Product Description

Ava Johnson has had a decade of wild living in Atlanta and now she's returning to her home town of Idylwild in Michigan, her fabulous career plans in tatters. Ava is certain that Idylwild is the end of the road for her, but instead it turns out to be a new beginning. She falls for Eddie, a tough, but tai-chi-practising, Vietnam veteran; she rediscovers her relationship with her recently widowed sister Joyce; she supports the town's teenage mothers. But Ava also makes enemies. The Reverend and his formidable wife seem determined to drive her out of town. But what secrets are they hiding? Pearl Cleage's debut novel is a truly engaging, universal story, and her sparkling voice combines compassion, honesty and warm humour.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #317283 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
At first glance Pearl Cleage's What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day seems pretty heavy going: HIV, suicide, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and drunk driving all figure prominently in the lives of narrator Ava Johnson and her older sister Joyce. It isn't long before crack addiction, domestic violence and unwed motherhood have joined the list--so, where's the pleasure? The answer lies in the sharp and funny attitude Cleage brings to her depiction of one African-American community in the troubled 1990s. Ava Johnson, for example, might be HIV-positive, but she's refreshingly forthright about it:

"Most of us got it from the boys. Which is, when you think about it, a pretty good argument for cutting men loose, but if I could work up a strong physical reaction to women, I would already be having sex with them. I'm not knocking it. I'm just saying I can't be a witness. Too many titties in one place to suit me."

As the trials and tribulations pile on, the experiences of Cleage's characters prove to be universal: death, love, second chances. Ava's acerbic, smart-mouthed narrative keeps the story buoyant; by the time this endearingly imperfect heroine and her cohorts have negotiated the rocky road to a happy ending, readers will be sorry to see her go, even as they wish her well. --Alix Wilber, Amazon.com

About the Author
Pearl Cleage is a New York Times bestselling author and accomplished playwright. She frequently performs her work on college and university campuses. Cleage has one daughter, Deignan, and lives in Atlanta with her husband, Zaron W. Burnett Jr.

Customer Reviews

Surprisingly good!
This book did not really appeal to me but as it had been passed over by everyone in our book club I thought I'd give it a chance.

I was pleasantly surprised. I found the book to be a frank but gentle tale written with great charm and much humour. My only criticism (and the reason I wouldn't give it five stars)is that I felt it ended prematurely. I was just getting into this community and wanted to read so much more. Perhaps a sequel will be forthcoming!

Well done Ms Cleage, I love your style and will recommend this to my friends.

Disappointing
I found this book rather disappointing particularly after reading some very promising reviews. I was expecting a read with some depth - insightful perhaps. Instead, I think I would have to place it in the 'chick lit' category. It's a great read for the beach, but when the main character's romance kicked in, I'm afraid it all got a bit much for me! The author attempts some gritty realism, but seemed to plump for hearts and flowers in the end. A good choice if you want to feel all 'lovely' afterwards, but beware if you prefer a meatier read.

Two sisters face some serious problems with humour and style
After she's diagnosed HIV positive, Ava returns to her Michigan hometown to stay with her sister. She's only passing through as her plan is to head to San Francisco. But she gets drawn into Joyce's concerns against her better judgement - a group for the young women of the town, the care of a "crack baby" whose mum is only interested in drugs. She even meets a lovely man - but how to tell him? And can she take on a new life and face her fear.

I really loved the title of this book too.

Luci