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The Shirt off His Back: A Novel
“An animating, heartwarming look into the life of single parenthood. ” —Black Issues Book Review
After a brief relationship in college, Catherine and Terry found themselves the parents of twin baby girls. A reluctant mother from the start, Catherine quickly abandoned the children for a successful career overseas. With the help of family and friends, Terry has raised the twins by himself, and now, eleven years later, he’s about to expand his family by marrying Jackie, herself a single parent. Suddenly realizing she needs a better family image to advance her career, Catherine shows up and demands custody of the twins. But Terry will not give them up without a fight.
Engagingly blending humor and drama, Parry “EbonySatin” Brown has written an entertaining novel of friendship, romance, and one man’s determination to keep his family together.
“Parry ‘EbonySatin’ Brown has done a superb job in her debut novel of portraying a strong man doing exactly what he needs to do.”— Booklist
After a brief relationship in college, Catherine and Terry found themselves the parents of twin baby girls. A reluctant mother from the start, Catherine quickly abandoned the children for a successful career overseas. With the help of family and friends, Terry has raised the twins by himself, and now, eleven years later, he’s about to expand his family by marrying Jackie, herself a single parent. Suddenly realizing she needs a better family image to advance her career, Catherine shows up and demands custody of the twins. But Terry will not give them up without a fight.
Engagingly blending humor and drama, Parry “EbonySatin” Brown has written an entertaining novel of friendship, romance, and one man’s determination to keep his family together.
“Parry ‘EbonySatin’ Brown has done a superb job in her debut novel of portraying a strong man doing exactly what he needs to do.”— Booklist
- GenresFiction
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 15, 2001
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 10, 2007
When I read the back cover of this book, I really didn't think it was going to be that good.After all, who wants to read about a hard working black man taking care of two eleven years old twins?I just assumed that this book would be predictable and boring.Well, I'll be the first to admit that not only was I wrong, but I was judging something before I even read it.
I think that the most interesting thing about this book is the whole story line.While usually you read about dead beat dads, here the author presents a story about a career driven woman who abandoned her daughters and then come back only when her career is on the line.I'm extremely glad that the author decided to write a book from this perspective because although this is something that does happened, neither the media or society talks that much about it.
The other reason that I like this book so much is because it shows all the relationships in the fathers life and how he copes with raising a family, his friends as well as the woman in his life.I feel that there are too many men doing this everyday who are not being recognized for being a good man and taking care of his responsibilities.
Overall, this book is great because of the way it's written as well as the way in which the characters are portrayed.I think that this is definitely a ground-breaking book and I look forward to reading her next novel.
I think that the most interesting thing about this book is the whole story line.While usually you read about dead beat dads, here the author presents a story about a career driven woman who abandoned her daughters and then come back only when her career is on the line.I'm extremely glad that the author decided to write a book from this perspective because although this is something that does happened, neither the media or society talks that much about it.
The other reason that I like this book so much is because it shows all the relationships in the fathers life and how he copes with raising a family, his friends as well as the woman in his life.I feel that there are too many men doing this everyday who are not being recognized for being a good man and taking care of his responsibilities.
Overall, this book is great because of the way it's written as well as the way in which the characters are portrayed.I think that this is definitely a ground-breaking book and I look forward to reading her next novel.
January 28, 2013
This was an excellent book. I couldn't put it down until is finished.
December 1, 2012
made me cry
April 1, 2007
A great story about a father who would do anything for his girls; (Tyler Perry's "Daddy's Little Girls is very similar to this book.) However, I feel that the author got over "sappy" and "cheesy" at times causing me to chuckle, or throw the book down in frustration.
March 28, 2016
wonderful, finally portraying black men as good, responsible people, without all that negativity and ghetto thug stuff
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews