The Mixed Blessing

by Helen Van Slyke

Published in 1980, this is a period piece about interracial romance.

Genres: Fiction, Romance

509 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book got me back into reading after having my children in the 70s. It was thought provoking and such a good read. I wonder if it would be as good reading it for the first time in 2011

[Chrisangel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book should have been titled "How To Say in 500 Pages What Could Be Said in 200" because that's how it seemed to me. It just dragged on and on and on! It's sad that the author took what could have been a very entertaining story and made it into a snore fest. First of all, the main character is the granddaughter of the main character in Ms. Van Slyke's previous novel "The Heart Listens", (a much better book, in my opinion). It's not a continuation, this is a separate novel, yet the author wastes time in reviewing events from THL that aren't necessary to either those who read it, or those who didn't, as those who did already know and those who didn't don't care. This is the major fault of this novel, too much explaining. The leading lady, Toni, is biracial, and that could have been stated in a few sentences, her family history in a page or two, not take up page after page after page on the subject. The same for racism, which everyone with half a brain knows was prevalent in the 1960's, where the novel takes place, no need to drone on about it.

(Sorry, I was droning on in too long a paragraph.) It's not surprising that Toni, as a young woman, would have issues with her racial identity, and with her light skin she could pass, as many people did. But you don't need page after page to detail this. Ms. Van Slyke does this continually, even with unnecessary topics, like why women wear perfume. Maybe because they like the scent? No, couldn't be! Must be a deeper psychological meaning, let's confer with Prof. Whatshername, who wrote several papers on the subject and see....get the idea?

To make matters worse, HVS comes up with the brilliant idea of having Toni fall for Alan, her first cousin! (Nothing like a bit of incest to liven things up.) True, they had never met before, due to family estrangement, but still, no excuse. And it was "love at first sight", no less, so let's add some cornball into the mix. To make matters worse, her mom approves of it! She's a bit of a rebel, a white woman who married a black man, but that man was NOT her cousin, it was only society's foolishness that caused a problem, not biology's warning. Her mom's argument was that royal families married their cousins! Good one, Mom! Why do you think so many royal monarchs were batshit crazy!!! Inbreeding is great for racehorses, but not for humans!

Well, moving on, Alan gets drunk and sleeps with a girl he cares nothing about, and reasons that if he can't have Toni, he'll most likely sleep with other young women. (Did he figure that out all by himself or did he have help?) Toni moves on, moves away, finds another guy, has sex with him (talk about bland! HVS wastes detail on unnecessary, redundant talk, like about how the 60's were so free spirited - YOU THINK??? - and then makes a lovemaking scene so clinical and boring, including the guy, Bryce's, wondering if she was a virgin, finding out she was, discussing it with her, ad nauseum).

Now for the interesting part....yes, there actually is one! Toni has not told Bryce she's half black! Now things will surely pick up! Except that, by this time, I was so BORED, I put the book down and didn't bother picking it up again. From what I can guess, Toni will probably think about telling him, plan to tell him, not tell him, feel guilty about not telling him, think about telling him again, AD NAUSEUM, for the next 100 pages or so. By then I'd be saying "Who the hell cares!!"

And if you think this review has droned on and on and on....now you get the idea! don't waste your time with this book, unless you're having trouble sleeping, then it'll do the trick.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite Van Slyke books yet. It is dated, of course, and I found the motivations for some of the character's actions a bit hard to believe, but the story itself was actually quite compelling.

[comeunfioretralepagine_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antoniette, chiamata Toni, è una bambina innocua, ma ancora per la tenera età che ha, non conosce la cruda realtà del mondo esterno con cui dovrà fare i conti. Gli occhi e le parole dell'innocenza rivelano la purezza che rende giustizia all'essere umano, amato e non disprezzato. Questo libro, è molto forte e fa riflettere a fondo su una tematica, che ancora oggi in America è presente, forse anche in modo più sentito...basta accendere la TV e ascoltare terribili notizie...il razzismo nei confronti delle persone di colore."𝐋𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚 𝐁𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚" descrive questo disprezzo e odio tramandato da generazione in generazione, mette in risalto la situazione dei matrimoni misti e di quanto l'ignoranza possa portare alla pazzia e a vivere nell'insicurezza ed inadeguatezza.

Toni è figlia di Charlene una donna bianca e di Jim un uomo nero, essi si sono amati sin dal primo giorno e non hanno dato peso alle chiacchiere e al disgusto della gente e dei famigliari stessi, contrariati da questa un'unione...ma quando c'è amore, supporto, conforto ed umiltà, ogni cattività viene spazzata via.

Sarà Toni, con la crescita, a diventare una donna invincibile, tosta e determinata. Affronterà molteplici situazioni e alcuni tormenti che la porteranno, in seguito, ad un discorso profondo con il padre, a decidere per sé stessa la strada e la vita da condurre; a scegliere di essere bianca o nera, o rimanere semplicemente una donna mulatta, mezzo sangue e andarne fiera!

È una storia profonda e va oltre i pregiudizi e le convenzioni sociali che la società impone, abbatte le barriere dell'ignoranza e della supremazia. La consiglierei a chiunque di leggere, per far aprire la mente e gli occhi...guardando il dentro di ogni sentimento e persona, senza rinnegare se stessi, la propria razza o cultura solo per paura del giudizio altrui.

[Jewelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great sequel to


"For the millions of readers who thrilled to THE HEART LISTENS here is its dazzling sequel. THE HEART LISTENS was the rich, sweeping saga of a gallant and glamorous woman, whose joys, sorrows and crises you shared… THE MIXED BLESSING is the story of beautiful young Toni Jenkins, the remarkable granddaughter of Elizabeth Quigley, the heroine of THE HEART LISTENS…a woman torn between her passion for the one man she desperately loved and loyalty to her family. Here is a novel that asks the most agonizing question that any woman will ever be called upon to answer."

[Minnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book about 1978 and it made a tremendous impression on me for many reasons. Firstly I read it in the hey day of apartheid so the concept that one may prefer to be "white" wasn't strange to me, at least that's how it was in my specific context. Then of course there is the irony that she ends up (as best I can remember!!!) in a paradise called Haiti, wow. I don't think I'd re-read it, but way back when it made me think about people and how they saw themselves, in an unusual way for a child of my time.

[Partridge Public]

van slyke,helen

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking especially for the era that it was written.

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very affected by this book when I first read it in the mid 70s. It dealt with the tribulations that biracial heritage caused its protagonist. I wonder how it would come across today.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sequel to the Heart Listens.

[Calvita Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

The continuing story of Elizabeth and her unique granddaughter's trials and successes in life.

[David Vanness]

My copy is the Large Print 716 page hardback.

[Queen I of Book Whore. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The is one of the first book that made me love reading,found it in my mom's collection..It's deeply thought provoking while dealing with racism within families.

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

PB-B @1975 3/1975. Sequel to The Heart Listens.

[Mickey Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in 1972 after reading the first book " The Heart Listens". Mixed Blessing was just as good! I still have both books and would love to reread them again. Excellent writing.

[Denise Vermillion]

It was ok. I liked the characters and the story. It was a little predictable.

[Janita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sequel to The Heart Listens, and it does not dissappoint!!! It is an excellent book and in true Helen style covers a multitude of problems, and controversies.....I really enjoyed this sequel, and usually sequels disappoint, but not this one........You definitely should read The Heart Listens first, to get the background of this family.............Excellent!