Colored Sugar Water by Venise Berry
By Yasmin Coleman • Dec 4th, 2009 • Category: Book Review 2002 •
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From the 2002 Archieves
From the author of So Good and All of Me, Venise Berry is back with Colored Sugar Water a very different novel from her first two novels. Colored Sugar Water is about friendship, relationships and spirituality. It’s a thought-provoking book that may have you questioning what you believe.
Meet Adel and Lucy. Adel is stuck in a job that she doesn’t enjoy but the six-figures keep her going back day after day. Then there’s her husband who lives in la-la land and reminds me of Tommy from the old Martin show. Remember Tommy supposedly had a job but no one knew where? That’s Adel’s husband…a man that she is definitely too good for. Adel’s spiritual life is lacking and she’s not sure of what to believe. Lucy, Adel’s best friend, is single but has been in a comfortable although uninspired relationship with Spencer for the past few years. Unfortunately he no longer floats her boat. Lucy who believes in everything including Christianity, voodoo and the psychic hotline decides to explore. Her exploring leads her to Kuba…the mystery man from the psychic hotline who takes her on a roller coaster adventure.
Colored Sugar Water was an engaging and page turning experience for me. I kept reading because I wanted to know the outcome. Berry brought us full circle with Adel and Lucy and their spiritual journey. Colored Sugar Water is about what the two characters, Adel and Lucy believe, and their ability to come to terms with their beliefs in order to grow spiritually as well as in their professional and personal relationships. I liked that Berry didn’t preach about religion but rather showed us that we have choices and that faith might mean something different to each person. In fact, she touched on all the religions/spiritual beliefs that individuals might hold. There was one scene with the Jehovah Witnesses that was a Kodak moment…I loved it! I must admit I was slightly disappointed in the ending. Berry left it open so that you could form your own opinion…or as she said in an online chat…¨The ending is whatever your belief system is.” Hmm…while it was true to what Berry wanted to accomplish with Colored Sugar Water I took that as a copout because I wanted a direct answer. 
But that aside I enjoyed the story and recommend it to those who enjoy creatively crafted and refreshing reads. Oh yeah…if you’re a traditionalist then this might not be the book for you. Colored Sugar Waters is definitely a book that’s not for everyone but for those who enjoy exploring and thinking outside of the box then pick up Colored Sugar Water today.
Reviewed by Yasmin
APOOO BookClub
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Yasmin Coleman is a literary publicist and promoter, book reviewer and founder of APOOO Books and BookClub. In 2000, she founded APOOO, www.apooobooks.com, an online author and reader community dedicated to advancing African-American literature.
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