure. What a wild plot! I couldn't wait to get farther in to the book. There are lots of interesting characters in the book. There is an exciting political game going on and a special romance. This is another wonderful Pearl Cleage book.

I do want to add that the way Pearl Cleage connects what seems a fantasy to reality is magnificent. In the end I came away knowing we need one another. Not even a strong woman is an island. Also, in our journey through life, others sometimes are needed to help us find the way back out of the forest of wrong choices to the fresh air of right choices. The right choice in any predicament is always love. See, after I finished the book, the book still hadn't finished nourishing my heart.

A Different Kind of Christmas by Alex Haley

"Harpin' John cupped his harmonica. He played. Fletcher heard the melody of "Silent Night" as the Christmas moonlight bathed the faces of the black man playing and the white man listening."


As I read this small book packed with a wonderful story, I wished Alex Haley were still here writing his heart out. The man was brilliant. "A Different Kind of Christmas" is mainly about, Fletcher Randall, a white Southerner. Fletcher grew up on a thousand acre plantation in North Carolina. The plantation was worked and served by over a hundred slaves. Slaves owned by Fletcher's parents. His parents send him North to go to Princeton University in New Jersey. In New Jersey it's not easy for a slaveholding son to make many friends.

During Fletcher Randall's university days, he meets three brothers who are Quakers. As a sect, the Quakers played a huge role in helping slaves escape on the Underground Railroad or giving a kindly hand to the slaves following the North Star in some other way, giving the slaves a hiding place, food and/or giving a new route out of danger from dogs and slave patrollers. Although the Quakers played the biggest part in helping slaves to freedom, the Native Americans also helped. Their knowledge of the forests and rivers was tremendous.

Alex Haley's story takes place before the Civil War and before the word "secession" was used. It also a plan for a Holy night, Christmas Eve. Mention is made of Harpin' John hearing the German emigrants sing "Stille Nicht." The beauty of the song sung by the Germans impressed him. Later, he would try to recapture the tune on his harmonica.

"A Different Kind of Christmas by Alex Haley is fascinating because it gives a peek into our psyche. It's a story about separating from our parents. Then, struggling to keep or move away from what we have been taught traditionally. This is not an easy process. However, it is a process each of us experience.