The reader discovers the personal world of Patrice Gaines, a staff reporter with the Washington Post and a recipient of the National Association of Black Journalists Award. The impetus for this memoir was Gaines' view of her baby daughter from a thin jail cell window. The story unravels as Gaines seeks to be the independent woman that her daughter can look up to with pride.

Gaines provides us with the details of her struggle, commencing with her life as a five-year-old on a military base in Quantino, Virginia in 1954, when the Supreme Court declared segregated schools unconstitutional.

The adversities she faced included: being raped twice, shoplifting, abusing drugs, getting divorced, and going to prison. She delineates these experiences with stark honesty and a compassionate understanding of everyone. Her sensitivity is strongly highlighted by her complete and unwavering devotion to gay friends in their personal battles against AIDS.

As the story unwinds, the reader is poignantly aware of Gaines' personal and professional growth. She comes to meet her daughter's needs, as they each mature into adulthood, one a journalist and one a college student.

This non-fictional account of one journalist's life is well written and totally captivating. "Laughing in the Dark" cannot be kept waiting; it must be read immediately from start to finish.

After reading this book I understand the internal dialogue that occurs when choosing to change. My attention never wavered throughout the whole book. I feel Patrice put her finger on the dynamics that occur within and around us. I especially loved the references - spiritual and personal that she used to explain the process of "doing it. Whatever "doing it" means to each individual. I have called all of my support family to recommend this book. I feel like this is an excellent book for young people so that they can realize that change is a process and not completed immediately and can expect their committment to be tested

"Laughing in the Dark" was an excellent book. I really enjoyed reading it. Patrice had a tough life. She has been through a lot, but in the end she has accomplished so much. In my eyes Patrice Gaines is a remarkable women. I find books about the author's life are the most interesting types of books. They are so honest and tell you so much about life. Everybody faces different problems and situations that the next person. I myself learn more from the mistakes and lifestyles others have than what anyone could teach me. Biographies and autobiographies tell you the truth, how they felt, the details on what happened, their mistakes, and how they dealt with it all. The more you know about the author the more interesting the reading is. Patrice in particular is a very strong and smart women. She has been through a lifetime of mistakes, promises, deaths, and accomplishments than a lot of others ever will be, and she is still going. Her earlier life had helped her get ready for anything, for the rest of her life. I believe she should be everybody's role model to success. She has done a lot and is still helping others. I am very pleased with the book and I recommend it for others to read. Her life has made me think about my own. She has helped me know what to expect, what to watch out for, and what a wonderful life you can have if you want it enough and try to get it.

Patrice Gaines' autobiography Laughing in the Dark is an unbelievably amazing story. I would recommend this book to anyone that has doubts in their life or to a person who wants to feel the pain and happiness that Patrice has been through. Patrice has walked in many shoes, anywhere from the most uncomfortable heels to the best pair of sneakers. She explains this to you with remarkably strong emotions. As a young female facing many of the same struggles, I feel that this autobiography has taught me a lot about life and how to deal with the everyday pressures of sex, drugs, and crime. She begins her book as a young, black female dealing with racism and ends as a strong, beautiful woman. To express in such great detail so much of her life truly means something. Whether it's that she is just a great writer that wanted to stop living what some may call a lie, or that she felt her story could help many that face the same problems, she did a terrific job. She made a tremendous difference in my life.

Laughing in the Dark was a phenomenal, well-written book. Patrice went through many trials and tribulations in her life and managed to make it despite her many struggles. This book is not only exciting, but it provides very good advice. She talks about her experiences with men, drugs, pregnancy, death and many other things. By reading what she said, many women should know how to deal with life decisions without a doubt in their mind that most of their choices are right. I think that her best message to women is to stay strong; love and respect yourself before you jump into relationships, and you're more likely to come out on top--like Patrice.