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God Don't Like Ugly
(God Don't Like Ugly #1)
by
New York Times bestselling author Mary Monroe sweeps readers back to the streets, porches, and parlors of civil rights-era Ohio to bring to life the first steps of an enduring friendship between two girls from opposite sides of the track. . .
Annette Goode is a shy, awkward, overweight child with a terrible secret. Frightened and ashamed, Annette withdraws into a world of b ...more
Annette Goode is a shy, awkward, overweight child with a terrible secret. Frightened and ashamed, Annette withdraws into a world of b ...more
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Paperback, 432 pages
Published
December 1st 2006
by Kensington
(first published September 1st 2000)
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I hated the fact that this book chose to focus on the moral superiority of the main character. Instead of exploring the ways sex abuse, mental illness, racism, and violence affects family and community, this book chose to absolve perpetrators of all responsibility. I think this book is a perfect example of the way toxic people are protected in Black communities and families. It misses a great opportunity to discuss healthy ways to move past pain. I chose not to read the sequel.
Alright so after hearing about this book from others and seeing it all over the train in the hands of young women who really looked enthralled (I find out the best books just by looking at what others read) I decided I had to read this book and well it only took three days but I didnt really enjoy it. I dont know if it was the subject matter (sexual abuse, racism, friendships, low self esteem and murder/revenge) or the fact that I just didnt like any of the characters--I stopped feeling sorry fo
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I passed by this book a countless amount of times based on the title alone I was un interested. Well to make a long story short I found Mary's other book "Upper Room" at Target and fell in love with her writing style so I went to Amazon and bought a bunch of her other books this one included, I just love Annette, PeeWee, Muh'dear and even Rhoda and Scary Mary.
Mary engages you into each character but she does not force you to pick a side. She shows bad and good sides of each character even evil o ...more
Mary engages you into each character but she does not force you to pick a side. She shows bad and good sides of each character even evil o ...more
The story was...good. I did however even as a teenager when I first read it become annoyed by how elementary some of the writing was. I kept wondering of the author, "Did she not have a thesarus on hand??" All the characters were all the time "gasping", or "sighing" or "hollering" or rolling their eyes or growling, moaning, groaning or whining in situations where those actions seemed uncalled for or out of place. I just wanted to scream "Use a different word!!" The dialogue wasn't all the time b
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"God Don't Like Ugly" by Mary Monroe was one of the best books I've ever read. I like how the author almost gives the reader what they want. I know when I was reading it I stayed interested. Annette is the main characters name, she gets molested by brother boatright for years-someone who everyone , including her family trusted. This is the beggining to all her problems. Annette couldn't stand him, and confided to her new friend named Rhoda. Rhoda was the complete antithesis of Anette. Annette w
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THIS BOOK WAS SO FRUSTRATING. But in a good way. Let me explain.
I felt really connected to Annette as a main character and I felt her frustration and pain. Some of her experiences are horrifying and it was so hard reading through these parts. I wanted to hop into the story, have a talk with Annette, and then HELP her. She was hurting so much and she became so lost. That's what made this a frustrating read for me because the entire time I just wanted Annette to reach out to someone and let them i ...more
I felt really connected to Annette as a main character and I felt her frustration and pain. Some of her experiences are horrifying and it was so hard reading through these parts. I wanted to hop into the story, have a talk with Annette, and then HELP her. She was hurting so much and she became so lost. That's what made this a frustrating read for me because the entire time I just wanted Annette to reach out to someone and let them i ...more
I was angry throughout the book. Not for what happened to the main character (even though it was a horrible experience) but actually mad at the character. I was mad at Annette because she never spoke out about what happened to her, only to Rhonda. She began to stand up for herself against Mr Boatwright but not enough for her to be more active in trying to stop what was happening. Ina way it was like she liked it and she began to like Mr. Boatwright. They were like companions. When it was to the
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This book was SLOOOOOW and unnecessarily long. The author repeated herself, made goofs in the storyline, created characters with no depth or real emotion, and she is in dire need of a thesaurus. I don't think I will ever be able to hear the work "incredulous" again without thinking of this book. In addition, as someone who listened to the audio book I was tremendously disappointed with the performer (I guess that's what they are called) who stumbled on words and made no attempt to hide her swall
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This was one of the many books that made me wish that I could give half stars. It was definitely better than a 3 to me, but not quite a 4. I found myself laughing out loud several times, and then sympathetic and sad at others. This book touches on every emotion and brings you in for a close look into the African American culture that you might not get unless you were part of it. I have already ordered the 2nd book in the series, and I was surprised to see that there are many more as well. I'll r
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This is the 1st book I read Mary Monroe. This book's story line was really good. Some parts of this story made me mad. My heart broke for Annette & Florence. At times in the story I was mad at Annette. At times in the story I didn't understand Annette's action. I was mad at Annette's Muh Dear. I was happy for Rhoda, Florence, & Pee Wee. I really enjoyed the setting of this story because it gave me insight of how in was in the 1960s. This story is different from the stories I usually read but I r
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I Loved this from Beginning to end. everything from The 60's setting,To The Bizarre characters..I almost Felt like i lived in This community of richland ohio amoung All These people.....EXCELLENT story telling here
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I am always astounded by the licence and shame that comes with abuse! I am on page 203 of this book, and I find that even though its fiction it just resonates too much with stuff I read about in the papers! Annette needs to have someone who really sees her and likes her to make her feel good about herself and to know that she does not have to ut up with this?! The characters are developed enough for me to know that I don't actually like any of them, but I can actually see why tey are the way the
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This book was AWESOME!!
It shows the true meaning of friendship
&& how only your true friends are being
honest when they say they will always be there to help you,protect you,&& love you unconditionaly.
It shows the true meaning of friendship
&& how only your true friends are being
honest when they say they will always be there to help you,protect you,&& love you unconditionaly.
Dec 19, 2016
Audra
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
library,
read-harder-2016
The Book Riot 2016 Read Harder Challenge – Read the first book in a series by a person of color
The beginning of this book was rough for me but I am so glad that I persevered. I really liked this book and will definitely read the next one in the series!
The beginning of this book was rough for me but I am so glad that I persevered. I really liked this book and will definitely read the next one in the series!
Dec 26, 2010
Joyce
added it
Like the story...but all I can say is Mr. Boatwright.....
2nd reading. This is one of those stories that kinda sticks with you, no matter how long ago you read it. I enjoyed it and learned so much than I did the first time around.
Excellent read! Kept my interest and the flow was great. Anxious to see where life takes Annette!
Read this book many years ago, and I absolutely loved it. Great story line, and character development. I Also enjoyed all the books included in the series.
Good read
Liked the book, waiting to read part 2. I think some parts was drawn out, but manageable, not over bearing.
Liked the book, waiting to read part 2. I think some parts was drawn out, but manageable, not over bearing.
First, this is a disturbing story. The rapes scenes were too graphic for my taste, and the length of the abuse was horrible. There were times I found myself getting frustrated with Annette for not telling anyone about the abuse, but then thought it was probably pretty realistic. This was bolstered by the apparent love and respect Boatright had among the community. Although, I admittedly had a lot of trouble understanding why that was the case, as he seems to be a vicious gossip, with very little
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(FROM JACKET)In her richly drawn new novel, Mary Monroe brings to life the bond between two girls from opposite sides of the track-and the shattering event that changes their lives forever.
At the heart of the story is Annette Goode, a shy, awkward, overweight child who keeps a terrible secret. Mr. Boatwright, the boarder her hardworking mother has taken in, abuses her daily. Frightened and ashamed, Annette withdraws into a world of books and food.
But the summer Annette turns thirteen, somethin ...more
At the heart of the story is Annette Goode, a shy, awkward, overweight child who keeps a terrible secret. Mr. Boatwright, the boarder her hardworking mother has taken in, abuses her daily. Frightened and ashamed, Annette withdraws into a world of books and food.
But the summer Annette turns thirteen, somethin ...more
Interesting beginnings for this fictional/biographical God series by Mary Monroe. This southern historical story line is sad but often true for those that have suffered the fate of childhood trauma, rape, abandonment; one ultimately roots in favor of the underdog- as humans with a conscious, we don't enjoy the sufferings of others unless they had it coming.
I enjoy casually inserting character names into conversations I have with people. My two favorite names were Scary Mary and Mr. Boatwright. S ...more
I enjoy casually inserting character names into conversations I have with people. My two favorite names were Scary Mary and Mr. Boatwright. S ...more
At the beginning this book was a real page-turner. Plus, the language is fairly easy and the chapters short. The story got interesting really fast and for some time I didn't want to put the book down.
However, the book later had some lengths - certain periods of time were just stretched out too much and it was not as interesting anymore.
The end provided closure and rounded off the book well. Interesting story, but it could have been about 80 pages shorter and would've still been nice.
I would rec ...more
However, the book later had some lengths - certain periods of time were just stretched out too much and it was not as interesting anymore.
The end provided closure and rounded off the book well. Interesting story, but it could have been about 80 pages shorter and would've still been nice.
I would rec ...more
Story of a young black girl, terribly overweight, in the south in the 50's, starting when she and her mother are deserted by her father, escaped the south and moved to Ohio -- where they just eke an existence and the mother takes in what the girl thinks is a boarder....who from age 7 on molests her over and over again while her mother is at work...she finally meets and befriends the young girl across the street, Rhoda, the daughter of the town's undertaken and of mixed-blood not only beautiful b
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Despite some of its difficult subject matter (child sex abuse, addiction, poverty) and at times it left me wincing for the main character Annette and just wishing that she could free herself by telling on her perpetrator, this was a strong novel, that was both entertaining (what will happen next) and also left me thinking about a number of different things--relationships between women, the ability to overcome, and also the meaning of evil--and how both good and evil can coexist within the same p
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I got this book for free and did not know anything about it until I started to read it. I had mixed feelings about this book....I felt bad for Annette, yet she annoyed me for not standing up for herself, for not telling her mother or an authority what was happening to her. I am not saying that she brought it on to herself. Clearly she was a victim from the beginning, and I can understand that she was too scared or too young at the beginning to do something about, but then she let things continue
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This book really captured my attention!It had me never wanting to stop reading it! The author really puts her feeling into her writing. It had facts from the racial days and when the whites didnt get along with the blacks. They also talk about how the girls would be abused by the whites and they were treated like animals. My favorite part was when she killed the man that abused her because he deserved it. I would love to read another one of mary monroes books because they are grweat and inspirin
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a nearly four stars. well read book about a young girl growing up poor in Ohio during the fifties and sixties into her adulthood in the 70s. It is seen through Annettes eyes. her mother has to take in a boarder to help ends meet and he sexually abuses from age 7 to 18. she meets a friend who moves in down the street named Rhoda. Annette keeps the abuse secret except to Rhoda. won't give away too much. but interesting read from a good writer Mary Monroe. Good reads recommended this book to me. Gl
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| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incredible Book! | 3 | 5 | Apr 11, 2020 05:29PM | |
| God Don't Like Ugly by "Mary Monroe" | 7 | 35 | Jan 08, 2015 07:24AM | |
| NEED AUTHORS FOR THE WRITERS LOUNGE BLOG TALK RADIO SHOW | 1 | 14 | Feb 24, 2014 01:50PM |
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I am the third child of Alabama sharecroppers and the first and only member of my family to finish high school. I never attended college or any writing classes. I taught myself how to write and started writing short stories around age four. I spent the first part of my life in Alabama and Ohio and moved to Richmond, California in 1973. I have lived in Oakland since 1984.
My first novel THE UPPER RO ...more
My first novel THE UPPER RO ...more
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God Don't Like Ugly
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