Rosalyn Williams and Heather Simms portray two lives that converge in a middle-class Atlanta neighborhood in the 1980s. Each narrator portrays both of Jones's compelling lead characters—two half-sisters, only one of whom is aware of the other’s existence. As Dana and Chaurisse’s lead their separate lives, the destructiveness of strongly guarded secrets becomes palpable in their hurt and strident voices. Both narrators also deftly perform the difficult task of speaking with a stutter while portraying the girls' father, James, a secret bigamist. Eventually, the half-sisters individually set out on a ruinous trajectory to find the love they believe they lack in their broken families. As they come together, their paths lead to shattering revelations—and to a predictable but moving conclusion. A.W. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
Over a thousand black residents of one Georgia county were driven from their homes in a wave of violence in 1912. In “Blood at the Root,” Patrick Phillips investigates the history of an act of terror and its aftermath.
The respective authors of “The Turner House” and “Silver Sparrow” on the pull of Detroit, writing about today’s burning issues, and the eternal question: Michael Jackson or Prince?
Announcing the 2017 Discover Awards Finalists One of the best parts of a bookseller’s gig is championing up-and-coming writers, and one of the ways we do that here at B&N is with our Discover Great New Writers program, which includes our annual Discover Awards. The Discover selection committee is made up of B&N booksellers from […]