This was a hard book to judge. It was well written, vivid and very emotional; but there were few likable characters. The Peace family was anything but peaceful and it was terrible to witness. I really felt for these characters, although I couldn't stand most of them.

I'm happy the Peace brothers were able to find happiness and that the tragedy that began with their grandmother did not ruin all their lives. As much as Perfect's mother was WRONG with what she did, I could not hate her. I could only pity the life she had and wondered if she had had a different childhood, would she have made different choices.

This is a book that I think will stick with me, although I could not explain to anyone what it REALLY made me feel. I'm mostly bothered by it and regretful that these characters were so tortured, and sad that so many kids in real life are treated horrendously by those that are supposed to protect and uplift them.

This book is so goddamn good. I could not put the book down. I kept reading to see what emma jean's crazy ass would do next. It definitely shows how Arkansas in the 30s-40s was like for black american people. I felt so bad for perfect & paul and his brothers.They were a family full of gifts and talents. A blessing in each child. Unfortunately in a lot of black families the trauma of our ancestors and family deeply damages us. If EJ had simply went to her mother when her sister asked the first time the book would have much shorter. The pain of torment, assault, confusion, self hate, colorism, and so much love was incredible. Many of the characters simply wanted to be loved. For who they were or weren't. But ugliness and blackness just couldn't let that be. I think all the boys would get married and have kids beside M and RJ maybe they would adopt if they wanted kids. And they would have a bunch of girls who look as beautiful as EJ.Paul and ella mae should be together as his tailor and fashion design thing set off. Or they could find each other partners to make them happy if they aren't enough for each other. Gus could remarry or simply die a happy man knowing her did the best he could by EJ and the boys. Perfect peace touched me just as Golden boy, When the heart is a home, and others like it had. I am so grateful for the blessings I have and the pain i have overcome. ( )

The writing style was awful. Saccharine, vacuous, off putting. The worst kind of poverty porn + hot topic of the day. Just plain bad. DNF. ( )

The writing in this book was beautiful. The prose flowed eloquently and it was a heart touching story. ( )

Different but I enjoyed it quite a bit. ( )