When a Sistah's Fed Up

When most people look in the mirror, they see the flaws that are sometimes not noticed by others, but are there just the same. Author Monica Anderson has given her characters flaws that made them all the more easy to dislike, enjoy and identify with. Each character is fully developed from their physical appearance to their personality. Their manner of speaking is intertwined with their personality and their outlook on the world. If you were at a party and didn't know a soul and in walked Faith, Preston, Uncle Junior and the rest of the Ulysses, Texas clan you would know each one of them by name. You would know Faith with her mayoral smile, Preston with his snobbish smile and Uncle Junior with his "what's up smile". Monica has given each character life.

A good book offers the reader a little of this and a little of that, but not an overabundance-sort of like good gumbo, the right amount of everything. When A Sistah's FED UP, has just enough of just about everything-enough snappy language, enough laughter and even enough sex. There is enough to make you want to turn the page to see what's coming next. One needs to go beyond the cover to see what this book is really about. When A Sistah's FED UP may have a female main character, but it is no ordinary chick lit. The main character, Faith may be a sistah, but she is every woman who has juggled family, career and everything else that goes on with day to day living. Faith may be the mayor, but she lives like the rest of us. As she ages her hips spread, her hair thins and things that were once important become less so as time goes on. She is every woman who has felt betrayal--just watch Oprah or Dr. Phil, she's been on there a number of times. As with all women, Faith has a little devil in her.

One of the most important characters is the Reverend. His importance as a friend to Preston plays a pivotal role in our understanding of male bonding. I love the way the author lets the Reverend be a leader of the church, a counselor, a good loving husband and a "brother" that likes to hang with his friends. It was hard for me though to see the Reverend as a lover. That writing made me blush and get a little tickled--after all he is the preacher. Some of the best writing is between the male characters-Preston and the Reverend and Trey and Uncle Junior.

The supporting cast is just as well written as the main characters. They may not be given a lot of print, but their importance to the plot is very important. Their mannerism and snappy remarks keep the plot line moving alone effortlessly. We all know a Diamond, and the antics of the city council bring to mind a city east of Fort Worth.

The last time there was this much excitement in North Texas, J. R. Ewing was sitting down to dinner after surviving being shot by Sue Ellen's sistah. Come to think of it, they didn't have any cornbread either.