Tananarive Due Resident Scholar Profiles TOP SCHOLAR: Reginald D. Garrard SCHOLARS:
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Review Summaries
"Angela Toussaint begins life in the small town of Sacajawea, Washington, being raised by a loving grandmother and a somewhat unstable mother. Grandmother is liked by the community for her "healing" abilities. They live in what was formerly referred to as "The Goode House", named for its original owner.
Upon graduation from high school Angela leaves the comfort of her home, gaining a college degree, becoming a lawyer and, finally, a successful entertainment agent. Along the way she meets and marries Tariq Hill, a professional football player. From that union comes the birth of their son, Corey. Strains of their dual career break up the marriage and Angela yields custody of the child to her husband.
During one of their annual "family" returns to the home place, Corey commits suicide during the Fourth of July celebration. Because the gun used belonged to Tariq, Angela blames him for the shooting and any sign of reconciliation ends.
Two years later, when Angela returns to check on the house, mysterious deaths begin to happen to those closest to Angela. She discovers that her long-dead grandmother's healing powers were the results of the woman's voodoo practices and that an evil spirit was preying on anyone connected with Angela.
Angela realizes that her son had inherited some of the same voodoo traits and in order to save herself and those around her, she must utilize some of the same to combat the murderous evil."
Reginald D. Garrard, Resident Tananarive Due Scholar
"
Atria, Sep 2003, 25.00, 480 pp.
ISBN: 0743449002
Two years ago Angela Toussaint and husband Tariq Hill went to her family home in Sacajawea, Washington to save their marriage. Angela hoped that some of that mystical healing that her grandmother provided to the locals, who dubbed the place the GOOD HOUSE, would turn the trick, but tragedy occurred with her beloved Corey lies laying on the kitchen floor bleeding from a gunshot wound. Her sandwich relatives died in this house and her mother committed suicide here years ago.
Two years later, divorced and somewhat recovered but still shaky, Angela returns to the house that she inherited because someone wants to buy it. Angela soon realizes that her beloved Corey found her deceased granny's magic tools to include the misuse of her gift by enacting revenge on a racist incident. Others have also died. Tariq, who suffered from the guilt of knowing his son died using his gun, has turned into a malevolent being under the house's influence. Angela prepares for a final confrontation that has only her former boyfriend Myles Fisher standing by her side against Tariq and the GOOD HOUSE.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Tananarive Due Scholar
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Overall Review
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Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 10% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%
Tone of book
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- King Arthur
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Horror story?
Yes
Horror plotlets
- the haunted house chased me!
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- small businessman
- a lawyer creature
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 40's-50's
Has magical/special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character:
- clairvoyant
- can cast many different spells
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
- An "It".
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- unemployed
Has magical powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- can change shapes
- super strength
- can cast all sorts of spells
- Invisibility
- can read emotions
- is very quick
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
- an above average amount
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Setting
Earth setting:
- current (early 21st century)
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
- very explicit references to deaths and torture
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- a moderate amount of scientific explanation
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
How much dialogue?
- significantly more dialog than descript
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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