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Once Upon A Project
Elyse, Susan, and Grace couldn't be happier when their friend Pat organizes a reunion for past residents of the Chicago housing project where they all grew up. It is, after all, celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of its opening, and like their long-ago home, the lifelong friends are also turning fifty. But none of them suspects the event will have life-altering changes. . . Elyse plans to attend with her husband, but as usual lately, he bows out, pleading fatigue. He's thirteen years her senior, and Elyse fears he's slowing down. But does that mean she has to? Susan also arrives alone. Her marriage is faltering since her diagnosis of breast cancer. But when she runs into a former flame, it feels like time has stood still. . . Twice divorced, Grace needs a distraction, and she finds it in Eric. Once a cute kid four years Grace's junior, Eric is now a handsome man whose age doesn't matter--but their differences in financial status might. . . And forced by her parents to give up the love of her life after a family tragedy, Pat never again found love. When an old friend from law school sees a media report about the reunion and contacts her, will she at last find the love that's eluded her? Now it's time for four friends to kick off a new chapter in each of their lives as past memories join with present temptations and future hopes. . .
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 5, 2018
It was ok on some parts but did not hold my interest.
November 1, 2014
It’s an invitation to a different kind of reunion. Its 50 years since the opening of the Chicago housing project, and one of the former residents wants to celebrate their past community. Many of the former residents come, spanning generations. This book focuses primarily on four women who grew up in the project as best friends. They halfheartedly kept in sporadic contact as busy adults, and now reunite as each is turning 50 years old. Each woman faces this milestone with different challenges on her horizon.
A clear message in this novel is that in life’s journey where you end up is not determined by where you begin. You plot your own path in life and make your way with dreams and persistence. Still, life has a way of throwing obstacles right across that path you’ve plotted. Once reunited, the four best friends feel their bond again as they help each other through decisions and circumstances they are facing.
Elyse and Franklin, her husband of 27 years, have just seen the last of their kids leave for college. They are looking forward to this chapter in their lives when they can have fun together and rekindle the couple they’ve been. Thirteen years her senior, Franklin is slowing down and has been disappointing Elyse by cancelling activities at the last minute due to fatigue. Is he losing interest and lazy, or is there something seriously wrong?
On the surface Susan appears to have an idyllic marriage and wealthy life. She has kept hidden from her friends her ordeal with breast cancer. She has survived, to find that her husband hasn’t been able to cope with what she’s gone through. Her marriage is faltering. At the reunion she sees a former flame and she starts to wonder if there’s more to life for her than this stale marriage.
Grace is a very successful and exciting executive. She travels all over the world and lives an eventful life in Chicago. Her focus is on herself, and she likes it that way. Twice divorced, is it her wild success that intimidates men and complicates her relationships? She does get lonely and doesn’t like the idea of growing old alone. Does she have to compromise her career, or her relationship aspirations?
After losing the love of her youth due to family conflicts, Pat never found another serious love in her life. She is surrounded by lots of friends and colleagues in her very full life, but she regrets what she lost. He is now married for the second time, and never to her. She is still pining for him and wishing for destiny to bring them somehow together. At the reunion, she’s also reacquainted with an old friend from her law school days. Can she let herself plot a new path? Can this opportune meeting turn into a head-over-heels romance so late in her life?
You’ll enjoy following the dramatic turns and choices these ladies make. You’ll be hoping for the best for each of them and wondering what will happen next. You’ll want to contact some of your old friends that you knew once upon a time, and you’ll remember to cherish the friends you’ve kept near.
Thereby hangs a tale . . . .
A clear message in this novel is that in life’s journey where you end up is not determined by where you begin. You plot your own path in life and make your way with dreams and persistence. Still, life has a way of throwing obstacles right across that path you’ve plotted. Once reunited, the four best friends feel their bond again as they help each other through decisions and circumstances they are facing.
Elyse and Franklin, her husband of 27 years, have just seen the last of their kids leave for college. They are looking forward to this chapter in their lives when they can have fun together and rekindle the couple they’ve been. Thirteen years her senior, Franklin is slowing down and has been disappointing Elyse by cancelling activities at the last minute due to fatigue. Is he losing interest and lazy, or is there something seriously wrong?
On the surface Susan appears to have an idyllic marriage and wealthy life. She has kept hidden from her friends her ordeal with breast cancer. She has survived, to find that her husband hasn’t been able to cope with what she’s gone through. Her marriage is faltering. At the reunion she sees a former flame and she starts to wonder if there’s more to life for her than this stale marriage.
Grace is a very successful and exciting executive. She travels all over the world and lives an eventful life in Chicago. Her focus is on herself, and she likes it that way. Twice divorced, is it her wild success that intimidates men and complicates her relationships? She does get lonely and doesn’t like the idea of growing old alone. Does she have to compromise her career, or her relationship aspirations?
After losing the love of her youth due to family conflicts, Pat never found another serious love in her life. She is surrounded by lots of friends and colleagues in her very full life, but she regrets what she lost. He is now married for the second time, and never to her. She is still pining for him and wishing for destiny to bring them somehow together. At the reunion, she’s also reacquainted with an old friend from her law school days. Can she let herself plot a new path? Can this opportune meeting turn into a head-over-heels romance so late in her life?
You’ll enjoy following the dramatic turns and choices these ladies make. You’ll be hoping for the best for each of them and wondering what will happen next. You’ll want to contact some of your old friends that you knew once upon a time, and you’ll remember to cherish the friends you’ve kept near.
Thereby hangs a tale . . . .
August 14, 2012
Life is a mix of death, fun, friends, family, step children, ex’s, growth and change. For these four women of the twenty-two club (all born on the 22nd of the month) and made it from the projects and now living free throughout Chicago and its suburbs but are they really free?
Each one approaching or already has hit their fiftieth birthday these friends who once lived in the projects have moved on and living life, dealing with the challenges of it or are they? Newly being fifty I picked this audio book for that reason, expecting it to be relatable, check out the host of characters and see how their circumstances relate in your life.
Grace and Jimmy Lucas were married because a baby was due; now divorced and successful Grace is looking for a man who is man enough to handle her position, power and money.
Elyse assumed that her husband’s no’s to going out with her meant he didn’t want to spend time with her until she was standing face to face with him and noticed the yellowish tint to his eyes. She asked him to promise that he would go to the doctor. Pancreatic cancer is the diagnosis. His first family tries desperately to discredit Elyse in front of Franklin so she and the children are not left in the will, but we all know what happens when you dig one grave.
Patricia ADA for Chicago prosecutor’s office has a rump in the hay with someone she never would’ve been with, but secretly wanted. Andy is someone she shared class with in law school and is now looking like Mr. Right, except he’s Mr. White. Demons from Patricia’ childhood allowed her to miss out on her first love, but this time love saved her and she finally learned how to stand up to her parents for it.
Since Susan’s lumpectomy her marriage of 13 years began to deteriorate, Bruce finds it very challenging to handle his wifes diagnosis. Bruce handles it by having an affiar, which in turn make's Susan question should she remain loyal when Charles Valentine enters and old feelings are rekindled. Believing her husband is having an affair Susan decides that having a fair weather husband is not something she deserves and moving on without him becomes easier…
The 22 club all appear to be living the life, I’m reminded of a poem by Lawrence Dunbar which starts like this “the mask they wear it grins and lies, it hides our cheeks and shades our eyes.” All of these friends are dealing with several types of issues but hiding behind them. Do they pull together and help each other or pull apart and crash.
Bettye Griffin told a fantastic story of adult friendships and the challenges of sharing the hard times with friends. (reviewed from audiobook)
5 book marks
Missy
Each one approaching or already has hit their fiftieth birthday these friends who once lived in the projects have moved on and living life, dealing with the challenges of it or are they? Newly being fifty I picked this audio book for that reason, expecting it to be relatable, check out the host of characters and see how their circumstances relate in your life.
Grace and Jimmy Lucas were married because a baby was due; now divorced and successful Grace is looking for a man who is man enough to handle her position, power and money.
Elyse assumed that her husband’s no’s to going out with her meant he didn’t want to spend time with her until she was standing face to face with him and noticed the yellowish tint to his eyes. She asked him to promise that he would go to the doctor. Pancreatic cancer is the diagnosis. His first family tries desperately to discredit Elyse in front of Franklin so she and the children are not left in the will, but we all know what happens when you dig one grave.
Patricia ADA for Chicago prosecutor’s office has a rump in the hay with someone she never would’ve been with, but secretly wanted. Andy is someone she shared class with in law school and is now looking like Mr. Right, except he’s Mr. White. Demons from Patricia’ childhood allowed her to miss out on her first love, but this time love saved her and she finally learned how to stand up to her parents for it.
Since Susan’s lumpectomy her marriage of 13 years began to deteriorate, Bruce finds it very challenging to handle his wifes diagnosis. Bruce handles it by having an affiar, which in turn make's Susan question should she remain loyal when Charles Valentine enters and old feelings are rekindled. Believing her husband is having an affair Susan decides that having a fair weather husband is not something she deserves and moving on without him becomes easier…
The 22 club all appear to be living the life, I’m reminded of a poem by Lawrence Dunbar which starts like this “the mask they wear it grins and lies, it hides our cheeks and shades our eyes.” All of these friends are dealing with several types of issues but hiding behind them. Do they pull together and help each other or pull apart and crash.
Bettye Griffin told a fantastic story of adult friendships and the challenges of sharing the hard times with friends. (reviewed from audiobook)
5 book marks
Missy
June 7, 2008
I spent thirteen years of my early life in the projects, and it was interesting to say the least. I have a friend that used to live in the projects where I live get in touch with me about a year or so ago, and we keep in touch now. Anyhow, this book is about a set of friends who once lived in a Chicago housing project who reunited for a Reunion Luncheon. Each of the women did very well with themselves, and it talked about their lives and the choices made. One was an attorney and carried a torch for a first love. Another got pregnant and married twice, but did very well with her life as a PR executive. Another became a an accountant, but became a stay at home mother because her husband was a millionaire with his own company. and yet another became a physical therapist, married an older man who got sick. I really enjoyed reading it because I could identify but at the same time, I wondered how they did the things that they did do. Good and interesting read.
April 19, 2012
Four friends are reunited after attending a 50 year anniversary party for the project they lived in while growing up in Chicago, IL. They decided to reignite their friendship and it was about their loves and lives while turning 50. I enjoyed the book more than I thought I would, a great read about friendship and the importance of it.
August 5, 2008
All part of my "read other cultures chick-lit" summer program
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I liked this one quite a bit .... interesting take on life after growing up in the projects ...and on inter-racial relationships.
I'll probably pick up another of this author's books next time I'm at the library.
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I liked this one quite a bit .... interesting take on life after growing up in the projects ...and on inter-racial relationships.
I'll probably pick up another of this author's books next time I'm at the library.
August 4, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It was such a quick read for me. At first, I thought that I would have a hard time keeping up with the different characters, but the author did a great job with keeping the story lines different. I wouldn't think twice about picking up another book by this author.
May 21, 2013
Not a bad read. Main characters were very immature and just plain dumb.
August 12, 2016
I loved this book, probably because it awakened my desire to read again. It has a really good story line and the character development is good also...
March 28, 2016
very good book
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews