This book took me by surprise, drew me in and made me feel like I was IN the authors life, watching her grow up. I could hardly put it down. Growing up in Harlem in the 1940s and 50s, full of the stubborn pride and determination that carried her up and out. Beautifully written.

Chewed Water is a book that stayed with me long after I read it. It's the story of,Virgina, a foster child growing up in Harlem in the 1950's. Though the book is labeled a memoir it has a novelistic quality that sets it apart from other memoirs that I have read. Rahman's language is rich and lyrical and she beautifully evokes a place and time that we do not hear much about, especially from the perspective of a young African-American girl. I found myself immersed in Rahman's world where colorful characters, musical rhythms and the politics of the day, make-up the vivid background of a heart-wrenching coming of age story. But the book rises above the tell-all tale of painful youth and through Virigina's eyes we enter a world that is sometimes cruel, often humorous and always fascinating. Rahman wickedly comments on the world around her as she shares her story of growing up, longing for the mother that she doesn't have and surviving the one that she does have. I laughed out loud reading this book and it also brought tears to my eyes. I highly recommend it.

Chewed Water is just that and more. It is smooth, it is rough it will make you swallow and leave you thirsting. It will quench that voice of recognition way down deep. It will reverberate -- vibrate as water does - long after the read is through. Aishah Rahman lifts her prophetic voice to tell the haltingly human story depicting the mythical angst of a young girl, growing up in Harlem in the forties and fifties. It is a breathtaking tale of her long and winding journey to herself.

Chewed Water is a telling social commentary told without compromising the artist's aesthetics which are indisputably unshakeable. Aishah Rahman's joy/sorrow-stricken prose liltingly lifts us out of the depths of our unknowing, porting us into the world of the protagonists -- mixing our hues with the blue, black and brown of her characters. This memoir, masterfully woven, is apopros given the turbulent time in our world. The birth of a son to a young, unwed mother echoes the historical forces sweeping the nation. Cycles of violence, dispossession, disinheritance are relived in three generations of lives, in the neighborhoods of Harlem, and in African descended homes from Barbados to North Carolina. We can learn, re-learn, un-learn deep lessons by reflecting on these forces. We must take the time to ruminate as Virginia come Aishah does, the source of her disrepair. And most important, lessons on how she came to embrace the bitter and the sweet in a loving reclamation of herself.

Chewed Water is an evocative Poetics of the Survival of the Human Spirit. The ultimate message: all is not lost. Where there is life, there is the will to live. This is the gift that grandmother passed to mother passed to daughter passed to son. Despite the unknowing, the unseen, the unheard. Despite the condition of a family, a multitude of families, scattered all across the landscape of the American dream - separated by economic constraints, lack of opportunity, the search for a better life - separated. Despite the demise of the Black family, the demise of the Black father who is not able or not present to care for his wife and children, the demise of the Black mother who knows that her child will have a better chance in an institution than in the bosom of her undoing. Despite these inimical forces, the message is one of survival. Where there is one individual, there is an army of Ancestors standing by - seen or unseen, spoken or unspoken -- they are there. They live. They live! We are never alone in this world and never forgotten especially by those who live through us. Thank you Aishah Rahman for writing your memoir, in so doing, you have unlocked a masterful, moving work of art.

Long before Midnight Louie adopted Temple Barr, or as much as this womanizing cat can settle down with anyone, he made his home at the Crystal Phoenix. Nicky Fontana and his wife Van von Rhine own the classic Vegas small hotel and casino and are making it a must go to place in Las Vegas. Inside the hotel is the Crystal Curtain Music Theatre where Gentleman Johnny Diamond sings the tunes that have made him the heartbreaker of millions of women.

Someone stalks Johnny, sending him letters threatening to kill the performer. Nicky beefs up security to the point that the crooner begins to go stir crazy and needs a taste of diversion. Professional gambler Jill O'Roarke is hired to teach Johnny how to play poker. They fall in love, but each of them conceals secrets that could tear them apart.

Superstar Midnight Louie's role in this delightful prequel from his seafood salad days is that of watcher. He studies the strange behavior of humans as if he is a social anthropologist struggling to understand an alien race. His witty, ironic observations entertain the audience as few charcaters can. Still, he also plays a pivotal role in the superbly designed romantic suspense. Louie proves why he is such a favorite of readers, as Carole Nelson Douglas leaves her audience purring for more.

Harriet Klausner

Spider Spins a Story connects Native American tribes together with 14 various tales, all involving a spider. Preceding each legend is a brief history and description of the tribe associated with each story. Muskogee, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Hopi, Cherokee, Navajo, and Osage tribes, as well as others, are mentioned in the book.

Full of colorful, gorgeous illustrations by 6 Native American artists, the book is also endorsed by tribal authorities.
It appeals to both children and adults with its wonderful storytelling of Native American customs and lore. It is also a great reference to the past history and beliefs of Native American life.

The brilliant colors used in the illustrations are particularly appealing and remind the reader of fine Native American art. The Gilcrease Museum, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was an excellent choice for the detailed research needed to write this spectacular book. Spider Spins a Story is a perfect gift for all ages.

I'm something of an expert on kimono, at least kimono of the everyday variety (as opposed to, say, the Nomura Collection variety). People always ask me what books I recommend. I own most of the kimono books that have been published in English (and a couple that aren't in English), but for an overview of all kimono, this is the book! If you can only get one book, get this one! It will tell you most of what you want to know about kimono, and probably answer questions you haven't even thought of. And it's profusely illustrated, another plus!

I don't know what I expected when I picked this book up off the self. I just knew that Jill Nelson is a good writer and I figured her first fiction book would be exciting to read.

Well... the story catches your attention immediately. Two sisters, Acey and Lydia, having drinks on a Sunday afternoon, discussing an all time must topic between women, "When and Why can't I find a Brother to satisfy me sexually". Acey and Lydia begin to laugh and joke as they come up with the ideas to sexual satisfactionn. However, the one idea that seems to appeal to both of them is a "sister Spa" specializing in pleasing a woman, physically, spiritually and sexually. Wow!! I only wish!!!

I must admit this is the first time that I have read the first two chapters and the last page of a book before I read the entire story. It was funny and laugh out loud crazy. I did get kind of tired of the advertisements (you'll under stand when you read the book) and the main characters were funny yet they were sort of flat and predicable. Yet, you are compelled to continue reading to see if these two women are successful at making their spa a success.

Peace and Blessings!!

Sexual Healing is a thrilling, extremely well written and hilarious first novel by Jill Nelson. Ms. Nelson's two main characters Acey and Lydia remind me of the funny and brutally honest Chester Himes' detectives gravedigger and coffin ed who would carry the reader from one comical caper after another. Following these two women in a similar comical romp,as they put together a deal that shakes the foundation of the world's oldest profession, while at the same time rattling the morals of establishment do gooders and conservative nay sayers and just about everyone that believes women should stay in there proper place when it comes to delivering Sexual Healing for women, at a reasonable price. A must read for every lover of good literature.

Wow! Jill Nelson leaps out of the non-fiction box and brings all of her writing power with her in the creation of her new novel "Sexual Healing." Her new book is inventive, outrageous, and challenges readers to get out of their boxes and think differently about the world, sex, color and how things are organized. This is a book filled with wonderful characters, great belly laughs throughout, and many new thoughts about things sexual. I am still laughing outloud about the scene in the bank when they go for the loan. Jill exposes race secrets, sexual secrets, and woman secrets with the same great style she used to expose journalism in "Volunteer Slavery." What a writer, what a book, what a great read. This is MUST reading for 2003 and beyond. -- Bill Perry

I LOVE JILL NELSON!!! I have been a loyal fan and devoted follower of her writings since her days as a writer for ESSENCE magazine and the Village Voice. I even remember reading some of her articles when she was a writer for the Washington Post. Her latest literary effort, "Straight, No Chaser," is written in the same, no-nonsense, subtle yet direct, with just a twinge of sarcasm writing style that made her first book, "Volunteer Slavery," a bestseller and became a Bible of sorts to just about every African-American journalist in America..myself included! In her new book, I was especially touched by Nelson's periodic reference to the Deletha Word tragedy that occurred on a dark bridge in Detroit 4 years ago this month. Nelson writes about the awful event and describes how a minor incident escalated into a terrible tragedy and the loss of a life. I also enjoyed the chapter about violence toward women and how her ex-husband once "slapped me upside my head with his open palm so hard I see red, white and blue stars and my ear rings for twenty-four hours." I also enjoyed how she accurately points out that many of the so-called "black leaders," of today are usually loud-mouthed ministers who ALWAYS want to put race at the forefront of everything and blame all of African-Americans problems on the white man. Finally, while her latest book is very good, "Volunteer Slavery ," is better and still remains one of my all-time favorite books. Few writers are able to reveal so much about others yet, still be able to put themselves and their own faults and foibles on public display as skillfully and as well as Nelson does in each book. Keep up the good work Jill!! You have a legion of fans out here who love you and your work!!!!

I enjoyed the book. I thought that Ms Nelson identified ideas, motivations and feelings that I have experienced, but never organized the concepts nearly as concisely or eloquently. I will recommend this book to my friends, if for no other reason than to vocalize issues that I percieve a lot of black women face but do not recognize as dangerous. The silence and as Jill Nelson put it "the invisibility" endangers our issues due to the much more vocal, male dominated views toward racism and gender issues which are commonly viewed as "white woman" issues. Bravo for bringing such radical ideas to light. My only problem with the book was that it was largely opinion, largely unsubstantiated with real research except the author's own life and conditions. In my opinion, there is no excuse for that because no doubt there are countless historical examples as well as current events that Ms Nelson could have provided to shore up her ideas. I found their absense to detract from the book's substance and smacks of laziness on the part of the author. Having said that, I found the book's ideas and Ms Nelson's experiences to be compelling and profound. I recommend the book.

Jill Nelson has a unique stlye that captivates readers. I have been inspired by her unique expression towards our community, so called leaders and BLACK WOMEN!! Although, it has been some time sense I have read her books; I am often reminded of her experiences towards self-empowerment.

Any woman that is seeking external and internal fulfillment with a sassy approach; This is the book for you!!

Jill Nelson you are a strong Black Woman!! Keep up the good work!!

It is ironic yet predictable that most of the people who don't "get" this book, tend to be individuals who are either not female, African American or both. Jill Nelson wrote an honest critique of the experience that many African American women go through when trying to attain the proverbial golden rings in corporate America. I am sorry some folks could not relate or understand Ms. Nelson's book because the points she brings up are true and still reflective of the socialogical culture most African Americans live in today--approximately twenty years later. The patriarchal blindness that many in this culture experience that prevents them from understanding or relating to another individual or cultures experiences is sad yet expected The best that Ms. Nelson and other writers like her can do is just tell the story and let those who get "it" get it.

Were some of her experiences hard to hear? Most definitely. Were the experiences unique to her? Absolutely not. Ms. Nelson says on in chapter 2, that she has been doing the standard Negro balancing act which is "blurring the edges of [her] being so that they [white people] don't feel intimidated." There are few African Americans, I would venture to guess, who haven't experienced this feeling at one time or another, yet it is virtually impossible to communicate this experience in a way that is understandable to someone who hasn't had to always be "aware" of how they are perceived and how those perceptions can affect other African Americans as well. Ms. Nelson does an excellent job explaining these details and if some people are still clueless, well, it's through no fault of her skill as a writer.

Keep on shedding a spotlight on these issues Ms. Nelson. There are a few out there who are truly looking for the light.

As an African-American journalist, I found Jill Nelson's book to be very real. Those who criticize the book because Nelson strikes them as naive are missing the point, on at least two levels.

In the first place, though she naturally gets into certain generalities, the book is primarily about HER experience. It's not intended to be a handbook for reporters who are climbing the corporate ladder. Given her past, and her particular personality, this is the story of how she happened to react to a specific set of circumstances. How one judges her actions should be different from the way someone judges the book itself.

And secondly, to the extent that the book does have a larger intent, it calls for the dismantling of an outrageously unfair system. Should we all just accept the status quo, and find clever ways to navigate our way past pettiness and stupidity, or strive for a sane alternative?

The fact is that Nelson has done just fine since she left the Post. Viewed in that context, the book is a testament to her courage, and her insistence on personal dignity.

Volunteer Slavery is STILL the book! Family, friends and coworkers are probably sick and tired of hearing me raving about the revealing, blistering and gossipy tell-all memoir! It's been nearly 10 years since the book was published, but I still regularly reread certain passages when I need inspiration, a good laugh, or a clearer understanding of the journalistic imbroglio with which I frequently have to deal with--after more than 15 years in the business!! Celebrate the anniversary of the BEST book EVER written about what it's REALLY like being a black journalist on the plantation...the newsroom at a daily newspaper!!

This is an important and serious social problem that is not helped by one-sided accounts such as this. Most of the chapters cite very few or no sources for their information, and most of those that are cited are from newspaper articles, not empirical data sources. That there is an agenda here is obvious from the carefully edited opening quote in chapter 1 by James Baldwin. Instead of the entire quote in which Baldwin describes a dilemma that is neither entirely the fault of one side or the other, it is edited to make it appear to fit the agenda.

If you already have your mind made up that you don't like police and the problem is as simple as "police are bad and everyone is a victim," then by all means you should buy this book. If you would rather read an objective view of a serious problem that needs to be addressed, however, there are plenty of others out there.

This book completely fails to seriously and correctly address the issue of police brutality. Instead of analyzing the situation from an objective standpoint, the editor has already clearly made her decision about the police. By taking the handful cases of blatant racial profiling, she then makes blanket assumptions and assertions about all police officers everywhere. The information in the lesser known cases are often incomplete and clearly slanted for dramatic effect. There is no clear aim on the editor's part to report factually and objectively on the situation. Lastly, the book does not readily address the problem of brutality...it just complains about how ALL cops are racist and all white people are in on it.

Outstanding! People who say this book is one sided must be living on the comfortable side; therefore, they have trouble seeing the truth. I have been out of the police business for several years, and I guess I had sort of fallen into a "read no evil, see no evil" trance. This book, along with Blue VS Black by John L. Burris, has given me a jolt back to reality. You can bet I will be doing more reading on this subject! There is police brutality in this country, Folks, and it is more frequent and involves more officers than we want to believe. Even the ones not swinging the sticks or spraying the pepper spray (among the many possibilities) are usually watching or walking away without taking any actions to prevent it. And yes, the brutality is being brought to bear upon Blacks and Hispanics far more frequently than to others. Just spend several years in a police locker room, as I did, and you will come to know the depth of the problem. Not only is racism carried out against people of color on the streets, it is carried out against police officers of color as well. I am the author of Blackjack and Jive-Five, a book about INTERNAL police racism. I lived the story. I know!