Product Description

Sassy, comical, and true-to-life, this book tells the tale of three young African-American women--perky wife Valerie, scheming social worker Inda, and broken-hearted flight attendant Chiquita--and how their lives are coming together, and apart, in Los Angeles. Fresh and in-your-face, this witty novel depicts a world where women sometimes have to alter their dreams, but never have to stop embracing the future.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #560244 in Books
• Published on: 2000-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780451201010
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
It takes guts for a male writer to tackle the trials and tribulations of upwardly mobile African American women. But that's what Dickey does, with mixed results, in his first novel, a high-spirited celebration of black sisterhood. Southern California sisters Valerie and Inda are close. Fair-skinned Valerie is the younger of the two and takes after their white mother in appearance. After six years of lousy marriage to Walter, she knows she's miserable but doesn't know any role other than that of satellite eternally in orbit around a husband. Inda, who inherited their father's dark skin and features, has a stable career, but a divorce from her white husband has made her pessimistic about men of any color, a situation exacerbated by flagrant evidence of her current lover's infidelities. Inda meets Chiquita, a young flight attendant, whom she instinctively likes, and their friendship is cast when they discover they both have been simultaneously deceived by Raymond, who is engaged to a third woman. Chiquita is drawn into the girls' tight-knit family as she falls for their brother, Brown, and learns something from them about courage and love. In recovering from their individual disappointments, Valerie, Inda and Chiquita risk new relationships, strengthened by one another's humor, candor and understanding. The book suffers somewhat from multiple points of view and an unevenness of characterization. Inda and Chiquita, who are given first-person voices, are bold and sassy. Valerie, whose sections are all third-person narrative, is sketchy by comparison. Though flawed, Dickey's novel brims with humor, outrageousness and an understanding of the generosity of affection.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Dickey tells the story of three adult siblings whose adventures in love cause them to lose their patience but not their sense of humor. His novel shows that there is a difference between knowing the right thing to do and finding the will to do it.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
The idea of an African American "sister" novel written by a man will strike many as suspicious, but Dickey accurately details the tangled relationships between both his female and male characters. Valerie turns to her sister, Inda, for counsel when she senses her husband has lost interest in their relationship. But Inda has her own problems: first she meets her boyfriend Raymond's "other girlfriend," Chiquita; then the pair find Raymond with yet another woman, who turns out to be his fiancee. There's more: Thaddeus, Valerie and Inda's brother, falls for Chiquita, who in turn has formed a sisterly bond with Inda, despite the less-than-ideal circumstances of their meeting. Point of view alternates between the various characters as Valerie, Chiquita, and Inda share their thoughts and feelings about their interlocking relationships with one another, with men, with family members, and with the past. Remarkably, Dickey is able both to create believable female characters and to explore the "sister-sister" relationship with genuine insight. Lillian Lewis

Customer Reviews

Enjoyed this book
I really enjoyed how Chiquita and Inda "bonded" after they were both cheated on by the same man. The other characters in the book were entertaining and well developed as well. Eric has a writing style that is not only believable but he'll have you laughing as well. This was the first book by Eric Jerome Dickey that I read and after I finished it, I ran to the store to buy "Friends and Lovers". I have since read everything Eric's written and I'm anxiously awaiting "Liar's Game". This was the starting point for me becoming a huge Eric Jerome Dickey fan. Buy this book. You won't be disappointed.

I'm torn
On the one hand, this book is an undisputed page turner, and I couldn't wait to finish it. On the other hand, I didn't like the characters. I can't honestly say that I liked this book, but Dickey does a good job of developing his characters. My problem with this book is that these women are a little too over the top. Even meek and mild Valerie somehow morphs into a character you might expect to see on The Jerry Springer Show.

The 3 perspective scheme of this book (Valerie, Chiquita, Inda) didn't work for me at all. I also had a hard time accepting the relationship between Inda and Chiquita.

I think the book overall could have used more depth. By trying to detail the lives of all three women, I don't think the writer did justice to any of them. This is a promising first effort though, and I'd be willing to read another of Dickey's books.

Sister Act that's too HOT!! electrifying an on-the-edge read
Sister,Sister was too "GOOD." It was the last of Eric's books that I read. I enjoyed seeing how it all started for him and I wasn't disappointed in the least. I read the book in 2-3 days and hated that I finished it when I did. I've been a fan of Eric's for awhile and never seem to be disappointed with his books. I find it refreshing that he can write from a male/female point of view and he does it so very well. Sister,Sister opens the door to the saga that carries over into almost all of his books. You see just what somepeople will do to be in a relationship or so-called one anyway. Eric shows us, how some are blinded by the "thought" of love and how it can make you think and do some crazy things, in the name of love. The story was funny, witty and edgy. Just like I like them. Each page left me hunger for more. Much more. This one is a bestseller in my book. I thought it was clever that Cheaters filled in the blanks and cleared up somethings for me. Eric is an awesome writer and I turn people on to him every chance I get. If you haven't experienced him yet what are you waiting for? Forever a EJD fan and awaiting the next bestseller ALWAYS.