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Book Review By Sandra Calhoune
Changing Faces by Kimberla Lawson Roby

Whitney, Charisse and Taylor are three African American woman who have been close friends for years. Whitney is a plus-sized woman who is desperately unhappy about the fact that she is 100 pounds overweight and unable to hold a romantic relationship down. To make matters worse, she has a terrible relationship with her mother and sister, both of whom subject Whitney to verbal abuse regarding her weight. Although Whitney is a professional woman with her own home, she is obsessed with her self-image and unhappy with her own reflection in the mirror. When Whitney goes on a diet and exercise regimen in preparation for her high school reunion, she meets Rico, a sexy and handsome gym member. Whitney is shocked to discover that Rico is romantically interested in her, and despite her reservations she begins a sizzling relationship with him. Taylor is a type A attorney who is determined to make partner and shatter the glass ceiling at her law firm. When Taylor begins to suffer from heavy menstrual flow and cramps that cause her dizziness and pain she consults with a doctor who determines that she has a uterine tumor. At the same time Taylor is convinced that her long time boyfriend Cameron is being unfaithful to her. Charisse is a devoutly religious woman who has been married to her husband Marvin for almost 20 years. Charisse has always bossed Marvin around in the marriage and subjected him to both verbal and physical abuse. Suddenly, Marvin announces that he will no longer tolerate his wife's behavior which sends Charisse into a tailspin. Charisse has been abused as a child and has never dealt with her own issues of pain and abuse. Charisse imagines that Marvin is cheating on her and she devises numerous murderous scenarios in which she can get rid of her husband once and for all. As Charisse spirals out of control and plans a violent end for Marvin, her friends Whitney and Taylor may be the only ones who can save her from self destruction.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 2000+ (Present Day)
Romance/Romance Problems Yes
Kind of romance:
Ethnic/Regional/Religion
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes
GROUP of women story? Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Nationality

Main Adversary
Identity: - natural phenomena

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 7 ()
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast

Writing Style
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only - descript of kissing - touching of anatomy - licking - actual description of hetero sex - Boob talk! - Vagia talk! - Weiner talk!
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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