Who Asked You?

July 22, 2013
Three generations take a long hard look at each other—and, finding lots not to like, try to outrun, ignore, or beat the demons pulling them together in this well-crafted story of acceptance, forgiveness, and hope. McMillan (Waiting to Exhale) deftly weaves her tale of a black Los Angeles family’s disharmony around the narratives of bickering sisters Betty Jean, Arlene, and Venetia as they watch their kids stumble into adulthood. BJ’s drug-addled daughter, Trinetta—who lost custody of her baby girl—dumps two sons on her; meanwhile BJ’s youngest son, Dexter, does prison time for a crime he won’t admit to, and her eldest, Quentin, searches for himself. Arlene, a single mom who has a master’s in psychology and harbors a painful secret, struggles with over-protecting her long-closeted gay son, Omar. And wealthy, God-fearing Venetia can’t see what’s plain to her spoiled kids and husband: that she’s been ignoring her own needs and her crumbling marriage. Trinetta’s strong-hearted kids lead the family back to each other—but McMillan’s story belongs to the middle-aged steel magnolias who value loyalty above all. “I have prayed for all of us to come to our senses even though I know it’s an ongoing process,” Venetia says. “We’re not getting any younger and family is family.” Agent: Molly Friedrich, Friedrich Agency.

McMillan's vivid characters sparkle brightest on audio. BJ, who delivers room service in a hotel, has a husband suffering from Alzheimer's, a son in prison, a five-times married (all to white women) son, and custody of two grandsons whose mother died from a drug overdose. The narrators (including McMillan herself) expertly rotate chapters, each giving different--though consistent--voice to BJ and her wide circle. Snobbish Quentin is black in color only and hilarious in his white-sounding seriousness while Luther and Ricky are true-to-life kids who successfully navigate the "hood." Best, by far, is BJ herself, who sounds sublimely realistic, loving, and humane. Audio enables listeners to share the joys and sorrows of these engaging characters. S.G.B. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine