This Side of Eternity Author:Rosalyn McMillan From Library Journal — McMillan (yes, sister of Terry and author of such novels as The Flip Side of Sin) hits the market with another steamy portrayal of African American family life. Beginning with the grisly death of Walter Russell in a garbage truck crusher, the story follows the lives of his orphaned children over nearly half a decade. Left o... more »n their own, the five Russell children eke out an impoverished existence and manage with hard work to launch themselves into adulthood despite Nikkie's developmental disability and epilepsy, Mae's 13 abortions and abusive behavior, Kirk's bullheaded negativism, Wesley's disappearance, and Anne's poor choice of lovers. Despite annual newsy updates interjected by the author describing civil rights events (the novel is set in the late 1960s), which don't really seem related, the story never captures a sense of reality. One hopes that the alarming number of grammatical errors ("Always a good cook, they never left the kitchen table hungry") in the galley proof will be corrected. Finally, the author's use of disparaging racial remarks ("Even Vietnamese people were buying businesses") does little to further the cause of equality, one of the book's strong themes. Fans of McMillan's previous chatty novels will be disappointed. Not recommended. Jennifer Baker, Seattle P.L.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.« less