Product Description

Customer Reviews (36)

Not His Best Effort
In My Father's House revisits Harris' tried and true formula of portraying closeted black men, their self-hatred, denial, and inability to keep their penises in their pants. This novel was apparently intended to serve as the first in a three novel story arc. Unfortunately, Harris' untimely death made this his last novel. If steamy sex appeals to you, this is the book for you. Harris' penchant for endlessly describing the character's skin tones, name dropping, and product placement get old quickly. The plot leaves a lot to be disired and the rushed ending seemed a bit contrived. Ultimately, this tome serves as little more than a guilty pleasure and if you are a fan of Harris' work, you will lament the fact that he left us too soon.

A great start to what could have been...
E. Lynn Harris may he rest in piece.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would have loved to see how the characters faired out in other novels.The struggles the main character goes through, his friends quest to find someone to love him, his co-worker/business partner and friend wanting a baby by insemination and all the other situations that occur are things that I have seen my own family and friends as well as myself go through.I feel as though I learned how to handle some things in my own life after reading this and that says a lot.Mr. Harris started off just a great as he did with "Invisible Life".

Awesome!
In the true form of E.Lynn Harris. What a wonderful gift to leave us! Excellent and exciting read! We'll miss him.

Discusted
The pages were stuck together, slow shipping and almost each page has food particles on it. Gross!

Awesome!
This book was different from Mr. Harris' previous tomes, and ultimately prophetic - especially with the metaphoric title, "In My Father's House". I read it from a spiritual point of view and it had me in tears by the end.

RIP E. Lynn Harris - you'll definitely be missed. ... Read more

Product Description
Diva supreme Yancey Harrington Braxton is working her way back to Broadway and beyond—and stirring up drama in and out of the spotlight—in the acclaimed New York Times bestseller from E. Lynn Harris.After being out on tour, the ambitious singer and actress is fired up to move past her recent setbacks—including an explosive romance with NFL tight end John Basil Henderson—and prove her talents are stronger than ever. What Yancey really wants is to star in her own reality TV series, and she’s even found a rich and well-connected lover to make it happen. There are, however, two women fierce enough to derail Yancey’s comeback dreams: Madison B., a hot new bombshell taking the music industry by storm, and Ava Middlebrooks, who happens to be Yancey’s own mama dearest.Not even a stint in prison for attempted murder has curbed Ava’s competitive nature. Now she will bring down her #1 rival—her own daughter—by using Madison B. to turn Yancey’s world upside-down. . . . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (60)

I love and miss E. Lynn Harris
Book is in very good condition.I received it in a very timely manner.

Okay
While I am an avid reader of all his works and am all too familiar with both Yancey and her overbearing, over-dramatic mother (term loosely used), I was not as happy with this one as I normally am.Although we were now able to get a glimspe into her character and understand her better, I was not entirely happy withthe rushed ending.One minute she beared her soul to Dalton (who should have had a more extensive role IMO) and the next the book basically ends with her expecting twin sons.

After so much drama, I just wanted the end to give me more. And now that he is unfortunately not able to give us any more literature concerning her (RIP), I have to take what was given. It was okay for treadmill and elliptical exercising, but it took some work to finish reading it.I am so glad that I was able to enjoy the work of this wonderful author during his lifetime.He will be sorely missed.

Good read
I love anything from E. Lynn Harris.Well packaged, would buy from seller again.

Simply Poor Writing!
Bad....just plain bad.As many other reviewes have noted, this book could not have been completed by ELH.The childish amateur writing is evidence of rushing completion to capilalize on Mr. Harris' untimely death.What a rip-off.Mr. Harris' fans deserved better.This book should never have went to print.Mr. Harris' legacy should have been left as it was as his earlier works were much more reminiscent of his writing style.This was pure nonsense!Where was his editors and proofreaders?If you're looking to read something by Mr. Harris, run from this nonsense and look for his earlier works.

Gravely disappointed
I must agree with some of the other reviewers that rated this story low.I do not believe E. Lynn Harris completed this book.He must be turning over in his grave.I have read almost all of his other books. Mr. Harris was a much better storyteller than this novel reflects and I hope that if this is your first time reading an E. Lynn Harris book, you will look at his earlier works.This is not a true reflection of his talents. There was so much potential for this story yet it was dropped by the waistside.There were gaps in the storyline.There were items thrown in at the wrong place. For example: How is a meeting setup in one chapter yet you meet the person to set up the meeting a few chapters LATER?It's extremely disappointing.The plot was not fully developed.The editing was horrid.The sad thing is this book could have been really good had it landed in the right hands. I for one will not be reading any E. Lynn Harris books released after 2009. ... Read more

Product Description
When her wedding to John “Basil” Henderson didn’t come off as planned, Yancey Harrington Braxtonflew off to L.A.andremade herself as mega-diva Yancey B. And Basil started concentrating on his career as a high-powered sports agent. But then Yancey’s first single, “Any Way the Wind Blows,” hit the charts, and now it threatens to blow Basil’s cover--if anyone learns who it’s really about. And it looks like the gorgeous (and ambitious) hunk Bart Dunbar might just have it all figured out.Amazon.com Review
One of the guilty pleasures of the reading world, E. Lynn Harris's novels are filled with gorgeous, glamorous, A-list African-Americans who will do whatever it takes to get their way. You don't want to know anyone in a Harris novel. The talented Yancey Braxton, who was left at the altar in the previous book in this series (Not a Day Goes By), moves from New York to L.A. with hopes of transforming her theatrical success into a bigtime musical career. And if her first pop single happens to expose her bisexual ex-fiancé Basil Henderson to ridicule, so much the better. Basil himself claims to be looking for the mother of his children--a good woman, in other words--while continuing his nonstop sexual conquests on both sides of the fence. He meets his match in Bart Dunbar, a hunky gay man with a mean streak the length of the Mississippi. When Basil dismisses Bart after a couple nights of steamy sex, Bart finds a way to make himself memorable. The best-written and most wicked of Harris's novels, Any Way the Wind Blows will keep you up all night turning pages and being grateful for a quiet life. --Regina Marler ... Read more

Customer Reviews (168)

The novel is an easy read and a great book for any of Mr. Harris' fans.
It's hard to imagine how far Mr. Harris has come from the days he sold his books door to door to these days when he can clain to be a decent author.

Unfortunately, in Any Way The Wind Blows, Yancey Harrington Beaxton and Basil Henderson return as central characters in a story that seems more like a feature from a tabloid gossip column than a piece of well crafted and creative literature. While Harris is certain to mention just about every popular African American music and movie star on the scene today, he fails to deliver any new insight with this novel. After reading his previous novels, this one seems like a collage of themes introduced in his earlier work. While I found his previous novels entertaining, just like any good gossip can be, I had a hard time, while reading this novel, getting past the feeling that I've heard this story before. The novel is filled with clichés and didactic in tone. Both of these literary faux pas diminish the story and oversimplify the plot. At times, it seems the characters are only devices for Harris to preach his views on relationships and the role sexuality plays in them. Often times, it's hard to discern if the characters are giving the author the dialogue, or if the author is putting his words in their mouth.

The novel is an easy read and a great book for any of Mr. Harris' fans.

Good Book
I love this book.This man is one of the best authors ever!He will be greatly missed.RIP E.Lynn Harris.

Any Way the Wind Blows
The product was in excellent condition. I had been looking for it in lots of stores. Even though it was an older book they still wanted full price for it. I am grateful to have found it for the price I did and enjoyed reading it.

Absolutely wonderful!
I loved this book. I was excited to find a sequel to "Not a Day Goes By", which was the first I read from him, though I was hoping a book would be made about Yancey and Desmond!

I think I may start from the Invisible Life now

I'm thrilled that the wind blew in my direction; this is fantastic storytelling
I read the prequel to this book, "Not a Day Goes By."I enjoyed that book and wanted a second dose of the author by the name of E. Lynn Harris.Thankfully, I read this sequel, "Any Way the Wind Blows", and was even more satisfied with his creative writing.Harris's style of writing recalls the format of a soap opera because they both jump from scene to scene.In soap operas, this annoys me greatly, but with in his literature, it doesn't bother me at all, even when the best parts are intercepted by other scenes.

Yancey and Basil were once engaged.On the day of their wedding, they called it off because Yancey and her malicious mother, Ava, discovered that Basil was leading a double life; they found out he was bisexual.Basil was once loving and attentive to Yancey, but in both the prequel and sequel of this story the reader finds that he can be a cold-hearted player to men and women alike.Basil does not want anyone to know that he is attracted to me, however, in "Any Way the Wind Blows", many will finally be enlightened.Yancey is a successful recording artist.Her records climb the chart throughout the book.Ironically, her first single, "Any Way the Wind Blows" is about a man who is bisexual.Many of the characters ask Yancey and Basil if this song is about their relationship, and for a long time, they are tight-lipped about it, but, Basil, what you do in the dark will come to the light.

This story concludes very realistically and I appreciate Harris for that.Too often in literature, a story will have an unbelievable ending, but the end of this story is not tied in a bow by no means.Some of the characters have better fate than others, but the end is one you will want to know.I loved this book so needless to say it is highly recommended!
... Read more

Product Description
A New York Times Bestseller Brady Bledsoe and his mother, Carmyn, have a strong relationship. A single mother, faithful churchgoer, and the owner of several successful Atlanta beauty salons, Carmyn has devoted herself to her son and his dream of becoming a professional football player. Brady has always followed her lead, including becoming a member of the church's "Celibacy Circle." Now, in his senior year at college, the smart and very handsome Brady is a lead contender for the Heisman Trophy and a spot in the NFL. As sports agents hover around Brady, a beautiful and charming cheerleader named Barrett enters the picture. Barrett is set on seducing Brady and getting a piece of his multimillion-dollar future. But is that all she wants from him? Is she acting alone? In a story that combines football, family, faith and secrets, Just Too Good to Be True is a sweeping novel that proves once and again why E. Lynn Harris is a bestselling author. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (103)

E Lynn there will never be another one like you baby!Miss you so much!
A fan of the late and great Mr. Harris works, I thought I had read everything this man had ever writen.That was until last week I got a hold of this one.The minute I opened it, I was pulled in immediately. Just too good to be true is a real page turner.


In this book skeletons were flying from everyone's closet. From Brady Bledsoes mother Carmnen changing her name to Delmar, Brady's best friend not revealing what he's doing on his part time job to make large amounts of money, this books provides the toss and turns every fiction book needs to keep the curiosity and interest of the reader.

Brady, a very popular college football player and canidate for the NFL draft finds himself struggling to keep his vow of celebacy due to a pledge he made with his mom. Tempted by a cheerleader named Barrett, Brady finds out in mutiple ways that often people at times can be too good to be true.

I was wondering when that sexy Basil Henderson would appear again.It was great to see him in a positive light.I love the way this book ended. Although it is fiction, this book provides many realistic aspects in regards to moving on, letting go, and forgiving.Once again Mr. Harris, thank you for another great literary contribution to the world.I'm still getting pass the fact that your not here anymore to give us some more.


Adra Young
Author of: The Everyday Living of Children & Teens Monologues

Harris Never Disappoints YOu
The heading across the book said a New York Times Bestseller, I expected that, having read E. Lynn Harris novels and becoming a fan.The News & Observers stated "Steamy, funny, and real".I expected that and the words defined why I loved his writing.The title, I found myself repeating as I got deeper and deeper into the pages that held my attention from the beginning to the end.I enjoyed this read, as I knew I would.The plots, the web of intrigue and how it all came together in the end is what I yearn for as an author and a reader.



Great choice for any book club discussion. There are so many angles, characters and issues to discuss.A mother's love, how deep; was Carmyn protective, or just overboarad?Her story, though sad led her through so many levels of destruction.The lost of the man she loved due to the terrible lie told by Daphne, the jealous ex-girlfriend.The lost of the parents she loved, the old school parents, who allow for no mistakes as they often make the biggest mistakes of their lives.The lost of trust for fear that the pain of the past covered her as a cloud waiting to burst and rain on her life.As it did, for when we don't close chapters of our lives, no matter how difficult, they seem to add on making our book of life unbearable and forever a hushed secret.

I admired Carmyn's character although she had issues she had determination and strength.She had her weakened moments, maybe the result of guilt or maybe the desire to correct wrongs that she had not revealed.Taking on the friendship with May-Jean, a piece of work, and Shelby the girl whose life was mirroring hers.She learned to love again, let go and let be, it was late but she learned her son had to experience hurt, pain and love.

Barrett, Raquel, lived through pain too.She emerged from hurt, geared herself to hurt others to gain what she smoothed over as a necessity for her brother.She was seeking a healing in all the wrong places.

I was engrossed with how they all knew each other and yet they didn't know until Carmyn's cloud burst of rain fell on each of them.Brady, the young man who was too sheltered.He broke the vows set by his mother, based on her errors and pain, but he was chained to them mentally.Something I don't know if young men of today would allow.There love was special but in a peculiar way it hurt them both.


Harris did it again, and I have always read his books and ended them saying.....Wow.The possibilities of the story is what held me captive, especially in the world of sports, surrounded by love and those who love money. I could only wonder where Mr. Harris was headed as he once again brought in some of our favorite characters from his other novels......keeping the reader on the edge yearning for more.

Good plot
Alright so this was my first book by E. Lynn Harris (RIP) and I wanted very much to fall in love with it, but just couldn't get into it. The only reason that I finished this book was because I really wanted to find out what happened in the end. The plot would have been wonderful if half of the side stories were eliminated. E. Lynn Harris used very childish language in this book such as on p. 181 when he writes "I slipped my Yolanda Adams CD into the Bose CD player," was it necessary to explain what type of CD player that it was? Sadly a lot language in the book was framed like this, making it difficult at times to sift through it. I really did enjoy the last 1/3 of the book. I was elated to see Barrett and Nico get what they deserve, also it was nice to see Brady and Carmyn's relationship evolve.

Haven't Read Yet
I haven't read the book yet but I did get it quickly.Thanks saler!

Different for Harris
This was a good story...far different from the usual down low drama that Mr. Harris masterfully creates.This time, it is a college student that is being manipulated by his mother.

RIP E Lynn Harris...I was so sad to hear he passed away.Another one gone too soon. ... Read more

Product Description
AJ Richardson is living the good life. Thanks to his longtime lover, NBA star Dray Jones, he has a gorgeous townhouse in New Orleans, plenty of frequent-flier miles, and an MBA he’s never had to use. Built on a deep and abiding love, their hidden relationship sustains them both. But when Dray’s teammates begin to ask insinuating questions, Dray puts their doubts to rest by marrying Judi, a beautiful and ambitious woman. Judi knows nothing about Dray's “other life.” Or does she?
 
In Basketball Jones, E. Lynn Harris explores the consequences of loving someone who is desperate to conform. Filled with nonstop twists and turns, it will keep readers riveted from the first page to the last. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (112)

Dissappointed
In the beginning, I was an avid E. Lynn Harris fan and reader.However, after perhaps his first four novels I have seen a definite decline in the writing.Initially his style of writing and presentation was very upstanding and pristine.It seems that with his last 3-4 books the style became more plebian and written on a lower mental level.It's as if he went from writing for The New York Times to writing for a local newspaper.
I am quite dissapointed with his last works but will cherish his earlier writings and maintain them in my library. After reading the reviews of the latter books that I have not purchased I will not be making any more purchases of his novels, especially since it has been intimated that he may not have even completed some of the writings.I have also read reviews regarding typos.This is not the E. Lynn Harris who had me anxiously awaiting his next novel. I guess you can't be number 1 forever!

Great read
I read this book in a total of 7 hours if that! I felt like the book was kind of predictable but it was still a page turner. Kind of obvious since I did not want to go to sleep until I finished it. Great characters, good story and very heart felt. This is the E Lynn of old, loved it!

A GOOD READ
It was the first time I ever read a novel about bisexual men and men who was on the downlow. I really enjoyed the book.

So real....
This book is very spicy and keeps you interested without even having to do like some other gay writings.Other gay books have to get deep into detail about sexual encounters to keep you interested, which I don't mind, but not this book.I would recommend this reading to all.

Classic E.Lynn
Basketball is a story about sex, love, living on the down low, blackmail, sports.While these topics are common to lots of Harris' books, the way his stories are told you don't tire of hearing about them again.I particularly liked him bringing the story to The Crescent City (I'm a native).It made the story much easier to visualize especially since I was familiar with lots of the places. ... Read more

Product Description
After Zola Denise Norwood meets media mogul Davis Vincent McClinton on a New York-bound flight, he makes her a couple of offers before they even land. One is editing his hot new urban style magazine Bling Bling. The other is more personal. As Zola and Raymond Tyler, Jr, Bling Bling’s CEO, pursue their ambitions and search for love, secrets from the past and events out of today’s headlines (plus the shenanigans of John Basil Henderson and Yancey B.) keep the action moving.Amazon.com Review
E. Lynne Harris's A Love of My Own is the story of Zola Norwood, the attractive, ambitious editor-in-chief of Bling, Bling, a hot new magazine for young and hip African Americans.Having achieved success in her professional life, Zola embarks on a quest for true love. She makes clean breaksfrom her clandestine affairs with Davis McClinton, Bling, Bling's powerful owner, and Jabar, the seemingly simple yet undeniably sexy personal trainer at her club.Adding to the intrigue is Raymond Tyler Jr., whose relationship with his longtime partner, Trent, has just ended badly. In a search for refuge and rebirth, Raymond moves to New York and begins work as the CEO of Bling, Bling.As Zora and Raymond chart their own courses to love and personal fulfillment, Harris grapples with familiar themes like love, deception, family, and power.In a tale woven together by up-to-the-minute current events (the characters watch Denzel Washington and Halle Berry take home awards on Oscar night; Zora awakes to the news of pop star Aaliyah's tragic death), E. Lynne Harris has yet again taken his formula for success and created another winner. --Gisele Toueg ... Read more

Customer Reviews (138)

Alright
I enjoy reading so naturally i continued to read this book. But to be perfectly honest, the book just wasn't that good. I did enjoy the characters in the book, but i wasn't impressed with the back and forth setting the author had in mind. All in all this author has some geat books (Basketball Jones) I just didnt enjoy this one as much as his others...

Page turner
This was a very good book.The plot was well written and all of the characters were well developed.I would recommend this book to any of my friends.The story had highs and lows and even though one of the main characters is a gay/bi man he has situations with his loved ones that anyone can relate to.A couple of other characters from E. Lynn Harris past books come back in this book to show how they have evolved.Yancey B. has a successful singing career, and Ava is still trying to use Yancey to get a career in the U.S.Basil Henderson appears to have put his dogging ways behind for the love of a special woman in his life.The main female character in the book has been so deeply hurt my a man she truly loved that she now only uses men for sex or to advance her career.The main male character of the book has a secret in his past that he is so desperate to keep he will stop at nothing, even paying off his family to keep it from getting out.This book will not leave you disappointed.

THIS ONE WOULD MAKE A GREAT MOVIE!
Several years ago, I was visiting a cousin while taking leave/vacation back to the states from Europe.She happen to have an E. Lynn Harris book called "If This World Were Mine" on the table in the guest room I was staying in. I read it, thought it was a very good book and wanted to know more about this particular author.Mr.Harris has been writing for over the past 15 years, and for the life of me, I don't understand why has one of his books have not been made into a film?

In this particular story, he didn't put alot of emphasis on gay sex, DL brothers or sex in general like his previous books, but express the emotion of what the characters were going through, as far as the current events that were happening in America at the time, like the September 11 attacks.

That's why I feel this installment by Mr. Harris, would make a great motion picture.It has plenty of drama going on, funny dialog between the characters, intense confrontations, dark secrets and a shocking ending.

I know that homosexuality is a big taboo subject within the black community.I have a gay uncle and a lesbian cousin, who has educated me on hand about the subject, who they our as gay people in general.
I love them both equally and I strongly feel it is time for us as a culture to start educating ourselves (like starting with one of Mr. Harris novels), getting to know and accepting our gay brothers and sisters.

A love of my own
Excellent. E. Lynn Harris is a genius at what he does. This one speaks the universal language of Love no matter your sexual preference.

It was OK.
The story centers around Zola and Raymond. Two career people, both, in search of love. They both work at the same magazine company and somehow, someway they cross paths. E.Lynn uses his old characters of his past novels ( Yancey and and bi guy;can't remember his name ) to connect the characters in morethan one way besides them knowing each other at work.

After reading this book, I felt nothing. I leanred minimal new things. I felt like I had read 300-some pages of just blah. Don't get me wrong, E.Lynn Harris is a nice writer but the story really dragged on. You could have skipped over whole chapters (as I did) and you would have still been able to understand what was happening.There needed to be another element of drama and surprise in the book to give it that extra flair. ... Read more

Product Description
A young man graduating from college discovers his bisexuality and spends the next eight years alternately trying to face and deny the truth of his passions. By the author of Just As I Am. Reprint.Amazon.com Review
E. Lynn Harris's track record as a bestselling novelist beganhere, with the story of Raymond Tyler, who, after years of questioninghis sexual identity, finds himself torn between a married male loverand Nicole, the talented actress with whom he imagines himself able tospend the rest of his life. With a rich cast of supporting charactersand emotionally wrenching plot twists, this debut proved popularenough in a self-published edition to catch the attention ofDoubleday, which bought the rights to Invisible Life and haspublished each of Harris's four subsequent novels, including twosequels, Just As IAm and Abidewith Me. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (132)

Pulls you in reading!
This was my first E. Lynn Harris novel. It was good. I think I'll read the other series as time permits.

Never received this product.
I don't know how this book is because I have never received it.I hate to write a bad review because it is not the writer's fault.

Good
I had to see what all the hoopla was about after hearing his name after I read the WONDERFUL 2 books by Frederick Smith (now THOSE are worth reading!).This book was very good and I'm reading his others but not enjoying them as much. Very syrupy. Rather predictable, at least for far as something will happen to keep everyone confused.

Sadly, Poor Writing.
E. Lynn Harris has one thing to his credit with this sorry attempt at a novel- that is he is probably the first to openly explore gay and 'down low' sexuality in the Black American context. But that is all this and his other books offer. His characters are undeveloped, as is the novel's plot. Making what could have been a rather interesting novel, quite boring. His writing is completely void of any kind of intrigue, vivid description, or even distinct style. One wonders how such poor writing, could have ever been published. Thankfully, I have not bought any of his books- and I will never borrow or read another!

Wow
This is Harris' first novel but this is the second novel I have read from him.My first was his latest,I Say A Little Prayer.This was a really well written book,currently I'm reading Just As I am.Sometimes I got a little confused at the message Harris was sending.Sometimes I feel like he's telling us,his audience,to be on the look-out for who's down-low because of all the diseases and that most people believe it only exists or originates from the gay community.Then sometimes I think he is comforting the actual gay people and letting them know they don't stand alone.I guess Harris pulls a multi-moral on us.Either way it was such a good read.KEEP IT UP HARRIS ... Read more

Product Description
John “Basil” Henderson has always played the field, both as a professional football player and as an equal opportunity lover.After retiring his jersey for a career as a sports agent, the dashing playboy is surprising everyone—including himself—by deciding to settle down and commit to his new love, Yancey Harrington Braxton. A fiercely driven Broadway star on the rise, blessed with beauty, charm, and a fondness for the finer things in life, she appears to be his ideal mate. A lavish wedding is planned, but just before the nuptials, fate and a little comeuppance threaten the happy couple’s future.

Charged with narrative exuberance and sumptuous detail, Not a Day Goes By proves that nobody spins a sexy urban love story like E. Lynn Harris.Amazon.com Review
Set in New York in the closing months of 1999, E. Lynn Harris's tightlyplotted Not a Day Goes By bears all the outward markers of a romanceby Danielle Steel or Jackie Collins--wealth, glamour, sex, andintrigue--except that the two main characters are more like the wilyvillains of a Dynasty remake. John "Basil" Henderson, a formerfootball player who has started a successful sports agency with a friend,is a gorgeous, arrogant, bitter, woman-hating, homophobic,African American bisexual who is used to people staring at him. "Especially when I was naked," Basil confides, "My ass was perfect andmy jimmie was both long and thick."Basil has fallen in love with anequally alluring figure, Yancey Braxton, a bronze-skinned Broadway singerwhose beauty and dedication are matched by ferocious self-absorption andcunning.(Instead of attending her 10-year high school reunion, Yanceysent signed photos of herself and press packets.)Basil feels that hislove has rescued him from the shallowlife of a player, and he allows himself to believe that she is a goodperson, and that when they marry, she'll settle down a little andprovide him with children.Yancey cares for Basil, too, but her careercomes first.After that, sex and money.Babies aren't even on thelist.

Harris's most sympathetic characters are Yancey'sroommate, Windsor, a plump schoolteacher who spends her spare eveningsholding abandoned babies at Hale House, and Zurich Robinson, a gayChristian ex-athlete who briefly considers joining Basil's agency,eliciting a string of ugly clichés from Basil's partner. Meanwhile, Basil,that pillar of integrity, listens in silence. The deal is scotched whenZurich announces that he has been interviewed for anarticle on gay men in professional athletics.When Basil asks himwhy he is coming out, Zurich tells him about another young quarterback whotried to run from his sexuality bygetting married.The day of the wedding, he shot himself."As Zurichtold the story," Basil recounts,

I could picture the young man and for a brief moment felt the pain he wasstruggling with.I had been there. But it had never gotten to the pointwhere I wantedto kill myself.If I could have talked to Milo I would have told him,"Roll with it young brother.... There is a way to have your cake andice cream, too."

Customer Reviews (236)

Entertaining
This book was very entertaining and a fast paced read. Definitely a page turner. I am new to E. Lynn Harris and so far I am pleased with what he had to offer.

Loved
I loved the book and it was received in the condition promised.Was quite pleased with this purchase.

Great Story!
E. Lynn Harris gives you a no nonsense, realistic love story in Not A Day Goes By. Full of twists and turns; Harris quickly assures you that happy endings are possible but not guaranteed!

Not A Day Goes By
The book was in good condition. However, when I ordered the book it stated that it was a hardcover, but I received paperback.I did not want to pay the amount for a paperback. I should receive a discount or credit towards the purchase of something else.

Great
E Lynn Harris is a great author he amazes me each time I read his work ... Read more

Product Description
E. Lynn Harris's blend of rich, romanticstorytelling and controversial contemporary issues likerace and bisexuality have found an enthusiastic anddiverse audience across America. Readers celebratethe arrival in paperback of his second novel,Just As I Am, which picks up whereInvisible Life left off,introducing Harris's appealing and authentic characters to anew set of joys, conflicts, and choices. Raymond,a young black lawyer from the South, struggles tocome to terms with his sexuality and with the grimreality of AIDS. Nicole, an aspiringsinger/actress, experiences frustration in both her career andin her attempts to find a genuine loverelationship. Both characters share an eclectic group offriends who challenge them, and the reader, to look atthemselves and the world around thern throughdifferent eyes. By portraying Nicole's and Raymond'sjoys, as well as their pain, Harris never ceases toremind us that life, like love, is aboutself-acceptance. In this vivid portrait of contemporaryblack life, with all its pressures and thecomplications of bisexuality, AIDS, and racism, Harrisconfirms a faith in the power of love -- love of allkinds -- to thrill and to heal, which will warm thehearts of readers everywhere.Amazon.com Review
At the end of Invisible Life,Raymond and Nicole had just ended a blossoming love affair when Nicolefound herself unable to cope with Raymond's bisexuality. Just As IAm begins soon after that, as the two former lovers try to rebuildtheir lives. Raymond has moved to Atlanta to practice law, and hecontinues to question whether he's genuinely bisexual or really gay,but is unable to accept that a real lifetime love might happen withanyone but a wife. (The reappearance of charismatic--and closeted--profootball player Basil Henderson doesn't exactly make things easier forhim.) Nicole has agreed to marry her rich, white lover, who'sbankrolling her latest Broadway effort, even though she's not sure sheloves him. She and Raymond are reunited when their mutual best friend,Kyle, succumbs to his HIV infection and Raymond returns to New YorkCity to be by his side. Over the years, E. Lynn Harris has provedhimself a powerful male counterpart to the commercial success ofAfrican American authors like Terry McMillan; the turbulent plot ofJust As I Am, with its relentless focus on characters'feelings, ably demonstrates how he's become so popular. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (77)

We lost one of the great ones!
One of E. Lynne Harris' best pieces of work! He was such a captivating author!!!

Recent Read
I mistakenly came across this book in my garage not long ago and decided to read it. It was a captivating, page-turner from start to finish. Oh my, do I love the writings of Mr. E. Lynn Harris. This was my first of many as I've read the next nine books that followed this wonderful novel, filled with sexuality and sensuality, pain and acceptance and tolerance, ignorance and confusion. And I intend to read the next four. Just plain REAL! Read it, you won't be disappointed.

Eehhh
I've decided to read all of E. Lynn Harris's books and this is 2nd of the trilogy---it's not really necessary to do so because the next book does fill you in on what transpired previously.

I am finding that the author writes things that I don't think would really happen that way. For instance he says that Kyle didn't inform Ray for 3 years that he was infected with HIV.Now if they were the very best friends the book claims they were-----I KNOW someone would confide in their very best friend, not keep it from him!! Stupid things like that, that don't make sense. And having dinner guests overand one of the guests asked what he and his partner do for a living and Ray answers 'what does that matter?'.No one would give that answer.

And I don't understand why the book has to involve Nicole after the first book.I just scanned every chapter about her and got what I needed because her role doesn't have much to do with anything.I suppose it's to keep the bisexual overtone of the book??I don't know where the bisexual thing is going with these books....it seems over but I guess that is how Harris keeps the readers--with the possibility that one of the characters might revert to switchhitting again.I have never really liked bisexuality. Why do they get to keep going back and forth?The majority of us go one way or the other.

Just As I Am
I have read all of E Lynn's books.This one is just as great as all the rest.If you're an E Lynn fan, it's a must read!

GREAT!!!!!!
Must read!!!!!!!!!! This was a great book. But you should read them in order. Star with INVISIBLE LIFE...:) ... Read more

Product Description
A stellar quarterback, an ambitious sportscaster.What happens when rising stars collide?

In And This Too Shall Pass, Harris takes us into the locker rooms and
newsrooms of Chicago, where four lives are about to intersect in romance and
scandal.At the heart of the novel is the celibate Zurich, a rookie
quarterback for the Chicago Cougars whose trajectory for superstardom is
interrupted by a sexual assault charge by Mia, a sportscaster with her own
sights on fame.With his career in jeopardy, Zurich hires Tamela, a high-powered attorney, to defend him, while Sean, a gay sportswriter, covers the story and uncovers his heart.

All of these characters face the challenge of keeping the faith--in themselves and in God--while Harris's heartfelt storytelling reveals how the love of
family can help one to face the terrible legacy of long-held secrets.
Throughout these characters' search for self-knowledge, Harris weaves the
stories of MamaCee, Zurich's grandmother, whose lessons of faith teach one and all that "this too shall pass."

Breaking new ground in contemporary fiction, And This Too Shall Pass entertains and affirms with its stirring message about the healing power of family and faith.Amazon.com Review
Zurich Robinson is a young black starting quarterback for anNFL expansion team who, after refusing the sexual advances of a localsportscaster, finds himself accused of her rape. Readers know hedidn't do it, because he's staying celibate while he figures out hissexual identity, a process complicated by the fact that he's got twodifferent men interested in him--one just for the sex, and one for thelove. His defense attorney has romantic problems of her own. Luckily,his grandmother has enough faith-driven wisdom to see everybodythrough. Overall, And This Too Shall Pass isn't quite asengrossing as Harris's Invisible Life series, although fans of thatbook will be intrigued by Basil Henderson's supporting role here. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (74)

Good Read
This book takes you away to an alternate universe; one where moral boundaries are tested but reassured. It's realistic and captivating yet tender and sensitive. A good read!

And This Too Shall Pass
This book was an excellent read. All of E. Lynn Harris's books are good. Would definitely buy another book of his.The book was hard to put down.

How could you not like it?
I felt this book. It really brings a sense of self identity and just accepting who you are. This book made me laugh, cry, and just feel that I could relate to some of the characters. Mamma Cee, she is my favorite! It's filled with emotion, and I would reccomend this book to anyone!

Boring!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry E. Lynn fans but I couldn't even finish this one whew! Thank God I got it from a thrift store for $1.00.

The characters draw you in
This is the first book by E Lynn Harris that I have read and it was actually better then I thought. I just finished reading a book called Passion Marks and saw this one pop up on a search. I truely enjoyed the character Zurich on his quest to find himself while being engulfed in the homophobic world around him. Then I felt a conection with Sean for some of his views on being black and gay and having faith. Most of all I liked the character Mama Cee, she really bought peace within the book...plus reminded me of some of my older family members. I think this was a very well written book and I'm now about to order Invisable life and start that series.
... Read more

Product Description
In this hotly anticipated conclusion to his popular Invisible Life trilogy, E. Lynn Harris delivers a masterful tale that traces the evolving lives of his beloved characters Nicole Springer and Raymond Tyler, Jr., and reintroduces readers to their respective lovers, best friends, and potential enemies.Abide with Me moves between the worlds of New York City, where Nicole has recently settled in order to pursue her dream of returning to the Broadway stage, and Seattle, where a late-night phone call from a U.S. Senator is about to change Raymond's life dramatically.Relationships and ambitions are tested as Harris deftly guides us toward this entertaining novel's conclusion.

Sexy and heartwarming in equal measure, Abide with Me will thrill new readers as well as fans already familiar with Harris's unique take on the universal themes of love, friendship, and family.E. Lynn Harris has truly done it again.Amazon.com Review
The third volume of the Invisible Life trilogy picks up thecharacters' lives a few years after the conclusion of Just As I Am. RaymondTyler and his partner, Trent, are living together comfortably inSeattle, until Raymond's nomination for a position as a federal judgebrings to light some troubling incidents from their past. Meanwhile,Raymond's former lover, Nicole (now happily married to his bestfriend, Jared) is starring in a touring company of Dreamgirls,although a sinister understudy is willing to stop at nothing to takethe role for herself. And former pro football player Basil Henderson,who's proved himself over the years to be perhaps Harris's mostcompelling fictional creation, is regularly attending therapy(although it doesn't seem to be helping him deal with either hisdenial of his bisexuality or his emotionally abusive behavior towardsothers). While readers unfamiliar with Harris's previous stories willbe able to follow the latest plot developments without much trouble,having the first two volumes of the trilogy under your belt is adefinite advantage towards knowing where the characters are comingfrom. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (194)

fun fluff
E. Lynn Harris is not James Baldwin. Studying the back of "Abide With Me" (as well as the author's biography on the back of the dust jacket), you would not know this. Yes, he is the winner of several literary awards and has drawn millions of readers to his popular writing style. But the type of books E. Lynn Harris writes are vastly different than the type of books Mr. Baldwin created.

"Abide With Me" is the 3rd book in the "Invisible Life" trilogy. We're re-introduced to the characters Raymond, Nicole, Basil, Jared and Trent. Mr. Harris moves through these characters' lives and inner turmoil via a series of vignettes; each chapter is about 3 to 5 pages and covers much ground. There isn't a lot of exposition so the dialogue is the main focus through everything. If you happen to forget a detail or two, it will assuredly be re-covered within the next chapter or so. You find yourself imaging what each character is thinking and feeling and sort of work through it. Because of this, this book comes across as an extremely light read.

I think anyone who is seeking the closure that "Abide With Me" promises (it being the last in the aforementioned trilogy) will feel disappointed. Mr. Harris depends too much on the reader's knowledge of books prior; there is little to no description of what came before. (It wasn't until 300 pages in that I figured out what relationship one character even had to the ingénue.) This isn't to say I didn't fully enjoy reading the book. It's merely my understanding of what was promised versus what was delivered. Avoid reading the dust jacket (or this review, for that matter) at all costs.

Books of this ilk come across as supermarket fiction. It's obviously great for those who aren't vast readers because a lot of the fat of a story is cut and it saves time for the juicy gossipy details. You see the plot coming from a distance but are pleased at yourself for analyzing the situation. When all is said and done, you're smiling and glad to have tackled yet another book, especially so for those who have never even read (or heard of) James Baldwin.

This book is the definition of "fluff".

I'm disappointed.....
I've read a few of Harris's other books and I have intense respect for the guy as a writer. However, this book did not deliver nearly as strongly as his previous books. The book started out at the pace of my granny walking over a speed bump, but it eventually sped up to pace of my granny in the grocery store with an electronic walker! I gave the book a worthy try too. I LOVED Harris's other works, so I automatically gave up the "if its bad for the first 30-40 pages I'm tossing it to the shelf" ritual. I stuck with it! As page 50 crossed my eyes I thought, "Maybe he's working on something rhetorical, you know how those genius writers are...." Then along came page 70, and then 90! Nothing at all! If he was working on something grand and rhetorical, pardon me because I had no clue! I'm sad to say that I closed the book, placed it back into my worn black Eastsport bookbag, (I was on a bus ride) and vowed, "I will not read another page." (Ok- I really didn't vow, but I did not read another page.) I'll still be reading more of Harris's future works, but for this work- "I'm disappointed."

This is the one that got me started...
This is the first book I've ever read by E. Lynn Harris, and I must say that I fell in love with him, his writing style and his characters. Since reading this one, I have read all the rest (this time in order) and Harris never disappoints.

The Bomb
This book was too good.This sereies is just gets better and better.

Another great offering from Harris
Although Abide With Me isn't as juicy as his rest it still captures that "need to read" in you. You can start to see how Yancey Braxton (soon to be Yancey B.) grew her horns. When I finished reading this book, I kinda wanted Harris to elaborate on the whole Trent situation. But I liked how he incorporated Kyle back into the story. ... Read more

Product Description
A USA Today, New York Times, Washington Post BestsellerChauncey Greer, the suave and successful owner of the Cute Boy Greeting Card Company, never wants for the attention of guys just as hot as he is. After a couple of bad dates Chauncey finds himself in church, where the minister’s message inspires him to return to the singing career he had launched as a teenager. Things heat up when Chauncey’s rediscovered singing talent lands him in the middle of a protest over homophobia in the black church, and Chauncey’s old singing partner–and former lover–makes a dramatic and unexpected entrance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (93)

I Say A Little Prayer - E Lynn Harris
As a big fan of E. Lynn Harris, "I Say A Little Prayer" is entertaining and enjoyable as I had expected. A great read.

I love e Lynn
I read this book a couple weeks ago and it is still frsh in my mind. Chauncy greer was a powerful character and I loved the flow of this book. E lynn has a special way of Captivating his redaers and I am going to order Basketball jones next to see what he has up his sleeve. Great read i wish I could give this man more than 5 stars.

Just Okay For Me
Of course the book was well written, I wish I had Mr. Harris's editor for my books, because it is so perfect to me, or as perfect as something can get.I gave the story four stars just because I couldn't relate to the characters like I normally do, and it started kind of slow.However, as I got into the book, it became the page turner that I am use to from this author, who is my favorite and is the reigning King in his genre.I am the author of My Eyes Are Green and I hoping that his readers check my book out as well.Loved Loved Loved the entreprenurial spirit of the main charachter, sounded very real and believable.This is exactly why I love comtemporary african-american fiction because you tend to get something out of it and be able to apply it to your life.

Mr. Harris, you have won me over with this one.
E. Lynn Harris, I Say a Little Prayer (Doubleday, 2006)

I wasn't quite understanding all the flap surrounding this book until very recently, when an African-American friend of mine who lives in California expressed outrage at the fact that Proposition 8 (the anti-gay-marriage proposition) was passed largely because, according to polls, seventy percent of the state's black voters turned out in support of it. Suddenly things got a lot clearer where I Say a Little Prayer is concerned, and I understand a lot more of the reason Harris felt compelled to write this novel. Like many others, I have to say I'm glad he did. This is quite a good little book, even if it does gets tangled up in its own message now and again.

The story focuses on Chauncey Greer, a bisexual black man who's decided that women are more trouble than they're worth, and so has decided to just date men. Problem is, he's got a bad relationship skeleton in the closet, and so these days his life, while successful on the outside, is littered with a string of unsatisfying relationships. Everything goes to hell when that old flame, Sweet D, arrives in town in order to recruit Chauncey to sing at a tent revival. Which is nothing too terrible--Chauncey and D were originally members of the same boy band--until Chauncey realizes that the minister holding the revival whips his members into a frenzy with his strong anti-gay agenda, and that D seems to be part and parcel of the anti-gay package. Clearly, there's a lot more going on under the hood than Chauncey had originally realized. In order to try and fight back against this hatred, Chauncey, in turn, tries to whip up his own congregation, but finds resistance there as well. What'sa gay man--and a religious one, to boot--to do?

While Harris is pretty obviously on the outside of all this looking in, he refuses to give in to stereotypes most of the time, and draws his characters with sensitivity, be they gay, bi, or straight, and his plot is compelling enough that he could well just sit back and let the novel write itself, given the strong characterization. Unfortunately, he wants to dabble a time or two in speechifying, but that is little reason not to enjoy the rest of this novel. Homophobes will obviously have a problem with it, but recommended for everyone who actually has a shred of a brain. *** ½

You Go Boy!
Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down.It had more twists and turns than a roller coaster.I was rooting for Chauncey especially after he found out that the man who took his virginity with men was a homophobic nut case.Grayson was truly a scary character.I found myself wanting Chauncey to slap her as hard as he could.I think this book makes a really interesting point.It seems that those who speak out the loudest against homosexuality are usually closeted homosexuals who hate who they are(Donnie McClurkin).I was happy Chauncey came out on top in the end.I was also surprised that Basil made an appearance in this book.I hope to see more of Chauncey in the future.This book is a great buy and I highly recommend it to all. ... Read more

Product Description
Keith Boykin, a former Clinton White House aide, syndicated columnist, and AIDS activist, breaks new ground by going beyond the hype with the first responsible, eye-opening look at the down low sensation. Unlike all previous accounts on the topic, Beyond the Down Low refreshingly presents the DL not merely as a problem of gay and bisexual men living in the shadows and endangering women, but more broadly as a telling example of the African-American community’s overall failure to engage in critical but uncomfortable conversations about sexuality. Boykin details how the virtual silence from black leaders on sex matters has helped to create an environment where gay and bisexual men feel compelled to lead double lives. Meanwhile, the dialogue that has occurred both inside and out of African-American circles encourages an unhealthy battle of the sexes, ignores the complexities of the closet, demonizes homosexuality and bisexuality, disempowers women from personal responsibility to protect themselves from STDs, and misdirects public resources and attention at vilifying down low men. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Leaping and Bounding to Unsubstantiated Conclusions
Boykin's blog is filled with misinformation, i.e., at one point he stated West Hollywood is the product of White Gay gentrification, forcing people of color out of the neighborhood with high rents and property values. This was a statement made by a man who lived in Los Angeles for two years!

Boykin's personal agenda, largely based on having an axe to grind with anyone not sharing in his black gay narrow-mindedness, gets in the way of any cohesive or reasonable argument to be made with the book.

So reading this book came with no surprise that it is filled with stories from personal history as the ONLY means to back-up his claims.

Boykin rambles, repeats himself, and says nothing insightful or of value.

Pass on this book - it is a copy of a diary, posing as a "research effort".

Informative, Insightful, but Somewhat Repetitive.
I knew very little about the term "Down Low" and the ramifications it presents.After hearing about this book during a dinner conversation, I decided to give it a try with the goals of learning something new while expanding my cultural vision.Both came to fruition.I learned something new - primarily the backlog of information regarding the debates on DL and its impact, particularly on the Black community in the United States.I also learned that it is not a standardized term that explains the ambiguity that often shadows discussions on the issue.

What Boykin does well is present a number of facts that help someone understand what the current discussion is.What Boykin does not do well is present the facts in a manner that is conducive to a completely enjoyable read.I enjoyed the beginning of each chapter that were often peppered with personal anecdotes, but began to quickly lose interest mid-way through each section when presented with - what appeared to be - a super-saturated presentation of statistics.That would have been quite fine had the statistics not been repeated so often.I found a good portion of the book to be redundant.

All said, I this is a great primer on a timely issue.I would recommend it for anyone who has heard of the Down Low and is interested in learning more with facts.

MUST READ!!!!!!
This book was a great book. I must say when I first got the book I was in dout thats it was about anything pozitive or helpful to the black community. But I must say I was very happy with this book. Keith Boykin really did alot of resaerch to put this book togeather. I think that any on that read the book (ON THE DOWN LOW)By J. L. King. Should read this book to get a full understand of things, and take away some of the fears, Lies and myths about HIV and the down low. It is a must read!!!!:)

Definately a better read than J.L. King's book
Instead of sensationalizing the issue, I felt Mr. Boykin was aiming to educate people about homosexuality in black America instead of entertaining the masses. Great book!

Take it or leave it
I've just finished reading Boykin's book, "Beyond the Down Low."While I find it well written and his observations often on point, I come away from reading the final paragraph thinking, "So what?"

Really, Boykin has unearthed nothing "new" about sexuality or sexual identity as it has been played out since there have been men, women and the undecided.

Boykin's book gains much of its cachet because it is one of the few published books that addresses sexuality from the perspective of a gay black man.The very paucity of literature that focuses on the plight of gay black men in America alone makes Boykin's contribution invaluable, regardless of the quality of his prose.Ultimately, however, his work is forgettable. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Visible Lives, Three Stories in Tribute to E. Lynn Harris
Even if I have to admit that I haven't read many books by E. Lynn Harris, it's also true that he is probably the first gay romance authors I noticed, well before I started reading this genre. I remember to have noticed the nice cover of I Say a Little Prayer and thinking, mmh, interesting. E. Lynn Harris was probably the only gay romance author at the time that was able to reach the top selling lists with the various ladies of romance. And so it was with sadness that I read of his sudden death, when still so many years where in front of him, and many books and stories and possibilities. I have never thought who E. Lynn Harris was for his colleagues, black gay men who were fighting with double/triple prejudices, being of colour, being gay and writing romance. Apparently E. Lynn Harris was a lighthouse for all of them, the man who was able to, able to write, able to come out, able to have success, always remaining one of them. In this tribute, three different black man are telling their version of the story, but it's always the same story, how you can be gay, black and in love with romance.

The Intern by Terrance Dean: this story is all about fashion and romance, glitter and love. Chase was always used to be the boy, the one other macho men pursued, the prized arm candy. But now Chase is pushing forty, and sincerely he is tired to be someone else little secret: Chase has a successful career and a beautiful house, he is still an handsome man and he is still able to pick his choice among men. His best girl friend tells him to stop to search for the macho man of his dream and to play "cougar" with his pretty, and very young intern, Quincy. Indeed Chase surrenders to temptation, but sincerely there is not much difference, since Quincy, even if young and a subaltern of Chase, is for sure very self-confident and able to well balance the difference in age with his positive attitude.

The feeling of this story is young and fresh, like a glossy magazine, well highlight but the almost obsessive pointing up to all the fashion brands.

Is It Still Jood To Ya? By James Earl Hardy: Raheim and Mitchell have a past together, a past made of good and bad days, of bringing up together two sons, of family parties and knowing everything of each other; when the story starts Raheim and Mitchell are not together, but sincerely the reader doesn't understand why and so do Raheim, that is indeed trying to woo Mitchell back in his bed and life. Above all, Raheim is worried since Mitchell is leaving for a business trip that will give him the chance to meet someone else, and Raheim doesn't like the competition. A blackout will allow Raheim to block Mitchell in his apartment for a few days, and the forced cohabitation will also prove that they are still good together, as and better than before.

The strength of this story is the time construction and the double writing style: in the first part the reader is plunged in the middle of Raheim and Mitchell's story without much notice, and I tried to collect little pieces of info here and there to build the structure; in the second part Rahein and Mitchell are interviewed together, and basically they give you all those info all together, in a constructed way.

House of John by Stanley Bennett Clay: Jesse has an enviable life and a job he likes, but he is not lucky in love. At 38 years old, he is so desperate for love that he easily mistakes sex for the real thing, only to be bitterly awakened soon after. Since he is slow to learn the lesson, he decides to join a group of friends at Santo Domingo, with the only purpose of finding cheap sex without string attached. On the island, he meets Etienne, but the young man is not what Jesse was expecting: romantic, with strict and old fashioned principle, Etienne doesn't believe in the easy sex, and Jesse has to woo him, at the same time being the joke of his friends who are enjoying as much as possible the natural "beauties" of the place.

This is probably the most romantic of all the three stories, the romance is all around in the air, and basically when there is love, everything seems easier.

E. Lynn Harris plays the role of the fairy godmother in all above stories, the one who is able to give the right advice to set the men on their right path towards love, being always truthful to themselves and the men they love.

Terrance Dean's INTERN.....HOT!!
The Intern was HOT!!, I enjoyed this story and wish that it did not end. 4 this I will mos def be checking out MR. Dean.
The other 2 stories were slow 2 me,I have read some of James Earl Hardy's novels so his characters Rahiem and Mitchell were familiar 2me and their story give it closure. Mr. Clay was new 2me, but I did like his slight humorous tone. I believe E.Lynn Harris would have enjoyed them all.

Visible Lives The Tribute to Harris
I have to admit that I am skeptical about tribute work.However, this is an awesome collaboration between three magnificent authors.Even the forwarding statement was not a watered down tribute.The love and commitment these three author's and the forward offer a true dedication to their work and to their (and the public's) love of E. Lynn Harris. I love it.

Visible Lives
A very nice tribute to the life of E.Lynn Harris and how he personally touched the lives of these 3 authors. The first story, The Intern by Terrance Dean featured Chase, Vice President of Production at a television station who's a firm believer in giving other AA's a chance to get ahead. In walks younger man Quincy who's eager to learn everything Chase has to teach him, in and out of the office and a nice bond between the 2 form.

Is It Still Jood To Ya? by James Earl Hardy, My personal favorite. I've followed Raheim & Mitchell's story since B-Boy Blues and really, really love their chemistry. They've been broken up for 4yrs due to Raheim's gambling addiction but now that he's gotten his life back together, he realizes how much he misses Mitchell and what they had together is worth fighting for. Mitchell's on his way to Atlanta so sing on the "competition's" new cd so Raheim volunteers to take him to the airport plotting to get in a kiss, just a little something to rememberand hopefully distract him. Fortunately, when he arrives to pick him up a black out occurs and it's on from there. Without giving too much away, I must say the interview Raheim & Mitchell did with DJ Korrupt was fantastic! There were so many vital points interjected about racism, family, even bullying by honoring the memory of 11yro Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover. Really awesome!The only negative that I would state is the word Jood, I hate that word but i guess it distinguishes who Raheim is.

House of John by Stanley Bennett Clay. After walking in on his boyfriend in a compromising position, 39yo Jesse takes a 3 week vacations to The Dominican Republic with the plans of being entertained by "the most beautiful men to walk the face of the earth" in a house of ill repute when he happens upon 25yo Etie and for the first time, finds true love. When Etie finds out the real reason for Jesse's visit, he angrily breaks it off and now Jesse has to prove that it's real love or face losing the love of his.

"Visible Lives depicts three enticing stories that compliments E. Lynn Harris' exclusive signature style."
"Visible Lives, Three Stories In Tribute To E. Lynn Harris is an incredible read that does an outstanding job rendering three amazing novellas, illustrating a remarkable homage to the late and great E. Lynn Harris."

"In House of John, Jesse Templeton a freelance photographer takes a trip to Santo Domingo to get over his recent break up with his boyfriend Sean. He ends up meeting and falling for the devastatingly handsome E`tie."

"In the second novella, The Intern, Chase Kennedy a successful television executive finds himself attracted to his intern, Quincy Thornberry. Quincy is a star basketball player and college student interning for the summer. Chase and Quincy embrace their attraction and are eventually blind sighted by a past relationship that could ultimately challenge their relationship."

"Lastly, in Is It Still Jood To Ya?, actor Raheim Rivers is eagerly anticipating reuniting with his past love, Mitchell Crawford. A summer blackout in New York, strands them together and forces them to be honest and confront issues that are threatening their relationship."

"Visible Lives depicts three enticing stories that compliments E. Lynn Harris' exclusive signature style." ... Read more

Product Description
RM Johnson and E. Lynn Harris combine forces to tell the story of twin brothers struggling to uncover many questions about themselves and one another. ... Read more

Product Description
Set in Chicago, this powerful novel by the author of "Just As I Am" dwells on four people, friends since college, whose lives have gone in different directions. When one of the group faces death, the crisis forces the others to recognize and accept the inner strength that the group has nurtured in each of them.Amazon.com Review
Four former classmates of a prestigious African Americancollege have a "journal club" where, nearly 20 years later, they stillmeet regularly to talk about what's going on in their lives. Dwight isfilled with resentment towards whites, and it's about to raise someserious conflicts at his job. Leland is still coping with the death ofhis partner, Donald, from AIDS. Riley's afraid that the love's goneout of her marriage, and that she'll never be able to achieve thesuccess as a poet-singer she's dreamed about. And Yolanda... well,Yolanda's just started a romance with former pro football player BasilHenderson, but longtime E. Lynn Harris fans just know wherethat's going to lead. The multiple first-person narration can beconfusing at times, but the convoluted plot does sort itself outneatly in ways sure to entertain Harris's previous fans, as well asanybody who likes Terry McMillan or Gloria Naylor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (89)

If this world were mine
This is a very good book.I have read most of this authors novel and I think he is a beautiful writer and story teller. I really enjoyed this novel.

Elaine's choice
I will read all of E.Lynn Harris' books that he writes. I love his characters and how they continue on in each book. It makes me feel as if I know them. Keep up the great work!!

A RELAXED READ
Really a good book. It was a page turner, it's got dramma, love, friendship, all that stuff that makes a good book. I recomend it if you want a relaxed read.

Once Again......
He just can't stop,he's off the hook this book is a must read it wont give it away I just want to tell you te read it wll have you cying and laughing.

A must read
As usual ELH does his business of writing very interesting novels.If you haven't read the books in sequence it definitely puts things into perspective w/Basil and others. ... Read more

Product Description
“In many ways writing saved my life. It’s my hope that sharing my experience will give hope to others who are learning to deal with their “difference.” I want them to know they don’t have to live their lives in a permanent “don’t ask, don’t tell” existence. Truth is a powerful tool.
“But my hope for this book doesn’t stop there. I think there is a message here for anyone who has ever suffered from a lack of self-esteem, felt the pain of loneliness, or sought love in all the wrong places. The lessons I have learned are not limited to race, gender, or sexual orientation. Anyone can learn from my journey. Anyone can overcome a broken heart.”--E. Lynn Harris ... Read more

Customer Reviews (62)

He stole my heart with his story.
E. Lynn Harris died last year.

How wonderful that before went on his journey, he left us this incredible present.

I listened to the CD edition as I drove for hours on the highway to New Jersey and back home to Maryland. The time went so fast as I drank in the words of Lynn and his final story. I didn't want it to end.

This man went through hell. However, rather then let circumstances crush him he rose in triumphand used the tears to create his own vision of life, a life where he could share his immense love, the love he so wanted to receive from others.

His family was there for him along the way especially the strong women such as his Aunt Gi, his grandmother and his wonderful mama.

In the end, after leading a double life not only sexually but also in the corporate world, he finally embraced himself and began to write.

This book should be on the shelf of inspirational literature for it truly has inspired me.

I shed a lot of tears and so will you if you have a shred of humanity in you.

I love the voice of the man who read the book. I think that Lynn would have, too.

Definitely one of the best autobiographies I have heard and read ( I also have the book) in a long time.

Broken Hearts
This is the first book I have read from the late Mr. Harris, and it is truly wonderful.The fact that he died last year only adds to the poignancy of the memoir.His life was filled with both much tragedy and much joy, and it is sad to think that his life was cut short at such a relatively young age. I recommend this book highly; I couldn't stop reading it.

Journey to find you
Really good read.Not at all typical with his usual dose of drama but, will keep you interested.This book can give anyone the prespective they need to truly see themselves not through someone elses' eyes but, through their own.You see how the world saw one thing in this man and how there was a darker side that he had to dighis way out of.There is part where he talks about maybe you experience certain things so that you may have the ability to give somebody else hope.To say you can survive and come out better.I don't usually believe in dreams coming true but, in this case I guess it did.

Sweetness
Prior to Mr. Harris untimely death, I had never read any of his writings. Nor was I familiar with his popularity. I read this book while on a four hour flight and the flow of the book made the flight appear shorter than four hours. His coming out of the closet or being in the closet left something to be desired. Being Black,Gay and living in the South appear to not have limited his opportunities to evolve. This book was a reasonable introduction to his other writings. I would not elect to read his other writings.

What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
Easily the best and most poignant book written by author E Lynn Harris, in my opinion out of all of his books of fiction this one is easily the most dynamic and dramatic narrative written.

To me, it brings in to mind the saying that goes that "sometimes reality is stranger than fiction" or in the case more insightful and more entertaining.In this book, Harris chronicles his earliest memories with an astounding clarity growing up poor in the south, dealing with the precarious rules of masculinity through the oft times spiteful and abusive father, the highlights of his scholastic experiences in school, and then coming to terms with his budding sexuality.

Throughout the narrative you can feel organic substance throughout as if you are actually living in the nuisances of living in the South of the fifties and sixties.As with all memoirs, this one is as equally if not more inspirational by the fact that we are taken through the author's struggle with alcoholism and trying to make it during the current economic situation of the eighties and nineties changing landscapes from college life in North Carolina, and his adult life in Washington DC to which he comes of age as a gay man has to content with the slings and arrows of attempted romantic situations which leads back into alcoholism.

Harris deals with some very difficult situations that are in extreme contrast to the soap operatic fictions that made him a household name, which was shocking for me, that he was a palpable organic suffering "average Joe" who suffers his demons and triumphs over all.

It is understandable, that when I heard of the death of E Lynn Harris that this book out of all of his other works was sold out in every bookstore in Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland, it is the de riguer E Lynn Harris work for fans of his work. ... Read more

Product Description
A literary rent party to benefit the Hurston/Wright Foundation of African-American fiction, with selections to savor from bestselling authors as well as talented rising stars.

Not since Terry McMillan’s Breaking Ice have so manyAfrican-American writers been brought together in one volume. A stellar collection of works from more than fifty hot names in fiction, Gumbo represents remarkable synergy. Edited by bestselling luminaries Marita Golden and E. Lynn Harris, this collection spans new and previously published tales of love and luck, inspiration and violation, hip new worlds and hallowed heritage from voices such as:

• Edwidge Danticat
• Eric Jerome Dickey
• Kenji Jasper
• John Edgar Wideman
• Terry McMillan
• David Anthony Durham
• Bertice Berry
…and many, many more

Also featuring original stories by Golden and Harris themselves, Gumbo heralds the debut of the Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards for Published Black Writers (scheduled for October 2002), and all advances and royalties from the book will support the Hurston/Wright Foundation. Combining authors with a variety of flavorful writing, Gumbo will have readers clamoring for second helpings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Gumbo
These stories are excellent and easy to read by some great authors!If you like to read but don't have time to sit through an entire book, this one's for you.Short stories but filled with content.

This gumbo is rather tasty
The ingredients in this gumbo are truly varied. It has literary heavy-hitters like Edward P. Jones, Edwidge Danticat and John Edgar Wideman; new jacks like Dana Crum, David Wright and R. Erica Doyle; and popular/contemporary/genre writers like E. Lynn Harris, Tananarive Due and Connie Briscoe. I really enjoyed "My Heavenly Father" by Dana Crum. Told in a nonstandard Southern dialect that simply leaps off the page, set in a Baptist church that is brought fully to life, the story is about a young boy who misses his absent father. Sometimes the story breaks your heart. Sometimes it makes you laugh. At all times, it avoids cliches. William Henry Lewis' "Rossonian Days" is innovative. Edward P. Jones' "An Orange Line Train to Ballston" is splendid. This anthology is well worth the money.

Excellent.
This is an outstanding collection of stories by a wide variety of authors.There is something for every taste.Gumbo is a great introduction to a lot of new writers.Definitely a savory dish!

Dinner Is Served!
With this wonderful compilation of some of America's finest African American authors - you can't lose.This is a great mix of humerous, mysterious and romantic short stories that will have you wanting to keep reading.Whatever your literary flavor....Gumbo serves it up.

Good Idea for Marketing...
I love to read books about people like me and I love short stories...this book put both into one and introduced me to a variety of writers I didn't know about along with ones I already did.I ended up buying a couple more books because the short story was so interesting (ex. Douglass Women & Ain't nobody's business if I do).It's a very good source for writers to show off and I thoroughly enjoyed it and tried to roll with the WHOLE book page by page. ... Read more

Product Description
Though much work has been done in the fields of Catholic and Oriental spirituality, Protestant spirituality has often been neglected. After a brief biography of A.W. Tozer, this study compares Tozer's mysticism to 35 mystical classics he recommended, such as "John of the Cross", "Teresa of Avila", etc. The focus is on the nature of contemporary Protestant mysticism and the examination of a 20th-century figure operating within a very conservative section of Protestantism who was influenced by mystical prayer. The position which Tozer reached may be of value to others also having to cope with the pressures of contemporary life in a metropolitan environment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Good Intro. to the Mystical Interiority of A. W. Tozer
A. W. Tozer was one of the more notable preachers and authors within the 20th century that introduced Christian mysticism into the Protestant Evangelical arena without compromising his conservative, Evangelical beliefs.According to Ms. Harris, the basic hypothesis which her study has substantiated is that "Tozer is in the mystical tradition of Western Christianity though possessing characteristics distinctive of Evangelicalism."By Christian mysticism, she means "an experience of interior meeting and union of a person with the divine infinity which sustains him and all other being (essence/existence), namely, with the personal God through Jesus Christ." The goal of Christian mysticism is stated as: "union with God in Christ," assumed to be distinct from the regeneration experience.

The biographical memoir of Tozer by David J. Fant, Jr., titled "A. W. Tozer, A Twentieth Century Prophet" (1964), is used as a springboard for Ms. Harris' focused study of Tozer's mystical and conceptual approach to the world.At the end of Fant's book, he included a list of books recommended by Tozer, "For those who would know `the deep things of God.'" It is this list of thirty-five mystical works (which are included as Appendix A of Harris' book) that Ms. Harris used as a frame of reference for analyzing Tozer's mystical approach.Tozer's list includes such classics as "The Ascent of Mt. Carmel" and "Dark Night of the Soul" by John of the Cross, "The Cloud of Unknowing" and "Theologia Germanica" written anonymously, "The Practice of the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence, "A Testament of Devotion" by Thomas Kelly, "Christian Perfection" by Fenelon, and "Revelations of Divine Love" by Julian of Norwich (the last being the only woman listed and who Tozer jokingly called his girlfriend).It must be noted, however, that the list was given by Mr. Fant with this qualification: "In recommending these books Dr. Tozer did not mean to put his stamp of approval on the entire contents.Rather they were offered as products of men and women who ardently loved their Lord; if any doctrinal defects should appear these would be far overbalanced by the spiritual verities."Appendix B of Ms. Harris' book includes a letter from Mr. Fant to the author stating that Tozer prepared the list himself in response to many inquiries and that there was a copy of each book in his personal library.

The book is comprised of seven chapters, titled as follows: 1) Introduction, 2) Tozer - The Man and His Context, 3) Tozer and Mystical Thought, I, 4) Tozer and Mystical Thought, II, 5) Tozer and Mystical Thought, III, 6) Tozer's Concept of Man's Relationship to the World, and 7) Summary, Appraisal, Recommendations, Conclusion. As the titles indicate, the first two chapters are preliminary in terms of introducing Tozer's personal characteristics and historical context.Chapter 1 also gives definitions for the terms "Mysticism", "Fundamentalist", "Evangelical" and "World" as well as compares the mystical process to psychoanalysis, also looking at the role of consciousness.Chapter 3 discusses the general characteristics of Tozer's mysticism, including the salient characteristics of Tozer himself.The general characteristics are as follows: 1) its firm root in scripture, 2) its Christological nature, 3) its marked moral orientation, 4) its tension between living in the world and yet not being of the world, and 5) its experiential, devotional aspect.This chapter also introduces the traditional stages of the mystic way: purgation, illumination, the dark night of the soul, and union.Chapter 4 examines in more detail Tozer's writings in relation to his recommended reading list.Here it is stated that Tozer's basic principle is "the interior nature of religion".Although some of the books on Tozer's list are directly referenced, Ms. Harris takes a general, principle-oriented approach which, if one hasn't read the recommended works, will have to be taken at face value.Also, Ms. Harris has a select number of Tozer's works that she repeatedly references in both Chapter 4 and elsewhere to the exclusion of many others listed in her bibliography.Specifically, she references and quotes from the following eight books:The Knowledge of the Holy, The Divine Conquest, The Pursuit of God, The Root of the Righteous, That Incredible Christian, Man: The Dwelling Place of God, Of God and Men, and Born After Midnight.Chapter 5 looks at how Tozer's basic principle (the interiority of true religion) as well as his rhetorical focus and context/background operated in practice.One book that Ms. Harris focuses on is "The Knowledge of the Holy" with its six conditions for attaining a transforming vision of God.She also discusses the two principal forms of the final stage (or goal) of the mystic way: union or fusion.The former involves man in a more intimate relation with God whereas the latter involves annihilation of individuality within God.Tozer is said to have embraced the former.Chapter 6 notes that "Tozer's basic position is that if man is right with God he will be right in his relationships with men" and that trying to create proper human relations without a solid "God-man relationship" is "essentially powerless".This chapter also takes this position of Tozer's and examines it in connection with H. Richard Niebuhr's five modes of relation between Christ and the world as discussed in his book, "Christ and Culture".

The nature of Chapter 7 is clear from its title.Here it is stated that the level of mysticism expressed in Tozer's writings is not the most advanced.His writing on the deeper things of God is said to be primarily introductory and "not to guide those far along".Ms. Harris notes, however, that this doesn't mean that Tozer himself wasn't more advanced in the mystical process he introduced and which is expounded in more detail (in terms of procedure) in some of the books he recommended.From my own reading of Tozer, I would add that his mystical approach seems to be more cataphatic (focusing experientially on the positive attributes of God) than apophatic (focusing experientially on the "negative" or transcendent attributes) and more affective (focusing on love and the personal) than "intellective" (focusing on knowledge [via unknowing] and the "non-personal"), although he certainly doesn't exclude discussing them (cf. "The Knowledge of the Holy", for example, which refers to "The Cloud of Unknowing").His approach is, as Ms. Harris pointed out earlier, primarily devotional in nature.Meister Eckhart is an example of one mystic that many writers on mysticism consider a primary representative of the latter (apophatic, intellective) approach, although he also utilized the former.This distinction is somewhat related to the difference between personal union and so-called "fusion" in the final stage of the mystic way as discussed, albeit superficially and imperfectly, in Chapter 5.There Ms. Harris stated that "Eckhart goes beyond the personal God to the Godhead, the metaphysical, the impersonal, the Absolute," although I think she doesn't fully understand the nature of Eckhart's distinction between God and Godhead in terms of doing and being, activity and inactivity.Nonetheless, Eckhart's "Talks of Instruction" is on Tozer's recommended book list.

Overall, this book is a good introduction to the mystical side of Tozer.It also gives inside information about him that cannot be found anywhere else in print due to personal conversations that Ms. Harris had with some of Tozer's family, friends, and acquaintances.However, it lacks a Biblical assessment, limiting the analysis to Tozer's works as they relate to the Christian mystical tradition in general and his recommended book list in particular.This is true even though Ms. Harris lists in Chapter 3 several Biblical passages that she claims "definitely have a meaning quite consistent with mysticism".One book that does aim for a balanced Biblical assessment of mysticism from an Evangelical perspective is "Mysticism: An Evangelical Option?" by Winfried Corduan.Corduan defends Tozer's understanding of "knowledge by direct spiritual experience" as "a mystical experience that gives a person subjective confirmation of biblical truth," but he doesn't explore other areas of Tozer's mystical interests.

Ms. Harris' book was an enjoyable read, encourages further study, and is highly recommended.

A thorough and more objective than not work.
E. Lynn Harris has a clear interest in mystic spirituality that has driven her to put forth a great deal of effort in this work.

It is not clear what sort of religious ties she may have, other than that she seems to express experience in many of the mystic practices which she is writing about (possibly much of it while doing research for this work). This serves to make her relatively objective in the work.

Her method of research was quite thorough, having, it seems, read each of the thirty-five works listed in Dr. Tozer's recommended list, all of Dr. Tozer's books, and having made many phonecalls to personal aquaintences of Dr. Tozer.

It did seem that she had an unwarrented zeal to find favorable reference in Tozer's writings to repeating a single word to generate a deeper mystical experience. This may be due to Miss Lynn's personal experience with this practice.

Dr. Tozer was clearly an interesting man, and this work does a good job of portraying the mystical side of the man. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in Dr. Tozer. ... Read more