Searching for Tina Turner

by Jacqueline E. Luckett

On the surface, Lena Spencer appears to have it all. She and her wealthy husband Randall have two wonderful children, and they live a life of luxury. In reality, however, Lena finds that happiness is elusive. Randall is emotionally distant, her son has developed a drug habit, and her daughter is disgusted by her mother's "overbearing behavior." When Randall decides that he's had enough of marriage counseling, he offers his wife an "Be grateful for all I've done for you or leave." Lena, realizing that money can't solve her problems and that her husband is no longer the man she married, decides to choose the latter. Drawing strength from Tina Turner's life story, SEARCHING FOR TINA TURNER is Lena's struggle to find herself after 25 years of being a wife and mother.

Genres: Fiction, Ebooks, Contemporary, African American

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Jacqueline Luckett is a former sales representative for Xerox and, after leaving the corporate world, dared herself to take a creative writing class. She began writing short stories and poetry and never looked back. The San Francisco Bay Area native loves living in Oakland, but travels frequently to nurture her passion for photography and learning to cook exotic foods. She is currently hard at work on her next novel.

Reviews

[The Urban Book Source · Rating 3 out of 5]

"There was a time when I would have followed you to the ends of the earth." —Tina Turner

Lena Spencer wakes up on the other side of fifty and realizes that she's unhappy with her life. The wife of the next CEO of a prominent corporation and the mother of two, this is not the life she signed up for. Her oldest returned home from college with a slight drug addiction, while her disgruntled high school daughter has changed her name.

When Lena's husband Randall began working his way up the corporate ladder, Lena agreed to leave her job to become a stay at home mother and the consummate hostess. Her hiatus from her career was only intended to be temporary, but her family has convinced her that her place is in the home. Though she's tried to approach the subject of returning to work, or at least renewing her passion for photography, Randall continues to brush her off.

Lena finally reaches her breaking point when she begins to suspect her husband is having an affair with his co-worker. Using Tina Turner's autobiography, I, Tina, as inspiration, Lena sets off on a journey to rediscover herself and her passion for living. In an adventure that takes her from Oakland, California to the south of France, she discovers that Tina doesn't have a thing on her.

There were so many times in this book when I found myself shaking my head in frustration with the way Lena allowed herself to be treated by her husband and her kids. I felt like she gave away her power to all of them and received nothing in return. At one point her son's therapist tells her that her son questions her value. She has made life so easy for all of them that they come to expect her to continue doing whatever it is that she does for them without ever taking into account that she may want something different from herself. When she finally expresses that she does, they all resent her for it and place blame for everything that has gone wrong on her shoulders. I know that this is just a book, but I also know that there are a lot of women in real life that are living this same existence. So today's question is, what is your value? Whether it's your value to your family, your job, yourself, where does your value lie?

What did you like best about the book?
There are a lot of books written for the under 30 crowd and the light fluff crowd, this isn't one of them. That's not to say that the book is super serious, it's just grown folks lit. The author is unafraid to approach issues that any woman of a certain age might find herself in. I appreciate the straightforward way she chooses to deal with them.

What did you dislike about the book?
The ending was pretty abrupt and I felt just a little let down. It doesn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the book, but I would have been happier with a different ending.

How could the author improve this book?
I wouldn't necessarily call it an improvement, but I could easily see the potential for future books about a few of the characters in this book. I'd love to read more about Lena's sister and best friend.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a not very seasoned traveler, held back only by my pocketbook, I love to read fiction and non-fiction featuring African-Americans in world settings. This book is going on my favorites list.

Lena Spencer is a woman in her fifties living in a classic situation: a beautiful home, a late model foreign sports car, a career-driven husband and teenage children who no longer really need her. For years she has put off her dream of a career in photography at the behest of her husband, Randall, who is just one deal away from being the CEO at his firm. Throughout their marriage, they have revisited her dream and while he always promises to support her, ultimately he puts her off until he can reach another milestone in his career. He believes that providing her with a luxury lifestyle, that should be enough for her.

Finally fed up with the situation but not sure how to deal with it, Lena stumbles upon Tina Turner's autobiography, I, Tina in a used bookstore. She then begins a quest to fulfill her life and her life's dream using Tina's example.

I don't want to give anything away but Lena's journey takes her to France (Tina lives there) and the scenes involving her sightseeing with friends and enjoying the art, culture and architecture made me want to pack my bags!

As I was telling Carleen Brice (if you haven't read her books, then shame on you) on Twitter the other day, it was nice to read about African-American women of a "certain age"! LOL! Fans of Terry McMillan will love this debut

[Mekiva · Rating 3 out of 5]

How I found this book--After the death of the iconic rock star, I searched for book titles containing Tina Turner and this title came up in the results. Clever marketing in title selection by either the author and/or her publisher.

What I liked about this book--it deals with relevant themes that aren't covered much in our culture. Its primary focus centers on "Whose Turn Is It?" (title of a Love Letters podcast episode, unrelated to the book, but I highly recommend) and what compromise, support, and partnership look like in a marriage, how these critical attributes are defined and negotiated over the course of a marriage, as individual needs change. It loosely touches on that middle age life stage, with the onset of empty nest parenting and caring for aging parents. Given that the people in this book are highly successful African-Americans appealed to me because it's rare to find that in books even by black authors. I also liked that part of the book takes place in France, and it's evident that the author is familiar with that setting (language, geography) in real context.

What I didn't like--none of the characters, but that doesn't impact my rating. Even the minor characters were deplorable people. It's more that no one really changed. Since we meet the protagonist in the midst of her wanting a change, we don't see her evolve or develop. We also don't know what brought about this desire for something different, so it's hard to sympathize with her. There are other attributes about her that aren’t revealed but could help make her a bit more believable, sympathetic, or even a heroine. Some background to provide context on her parenting style, more flushed out relationships with women (her mother, sister, daughter, friends) versus the focus on her male relationships. She also does very little to demonstrate a change, even incremental, which again makes her seem more like an enabler and less like someone striving to be Tina Turner, in bravery and courage. There were times that the French parts seem braggart on the author's part (look at me--I know France!) and not naturally woven into the story. Same for the times that jump to future tense, a bit awkwardly placed. Other than that, the writing style is descriptive enough and the plot engaging enough to me turning the page.

The ending felt rush and incomplete compared the how much of the book was devoted to the development the dissolution of the family and the rediscovery of self. Some plot choices were confusing (why did Randall want a reconciliation at the end? Hudson coincidentally being in Paris and proposing marriage, the purpose of certain minor characters). Despite all of that, I would recommend it.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readers familiar with the writing of Connie Briscoe, Terry McMillan, and Be Be Campbell Moore will welcome Jacqueline Luckett to the world of African-American literature during a time when the most prolific and popular African-American secular authors write about drug dealers, drug addicts, criminals, con artists, and gold diggers. Like her predecessors, Ms.Luckett writes for and about that forgotten segment of the African-American community, the college educated, middle class professional.

Lena Spencer has put off her professional dreams for some thirty odd years to provide emotional and social support for her husband Randall as he climbed the ladder at TIDA, to raise the children and run the household. Now that the children are leaving home for college, Lena wants Randall to reciprocate with emotional support as she returns to school to update her photography skills in preparation to starting her own photography studio. After all, they had an agreement that Lena would hold off on starting her career while Randall built his. Lena is tired of waiting and is ready to begin filling her dream, but Randall is still actively building his career and wants Lena to go along with the roles that they have been playing for the past thirty years, with Lena serving as housewife and social hostess. Even though Randall has provided a life of luxury and security for Lena and the children, Lena is prepared to give it all up and start her life over on her terms much like her shero Tina Turner.

Housewives who interrupted or postponed their careers to raise families will relate to Lena’s universal journey and may be encouraged to revive their deferred careers or hobbies. Women experiencing the “empty-nest syndrome” and those experiencing menopause will also relate to Lena as they too begin time and dreams slipping away.

Lena is the main character and the only fully developed character. We see all of the other characters through her eyes. We are privy only to Lena’s inner thoughts. We learn enough about her husband and children to know that she feels unappreciated as well as unfulfilled creatively. While I would have liked to have shared some of Randall’s inner thoughts, not having access to his thoughts did not detract from my enjoyment of Lena’s passage from self-denial to self-actualization, from allowing circumstances decide her fate to determining her fate for herself.

Although the characters are African-American, Lena’s plight is universal and the story can be enjoyed by everyone. The average middle class American will recognize families like the Spencers among their neighbors.


SEARCHING FOR TINA TURNER is an excellent debut effort. There is a neglected audience waiting for reading material that portrays African-Americans in a positive and relevant manner, Ms.Luckett has addressed that audience in a meaningful way.

[Kathy (Bermudaonion) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the highest ranking black employee of TIDA, it seemed that Randall had it all. Even though he enjoyed the power and the money the position brought, for him it wasn’t enough, and he didn’t intend to stop until he became the CEO. The fact that his wife, Lena, had made sacrifices and given up her dreams for years, didn’t seem to matter to him.

While Randall is on a long business trip, Lena falls into a funk. No one can understand why she’s not happy since she has everything money can buy. But Lena wants more – she wants to do something for herself for a change. When she buys a copy of Tina Turner’s autobiography, she finds strength in the singer’s life, and decides that she has to meet her.

Searching for Tina Turner by Jacqueline E. Luckett was a more serious book than I presumed from the title. As someone who has put her husband’s career and her child’s well being first, I could really relate to Lena. I’m lucky though, because my husband is supportive and considerate of me and my wishes, unlike Randall.

I’m here to tell you, I had quite a conversation with Randall while I read this book. I told him a thing or two and called him a thing or two. At one point, Carl looked at me, and said, “it’s only a book.” I’ve met several men like Randall through the years, and I didn’t like a single one of them.

I really enjoyed Searching for Tina Turner and I loved that Lena found her inner strength and stayed true to herself. She learned to let go and not try to do everything for everyone and actually let someone do something for her from time to time. I do think this book will probably appeal more to middle aged women.

[JoAnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very entertaining and true to life. I conjured up good memories about my travels in France. I'll leave it at that so as not to reveal any spoilers. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

[Tamara Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that Lena gave herself permission to live...sad that her mother died before her journey was over.

[Paschalis]

elibrary

[Kimberly Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will read this book in honor of Tina Turner

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have sat and thought about how to describe Searching for Tina Turner. The subject matter isn’t the cheeriest - - the breakdown and dissolution of a marriage against the backdrop of legendary singer Tina Turner’s struggles. And yet, Searching for Tina Turner left me pleased and satisfied.

What stands out most to me about this first time effort from author Jacqueline E. Luckett is that this book is a veritable smorgasboard of affection for France. Reading the portions taking place in France, I yearned myself to see Paris and the French countryside, as well as the wonderful little cafes and restaurants with their delicious chocolates and pastries. Lena came alive during this portion of the book and as a reader, I felt I did too.

I liked Lena as the central character. Reading a book dealing with such a heavy, emotional subject can be draining and it’s easy to find fault with your hero or heroine - - either they don’t grieve enough to be realistic or they grieve so much, while being realistic, that the book is simply too depressing to read. I found neither problem with Searching for Tina Turner. Lena grieved and she hurt, demonstrating she was nothing if not human, but she managed to go on. Not without difficulty but her struggle was rewarding. Lena was also strong - - strong emotionally and strong as a character.

Her husband Randall made me crazy - - but I could also see how and why Lena fell in love with him, an added bonus to comprehending Lena and developing a connection with her.

I also enjoyed Lena’s friend Cheryl, a woman who is unapologetically happy to be and remain single and thrills at the dating scene. She provided a nice contrast between herself and Lena.

On a completely shallow note, I really love the cover. It makes the book look fun and jaunty and although the story isn’t exactly humorous or lighthearted, it was a rewarding experience to read it and share in Lena’s growth and progression.

Kudos to Ms. Luckett for a gratifying and worthwhile first book. I truly found pleasure in Lena’s journey and Ms. Luckett’s writing was descriptive, vivid and erudite. I look forward to her next literary effort.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I think one of my favorite things was when lyrics to Tina Turner songs were mentioned, I found myself singing along.

I don't read much women's fiction (reviewing has me branching out), so this book feels fresh and new to me. At first I wasn't sure what I thought of the book. Was Lena giving up on her marriage to easy? I mean I have some similar thoughts - I do lose myself at times and Lena's mom's advice does ring true to someone in a good relationship with some bumps, but not to someone in Lena's case. So I found myself sinking into the story and liking Lena more and more.

I found the premise and Lena's search interesting. It kept me turning the pages and Lena's character kept me engaged. I liked the look at the different people in her life. Lulu, her mother and her old school ways, Bobbie, her sister and her new ways and her friends. All made interesting contributions to the story.

An enjoyable women's fiction story of how taking that chance just might be the answer you are looking for. I didn't feel like the book condoned divorce or anything like that. I think it was just a way of showing how women can get stuck in a rut whether it's a bad marriage, work or just life and sometimes we need to take a chance to get out of that rut and really make our life what it should be.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Searching for Tina Turner is the story of Lena Spencer, a woman who is going through a divorce after 23 years of marriage. The first third to half of the book actually chronicles the very end of their marriage, while the remainder of the book is about Lena's life after the divorce and a trip to France to "search for Tina Turner" (who apparently currently lives near Nice, France). The book was a fairly quick read and at the end I did find myself hoping that Lena would make the "right" decisions in her life (and I think she did). However, for most of the book (pretty much until the end) I didn't feel particularly engaged with the protagonist, and at times she was even unlikable. Lena's fascination with Tina Turner wasn't fully developed; there were occasional Tina Turner lyrics thrown in that related to what Lena was going through, but I felt like the story could have been adequately developed without the Tina Turner bit (and a different title). There were also several parts in the writing that I found cheesy or cliched (for example, "By the looks of the nineteenth-century dates, the arch has a history all its own. Like Lena.") Overall, a quick and light read.

(I won a free copy of this book through a GoodReads First Reads giveaway.)

[Gaby]

Even though it moves quickly, Searching for Tina Turner isn't a book that you read in one sitting. It's worth following the characters and savoring the changes and realizations that Lena goes through.

The book opens with Lena watching Tina Turner dancing on TV. She's brought back to the memory of her courtship with Randall and since she misses him badly, she calls to tell him how she's thinking of him. He's in Hong Kong and it's 4 am and he's in the middle of a deal. At that moment, I'm fully behind Randall when he rebukes her. But Jacqueline Luckett is great at creating full bodied and authentic characters, so that we understand their motivations, strengths and flaws.

As Searching For Tina Turner progresses and Luckett reveals more about Lena, her life of luxury, and the accommodations that she's made for her husband, her children, and her friends, the story blossoms, Lena comes very much alive and I couldn't help cheer her on. Searching for Tina Turner is a story of a woman who was willing to give up everything that she had and to start over - it's a story of facing fears, gaining courage and being true to yourself.

ISBN-10: 0446542962 - Hardcover $24.99
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (January 27, 2010), 320 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Searching for Tina Turner tells the story of a woman dealing with the all too common problem of having lost herself in her marriage and children. Before she married Randall, Lena had big dreams of being a professional photographer. As a wife and mother she finds her dreams always being sacrificed for the good of the family of her husband's ambitious career. When she fights for her dreams her marriage begins to fall apart and her children become resentful. Struggling to find a balance Lena turns to Tina Turner for advice.

The cute and breezy dust jacket could lead you to believe that this is a light, fun read with little substance, but you would be wrong! Jacqueline Luckett writes of a woman trying to discover herself with passion and wisdom and a rare understanding for the difficulties and heartbreak involved. Lena comes across as a fully realized character with depth and humor, falling into the same pitfalls we all do. I loved that Luckett refused to give her the easy way out of her troubles. I really enjoyed this book and will look forward to Jacqueline Luckett's next novel.

[OOSA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stepping from Under the Shadows

Lately Lena is starting to identify with her mother, Lula. She’s a stay-at-home mom responsible for providing everything to everyone with little to no room for self. In her mother’s time that may have been acceptable, but nowadays, Lena is looking for a lot more.

When Randall, her husband, humiliates her in front of dinner guests and the children disrespect her, Lena decides to pack her bags and follow her dreams. Just as her idol, Tina Turner, she wants to turn her life around. Like Tina did, she wants to make her dreams come true. With the help of her sister, Bobbie, and her best friend, Cheryl, Lena is looking forward to change. Will Randall and the children prevent Lena from finally pursuing her dreams?

“Searching for Tina Turner” was a good read. I'm the same age as Lena, and I can definitely relate to and identify with her. It seems after living and doing so much for others, you get an itch to do something meaningful and exclusively for yourself.

Reviewed by: Carmen

[Jennie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my most recent free Goodreads win and I love free books! Yet, as much as I love free books, this was only a so-so read for me. The usual plot of a woman who seems to have it all: money, status, a gorgeous husband and two gorgeous children. Just when she thinks life couldn't be better, she realizes that she has lost herself and so starts a life-searching mission. She sheds her husband and posh lifestyle in the style of Tina Turner and so begins a European trip to meet her. Along the way she reacquaints with an old-lover and rediscovers a passion that brings back her spark. While the plot was easy enough to figure out the obsession with Tina Turner was a new addition. It added a level of interest and humor to the journey. I liked this book but this is definitely a library book and not a purchase book for me.

[Stephanie Lindsay Hagen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacqueline E. Luckett's first novel, "Searching For Tina Turner", is a beautiful surprise. Aside from the wealth, this is a story that every family can identify with. We all have problems and triumphs.

I was not impressed at first. The characters made me frustrated and impatient. I wanted to grab Lena by the shoulders and shake her depression away. I wanted to slap Randall's tunnel-vision off his face. And those kids...their insolence, ignorance and disrespect had me grinding my teeth and clenching my fists. For a novel to illicit a response like that from me says a lot. But isn't that what a good read is supposed to do? To make us feel?

"Searching For Tina Turner" is much more than a good read. It will make you sort through your life and hopefully your ending will be as perfect as Lena's.

[Julee3702004 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read about this book in the San Francisco Review of Books weekly flier. The book is about a woman at mid-life, who is searching for the meaning of her own life as her children go to college and her husband rises up the corporate ladder. The kids don't understand her. Her husband feels that she should just be grateful that she has all of things that make people happy (nice house, car, doesn't need to work, etc.) She really wants to study photography and build a new meaning for her life. It takes place in Oakland so that was interesting. The main character goes to Nice, France to find Tina Turner and herself. It was a fun read. I lost patience with the main character regarding her angst about the decisions she made but I believe the author was conveying that decisions are tough and not without consequences (good and bad).

[Mary BookHounds · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVED IT


At first I thought this was just another chick lit book, but it gives a whole new spin on the genre. Lena's marriage is in trouble and like so many other women around the age of fifty, she discovers that she has given up more than she bargained for when she supports her husband's rise in the corporate world. She has given up her own identity and becomes the perfect wife. The theme of Tina Turner's life story plays in the background and gives Lena hope that she too can find her own way.




I really enjoyed this one and look forward to more from this author. This story is one that has played out recently for a lot of my friends. It is nice to see one where the woman wins and becomes a stronger person.

[Ice · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the surface, Lena Spencer appears to have it all. She and her wealthy husband Randall have two wonderful children, and they live a life of luxury.

In reality, however, Lena finds that happiness is elusive. Randall is emotionally distant, her son has developed a drug habit, and her daughter is disgusted by her mother's "overbearing behavior."

When Randall decides that he's had enough of marriage counseling, he offers his wife an ultimatum: "Be grateful for all I've done for you or leave." Lena, realizing that money can't solve her problems and that her husband is no longer the man she married, decides to choose the latter.

Drawing strength from Tina Turner's life story, SEARCHING FOR TINA TURNER is Lena's struggle to find herself after 25 years of being a wife and mother.

[Haley Mathiot · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found Searching for Tina Turner to be very difficult to read. I was frustrated by the writing. It was unclear and confusing. I could not tell who was saying what, or where the characters were. The writing switched from past tense to present tense and confused me. I didn’t get very far before I had to put it down.

I didn’t particularly like Tina, nor her husband Randall, I don’t agree with divorce, I was frustrated by how Lena was searching for her answers, and I could not get past all of that enough to enjoy this story. Call me biased, but this one just wasn’t for me. As much as I wanted to, I really could not enjoy finish this book.

[Christy Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not an original premise or execution to say the least; a women finds herself after realizing money isn't everything. I had a low expectation of it going into reading it, so I think that's why I found it a pretty good read. If I was even hoping for something progressive or thought provoking, I wouldn't have been able to stand it.

The lead is empathetic and makes her situation bearable to read about. There is an aspect of generational/gender relations that the writer went into (although I don't know if it was intentional) that I found interesting and dynamic for a chick-lit book.

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won this on Goodreads giveaway! Lena Spencer lived in the world of the priviledged. She seemed to have it all- wealthy husband, two children, fancy house, car, clothes, jewelry but she no longer felt loved by her husband. With her marriae falling apart, she draws strength from Tina Turner's book "I, Tina". Lena goes on a journey to France to actually see Tina in concert and meet her. Lena wanted to tell Tina how she had been an inspiration. I enjoyed reading and ended with a smile on my face!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from a Goodreads First Reads contest and enjoyed it more than I had anticipated I would.

Lena discovers herself throughout the course of the story and realizes that what she has had most of her adult life, is not what she really wants. She draws inspiration from her idol, Tina Turner, and sets out to find Tina, but ends up finding herself along the way.

I love strong, female characters, and though Lena was not always a strong, independent woman, she learns that she has the potential to be whatever she wants, whomever she wants.

[Suelibevg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lena Spencer should have the perfect life. A successful and rich husband, two children a mother can be proud of is her life. But she's not happy. In counseling, Richard doesn't understand and Lena can't explain why she is so frustrated. No one expected her to leave, but she had to or suffocate. An unexpected conclusion will be satisfying. Not all marriages are meant to be saved. Lena uses the example of her idol Tina Turner to make a plan for her life. This was won through a Good Reads giveaway and was one I'd not ordinarily pick up, but it was most enjoyable!

[Sylvie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as part of the Goodread selections for review and I am glad that I did.

I probably would not have picked it up the shelf myself and I was pleasantly surprised. It was light yet it provided insights that are applicable to everyone.

Good work Jacqueline with a great cast of characters!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Searching for Tina Turner turned out to be a very insightful and deep book about a woman coming into her own after years of being know only as a wife and mother. I was pleasantly surprised by this novel, as I expected it to be a fluffy chick-flick novel, and it was not. I highly recommend this book.

[Shelbytrace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Won this book in a good reads contest, decided to hold off on reading the book and take with me on my upcoming cruise.

i found the book to be well written, there were a few parts where I skipped through the book because I felt the author would take too long in telling the story and it didn't hold my interest.

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this novel of a woman who is searching for so much more than just the singer she admires. She is a well-developed character and has a supporting cast that is interesting, but I did have trouble with the soon to be ex-husband. There was no redeeming quality to him at all, and that made him a little more one-dimensional.

[Kathy Hiester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Searching for Tina Turner by Jacqueline Luckett turned out to be a very intuitive and profound book about a woman coming into her own after a divorce and years of being known only as a wife and mother. I was amusingly surprised by this novel, as I expected it to be a quirky chick-flick novel, and it was not.
5 Stars