Magic In Moon Time

by Dara Harper

Off-Broadway playwright and award-winning filmmaker, Dara Harper invites readers to Angelville, Florida, a fictitious city inspired by her childhood summers spent in the south. "Magic In Moon Time" is a powerful story of passion, faith, redemption and forgiveness. This novel is about a woman's self-discovery and the heartache and joy that follow.The year is 1929. The locals all take notice when Justine Phillips arrives in town, a beautiful woman with a shameful secret. She finds love but her marriage is soured by infertility. After nine years of trying to conceive, she pays a visit to a witch doctor who her mother-in-law swears is the devil's disciple. Now, she must make a life changing decision.

183 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2010

About the author

Dara Harper is an Off-Broadway playwright, journalist, artist, novelist and award-winning filmmaker. She won the Best African American Filmmaker Award at the Brooklyn Film Festival for her short film, la Revolution. While residing in New York City, she became a member of the Harlem Writer’s Guild. Her feature film, Sweeter Without Sugar was an official selection at the African American Women In Cinema Film Festival. Her debut play, "Passing" had a sold-out run Off-Broadway and was nominated for an AUDELCO Award. She has authored two novels, "Grits & Grace" and "Magic In Moon Time."

Reviews

[A'Sian Starr Carter · Rating 1 out of 5]

If it were possible to give zero stars, this book deserves none. The story had potential to develop into a great novel but fell way short of the goal. There was way too much meaningless dialogue. I know it was set in the 1920’s but some of the dialogue was obvious typos and not just mere ignorant chatter. I read this book in a day hoping that it would end well but that wasn’t the case at all.

[Rosemary Cantrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Justine, a young black girl in the late 20's in the south. She lives in Texas, in a less than happy family, and ends up pregnant. After being sent to a home for unwed black mothers, she gives birth to a daughter who is still-born. Her mother does not want her back home, so she goes to live with an aunt in Florida.

She eventually marries, wanting another child that doesn't come, and finally turns to the "healer". When her baby is born, her husband knows he is not the father and throws her out. She ends up in Atlanta, back with the aunt who had taken her in before.

This was a pretty good story, all from the point of view of Justine.

[Lora Cumbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

MAGIC IN MOON TIME

This is a tale of a young black girl's journey from awkward, used pregnant teen to independent woman, with a little magic mixed in. The plot was engaging and I read the story in one sitting over the course if a few hours.

It did contain images of human oppression (rape) that were haunting. Like other readers have stated in their reviews, I felt it ended very abruptly with no real closure. Due to the haunting scenes and some sexuality I would not let me teens read this.

[Dorothy Parhams · Rating 5 out of 5]

WONDERFUL

This novel is pure poetic fluidity. Miss Harper's prose is like honey that flows across each syllable and each page. It has been awhile since I was able to snuggle up with a novel and enjoy the passionate fervor that I embraced for Justine, the lead character. Her cry was my cry, her triumph became my glory. Thank you Miss Harper for writing this book. You are indeed a new found inspiration.