The Someday List by Stacy Hawkins Adams
By Yasmin Coleman • Jan 13th, 2009 • Category: Book Review •
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In the Someday List, author Stacy Hawkins Adams introduces readers to Rachelle Covington. Rachelle is the epitome of everything that glitters is not gold. On the surface, Rachelle appears to live a life that many would love to have. She is a stay-at-home mom, who is married to a successful surgeon, has two beautiful children (the million dollar family–a son and a daughter), and she has all the material possessions. She drives the latest luxury car, her home looks like something that should be featured in Home & Garden magazine, and money is no object as she can dine and shop whereever she wants, at any given time…and she can afford whatever cosmetic treatment her body needs…but some things seem to be missing.
Rachelle believes her husband is cheating and her marriage is in danger of being over. Even though she is in her thirties, she is still trying to please her control-freak mom. She is estranged from her extended family, because her husband is jealous and insecure and does not want her to have contact with them or her first husband. (Yes, she was married previously, and unbeknownst to her, her ex-husband has moved back to Jubilant, TX.) She cannot remember the last time she went to church or spent time with the Lord so her spiritual life is lacking. Truth be told, she is busy being mom, wife and daughter, and a society diva but she really has not paid much attention to who she is or what she needs. Sure she dresses up, makes up and fixes up the outside well, but the inside needs nourishment, identification and confidence.
As she packs her children off to her parents for the summer, and her husband off to Africa for a missions trip, she decides to visit a friend that she has been estranged from for over a decade. Her friend has a party and informs everyone that she has cancer and is dying within six months. But, she asks them not to pity her but to take the opportunity to live life while they still can. She advises each of them to make a ‘Someday List;’ a list of things they would like to do some day before they die. Rachelle is amazed at her friend’s courage and faith, and wishes that she had her friend’s confidence, spirit and zeal. She is afraid to admit that the God of her youth seems so far away. She does not know where to turn to or even how to come up with a Someday List as her mind is clouded with thoughts of what is going on with her husband. And then there is her ex-husband looming in the background a man that she realizes she never quite got over. As the story advances, Rachelle realizes that only with God will she be able to overcome the storms, obstacles and temptations in her life.
The Someday List by Stacy Hawkins Adams is an inspiring and empowering read. I enjoyed this novel because it was not your traditional Christian fiction read. Adams has her own unique and distinctive voice, one that is fresh and has shown growth and maturity with each book. In the Someday List, Adams dealt with issues realistic without being preachy. She creatively crafted and balanced secular and non-secular topics. Also, I liked that she kept things believable and did not feel compelled to wrap up everything in a neat box. Someday List characters were well-developed including the secondary characters. True to real life there were characters I loved, I liked, I laughed out loud with, I cried with and others I loved to hate. But, all of the characters were memorable and while flawed each of them still had some redeeming qualities.
The Someday List by Stacy Hawkins Adams is an entertaining and engaging read, and a page-turner which held my attention from page one until the end. It is an honest and refreshing look at life, faith, relationships, marriage and family. It so captured me that I wanted to and was able to read it in one sitting. It is a novel that I recommend to Christian fiction fans, as well as, those who just enjoy a good storyline and a good book. APOOO Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars
Reviewed by Yasmin Coleman
APOOO BookClub
African American Literature
CLICK HERE to purchase a copy of The Someday List and to vote accordingly for my book review.
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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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I have to bump this one up on my list of reads. I didn’t intend to read it until the end of February, but with a review like that I will have to bump a few other works out the way.
Jennifer C.´s last blog post..Inner Music
Jennifer do yo have this book…if not let me know.
This book will be with my next book order.
Dera´s last blog post..Are Black Women Looking for a Heroine?
Dera, I think I enjoyed it so much because it read like Women’s Fiction…Stacy really did a good job with this book…maybe it was my mood but she really touched me esp. since it’s rare that I read a book that’s 5stars for me.
I have this on my to purchase list, I love her work…
angelia
Angelia´s last blog post..To Thine Ownself…
Great review Yas. I really want to put this on my February list.
Thanks Dera and I hope you and Angelia both enjoy.
I have the book. It’s one of the three I bought last week.
Jennifer C.´s last blog post..First Quarter Reading Challenge-Week Two
Okay Jennifer…happy reading.
Wow.. I have read two of her other books … This one sounds really wonderful. As always, Yasmin, you have written a wonderful review. I have added it to my list.
Based on your (Yasmin) review and praise of this book, I purchased it today.