Trading Dreams at Midnight by Diane McKinney-Whetstone
By Angelia Menchan • Jun 30th, 2008 • Category: Book Review •
Email This Post
• 
Print This Post
Trading Dreams at Midnight by Diane McKinney-Whetstone is a full frontal view of the dynamics of female, family relationships. The family is headed by matriarch, Nan. Nan has spent her life as a stern, disciplined, churchgoing woman, who always lived by the rules. The one time she decides to step outside of character is when she gets a peak at the handsome Alfred. She will do anything and will stop at nothing to have him. What she does not know at the outset is that how she got Alfred will haunt her for the rest of her life. To the union is born, Alfreeda, known as Freeda. Immediately, the reader can see that Freeda is a special young woman prone to emotional extravagance, which manifests itself in mood swings and disappearances.
Freeda gives birth to two girls, Neena and Tish, and though she loves her girls, when she feels dark inside she takes off, leaving the girls in the care of Nan. These disappearing acts affect the girls in different ways. Tish cleaves to Nan, becoming a young woman who lives by the rules. However, Neena is mother focused and spends her life in pursuit of Freeda, bucking Nan’s authority at every turn. Neena becomes particularly obsessed with her mother after Freeda’s final disappearance when Neena is a teenager and she spends many years on the hunt for Freeda. Neena leads a gypsy existence, existing solely on her feminine wiles. Tish on the other hand stays close to home, marrying and becoming a successful news anchor. One thing that separation cannot change is the loving bond between the sisters.
Trading Dreams at Midnight is told in flashback sequences, mostly through the eyes of Neena. At times I was entranced by the memories and at other times I wanted more current day. Having said that I loved how the author allowed us to see the dynamics of female kin at play and how she skillfully wove the peripheral characters into the fabric of the story. Ms. McKinney-Whetstone is a wonderful storyteller.
Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub
If you found this review, CLICK HERE to vote.
Related Posts
Angelia Menchan is wife, mother, mentor and the author of five books, most recently, “Is No Not Clear Enough For You? She is a reviewer for APOOO Exchange Team. Angelia currently works as a Budget Officer, but her most rewarding work experience was as Job Corps Counselor. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her love and reading. Her motto is, “You Get from the Universe, What You Give to the Universe.” She can be contacted at www.angeliavmenchan.com and http://acvermen.blogspot.com
Email this author | All posts by Angelia Menchan
Get New Posts via Email
