Reader Reviews for Sugar: A Novel:
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Customer Rating:  
Summary: Ambivalent
Comment: At first glance, the author weaves an intriguing and interesting storyline. The characters, for that time, were true to life - especially Pearl and her friends. From a more reflective stance, however, Sugar was a bit unbelievable in some aspects. For example, it was difficult to embrace the part where an African American woman would walk around naked in her home in the 1950s with the windows/curtains open for all to see. That just didn't ring true for me. Lastly, I hate that the author used such vulgar language. That took away from the beauty of what would have been an, otherwise, extraordinary story. Without the vulgarity, I would have easily rated this book four-or five-stars.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Worth reading
Comment: First let me say that I love your this book. It's been a long time since I read something with such much depth. This is a story that is truly believable. I wonder how many Sugars have we met in our life and formed a opinion about them before we even get to know them.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Review From Books & Wine
Comment: When Sugar Lacey comes to the small town of Bigelow in Arkansas, life is shaken up. Women eye her with disdain, men eye her with lust. This is the basis of the novel Sugar by Bernice L. McFadden. Sugar begins with a bang, immediately we are drawn in with a murder of a little girl. Emotion is ripe and we see how the murder takes a toll on Pearl Taylor, the mother of the victim. The book then flashes forward fifteen years, when the lives of Sugar Lacey and Pearl Taylor will intertwine over sweet potato pie.
Sugar weaves friendship, sexuality, and small-town minds effortlessly. The friendship between Pearl and Sugar is unlikely, but I felt it worked well within the novel. Pearl is an awesome woman. She defies her friends, which reminded me of hens, to form a friendship with Sugar, regardless of her disapproval of Sugar's profession. The relationship between Sugar and Pearl is definitely not all give and take. Rather, both women give something of themselves. Pearl treats Sugar like a family member, giving her warmth that she's never really experienced.
I loved that Sugar didn't dance around sexuality. The men of the book, unfortunately, cheat on their wives with Sugar, as she IS a lady of the night after all and the guys do pay her to get laid.The women of town treat sex as though it is a dirty act. They are inhibited, unlike Sugar. Pearl, too, until she sort of has this sexual awakening, in which she's all girllll I am hot stuff, and really takes control of the bedroom. I loved it. I loved that Pearl had an open mind and didn't take part in the shaming with her friends.
Sugar Lacey, on the other hand, I was conflicted towards. I wanted her to be happy, however, it's hard for me to approve of her lifestyle. I think tempting men to cheat is reprehensible. However, not all of the blame lies on her shoulders, as the men are the ones paying to do the dirty, therefore, I think they deserve more blame than Sugar. It's an interesting thought this novel brings out, how it seems the other woman is always the one faulted for breaking up a relationship and not the man. Clearly, there is some sort of double standard at work.
I enjoyed Sugar and it definitely gave me food for thought, especially in relation to sexuality within the constructs of a small southern town.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not that sweet...
Comment: The book opens with the brutal death of a sweet innocent child, Jude. A death that rocks this small town and nearly kills, Pearl, Jude's mother. Then the book moves forward fifteen years with the arrival of, Sugar, a prostitute. Sugar and Pearl bring a certain balance to each others life. They have an effect on each other that is quite unexplainable but it does help that Sugar looks a lot like Jude. The town is not as welcoming of Sugar as Pearl is. There are several rifts and confrontations that can be expected in a small town.
This book kept you wanting more but writing was quite simple and sometimes it felt like the author was trying too hard. I really enjoyed all the characters. I felt like I was apart of the Bigelow community. Pearl's character was so warm and inviting as well as her husband Joe. Sugar was so complex and the author really made you feel all her emotions and inner demons. Sugar is introduced to love but it doesn't last long because she can't tear away from her past. I finished the book feeling like there were a lot of loose ends that needed to be tied up. As you will find out, things are not always as solid as they seem.
Customer Rating:
Summary: So powerful it socks you in the face
Comment: The publisher's blurb does not do this book any justice. This is truly a must-read book for anyone: male/female, black/white, anyone who's a grownup and loves to read.
The book opens powerfully: to a tragic scene of loss. The very first line; Jude was dead
A mother (Pearl) loses her only daughter in a horrible fashion - before the girl has had a chance to taste what it's like to be a woman. The loss sets her reeling and takes away her laugh. Even her loving and faithful husband and adoring sons can't bring the smile back into her eyes.
15 years later, in 1955, a young woman (Sugar) who has had a life almost devoid of any real human connections moves in next door in small-town Bigelow, Arkansas. Her mother dropped her off almost at birth with a family of women who ran a house of prostitution, and the only life she's known has involved selling her body to get by. She's never owned or had anything of her own, even a family. Inheriting her own house (from someone she's never known, met, or even heard of) changes this and she decides to take full advantage of this opportunity. She pays the bills the only way she knows how, which sets tongues to wagging and even some tempers to flaring.
Pearl has been asked by her minister to take Sugar under her wing when she arrives. It takes a few visits and a few shattered sweet potato pies for these two to finally become friends. Pearl's life, even with her loss, has been rather sheltered, revolving around her family, her small circle of friends, and her church. It takes quite a while for her to figure out what her neighbor is doing to earn her living. Despite this, she perseveres in her friendship with Sugar, who has an almost uncanny resemblance to her lost daughter Jude.
Pearl, who is the soul of propriety and has never even gone to a juke joint (that is, until she met Sugar), is vilified by her "friends" almost as much as Sugar is. And yet ... there is just something about this young girl who could be her own that draws her in.
The tale of Sugar's life and of this friendship are the core of this book. The tale of how many of the characters are connected comes out piece by tantalizing piece. You, the reader, will know more about these connections than many of the characters themselves by the end of this journey.
This is the type of book that stays with you. You will continue to think about it long after you've turned the last page. It is not a pleasant book. If you are a parent, you may not be able to get through the first few pages without crying, or, at the least, feeling your heart rip in pain for the tragedy that is described. You will want to step inside of it's pages and punch some of the characters dead in their faces. Some of the scenes will punch YOU in the face. It will not end the way you want it to, but, considering the story itself, the ending is appropriate. You will not believe that this is the author's debut novel, as it is so well and powerfully written.
Many reviewers have stated that there is no redemption in this book. I respectfully disagree. There IS a sort of redemption in having a taste of happiness when you haven't known any before. When a life is this difficult, even having a day of love and laughter and knowing what it is is better than never having a chance to know it at all. Being able to open yourself up to love someone new and to laugh again after a horrible loss is redemptive as well.
Sensitive Reader: This book is not for you, due to violence, language, and sexual content
Quotes (also not for the sensitive reader):
...When he made it to the clearing there was his father. Beaten so hard and for so long that his skin had bubbled up purple. The top of his head was open and there he saw precious memories and somehow-someday dreams wrapped in I Love You colors spilled out for all of Bigelow to see. Then came the wail and Black John lost a little bit of his time on earth.
The storm walked into their small town on two legs in spiked, red patent leather heels. She waltzed right through the main square, blond wig bouncing to the rhythm of her walk, a leopard print pocketbook slung over one shoulder, matching suitcases in each hand.
"Ain't you got a mamma?" she said with shocked disbelief.
Sugar just stared blankly at her. She had a May, a Sara and a Ruby. She didn't have a "mamma,"
"What's a mamma?" she asked ...
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