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West End #5
Just Wanna Testify
Familiar faces and places meet fresh twists and turns in this enthralling novel from acclaimed author Pearl Cleage.
Atlanta's West End district has always been a haven and home to a coterie of unique characters--artists and thinkers, dreamers and doers. Folks here know one another's names, keep their doors unlocked, and look out for their neighbors. Anyone planning to sell drugs, vandalize, or rob a little old lady should think twice before hitting this part of town. And Blue Hamilton, West End's unofficial mayor and longtime protector, will see to it that you do. Blue wears many hats here, including adored husband to Regina, dear nephew to Abbey, and doting father to Sweetie and another little one on the way.
Blue is also the man you pay your respects to if you're looking to set up shop in this urban enclave--just ask Serena Mayflower, whom Blue sees striding down Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard wearing skin-tight black leather pants, thigh-high boots, and bright red lipstick. This tall, slender, ethereally beautiful woman and her four equally striking sisters make up the Too Fine Five, a quintet of international supermodels who have arrived in town for an Essence magazine photo shoot.
But Blue's gut tells him that there's more to these Mayflower mademoiselles than their affection for full moons and Bloody Marys. With the help of his beloved Regina and their close friends and relations in West End, Blue vows to uncover the women's secret intentions--and prove once and for all that there is no greater force on earth than the power of love.
A mesmerizing slice of not-so-everyday life, brimming with wicked wit and spiced with a few supernatural surprises, Just Wanna Testify showcases Pearl Cleage's masterly storytelling at its soulful and satisfying finest.
Atlanta's West End district has always been a haven and home to a coterie of unique characters--artists and thinkers, dreamers and doers. Folks here know one another's names, keep their doors unlocked, and look out for their neighbors. Anyone planning to sell drugs, vandalize, or rob a little old lady should think twice before hitting this part of town. And Blue Hamilton, West End's unofficial mayor and longtime protector, will see to it that you do. Blue wears many hats here, including adored husband to Regina, dear nephew to Abbey, and doting father to Sweetie and another little one on the way.
Blue is also the man you pay your respects to if you're looking to set up shop in this urban enclave--just ask Serena Mayflower, whom Blue sees striding down Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard wearing skin-tight black leather pants, thigh-high boots, and bright red lipstick. This tall, slender, ethereally beautiful woman and her four equally striking sisters make up the Too Fine Five, a quintet of international supermodels who have arrived in town for an Essence magazine photo shoot.
But Blue's gut tells him that there's more to these Mayflower mademoiselles than their affection for full moons and Bloody Marys. With the help of his beloved Regina and their close friends and relations in West End, Blue vows to uncover the women's secret intentions--and prove once and for all that there is no greater force on earth than the power of love.
A mesmerizing slice of not-so-everyday life, brimming with wicked wit and spiced with a few supernatural surprises, Just Wanna Testify showcases Pearl Cleage's masterly storytelling at its soulful and satisfying finest.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
About the author
Pearl Cleage
35 books570 followersPearl Cleage (born December 7, 1948) is an African-American author whose work, both fiction and non-fiction, has been widely recognized. Her novel What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day was a 1998 Oprah Book Club selection. Cleage is known for her feminist views, particularly regarding her identity as an African-American woman. Cleage teaches drama at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.
Pearl Cleage was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, the daughter of Doris Cleage née Graham), a teacher, and the late civil rights activist Bishop Albert Cleage. After backlash resulting from her father's radical teachings, the family moved to Detroit, Michigan, where Bishop Cleage became a prominent civil rights leader. Cleage first attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 1966 majoring in playwriting and dramatic literature. However she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to attend Spelman College in 1969, where she eventually attained a bachelor's degree in drama in 1971. She then joined the Spelman faculty as a writer and playwright in residence and as a creative director. Cleage has written many novels, plays, and non-fiction works borrowing heavily from her life experiences. Many of her novels are set in neighborhoods in Atlanta, Georgia.
Cleage notably writes about topics at the intersection of sexism and racism, specifically on issues such as domestic violence and rape in the black community. She has been a supporter of the Obama administration. Cleage is an activist for AIDS and women's rights, experiences from which she draws from for her writings.
In 1969, Cleage married Michael Lomax, an Atlanta politician and past-president of Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana. They had a daughter, Deignan Njeri. The marriage ended in divorce in 1979. In 1994, Cleage married Zaron Burnett, Jr, writer and director for the Just Us Theater Company. She has four grandchildren.
Cleage is a former Cosby Endowed Chair at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. She also speaks at colleges, universities, and conferences on topics including domestic violence, the citizen's role in a participatory democracy, and writing topics.
(from Wikipedia)
Pearl Cleage was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, the daughter of Doris Cleage née Graham), a teacher, and the late civil rights activist Bishop Albert Cleage. After backlash resulting from her father's radical teachings, the family moved to Detroit, Michigan, where Bishop Cleage became a prominent civil rights leader. Cleage first attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 1966 majoring in playwriting and dramatic literature. However she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to attend Spelman College in 1969, where she eventually attained a bachelor's degree in drama in 1971. She then joined the Spelman faculty as a writer and playwright in residence and as a creative director. Cleage has written many novels, plays, and non-fiction works borrowing heavily from her life experiences. Many of her novels are set in neighborhoods in Atlanta, Georgia.
Cleage notably writes about topics at the intersection of sexism and racism, specifically on issues such as domestic violence and rape in the black community. She has been a supporter of the Obama administration. Cleage is an activist for AIDS and women's rights, experiences from which she draws from for her writings.
In 1969, Cleage married Michael Lomax, an Atlanta politician and past-president of Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana. They had a daughter, Deignan Njeri. The marriage ended in divorce in 1979. In 1994, Cleage married Zaron Burnett, Jr, writer and director for the Just Us Theater Company. She has four grandchildren.
Cleage is a former Cosby Endowed Chair at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. She also speaks at colleges, universities, and conferences on topics including domestic violence, the citizen's role in a participatory democracy, and writing topics.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
July 7, 2011
Vampires? Really?
Et tu, Pearl Cleage?
I got this one as a GoodReads first read and was really looking forward to it. As an Atlanta resident and fan of the author, I was "amped" to say the least, but it took a minute for me to get into this one. Actually, it took me about three days. But now that I have turned the last page and checked to be certain that there wasn't more, I have to say that while the whole "vamp" thing was kind of lost on me, I enjoyed the story and appreciated the lessons given. I was glad to see the need for personal responsibility placed in a relatable context. I was glad that Ms. Cleague found a way to take black men out of the realm of "all black men are..." And I was especially glad that she chose to show love on more than one level without making the demonstration maudlin or silly.
While I prefer some of her other work, I think that the author did make Just Wanna Testify a worthwhile read. On the whole, I would have liked to have given this novel an additional 1/2 star, but it wasn't an available option.
Et tu, Pearl Cleage?
I got this one as a GoodReads first read and was really looking forward to it. As an Atlanta resident and fan of the author, I was "amped" to say the least, but it took a minute for me to get into this one. Actually, it took me about three days. But now that I have turned the last page and checked to be certain that there wasn't more, I have to say that while the whole "vamp" thing was kind of lost on me, I enjoyed the story and appreciated the lessons given. I was glad to see the need for personal responsibility placed in a relatable context. I was glad that Ms. Cleague found a way to take black men out of the realm of "all black men are..." And I was especially glad that she chose to show love on more than one level without making the demonstration maudlin or silly.
While I prefer some of her other work, I think that the author did make Just Wanna Testify a worthwhile read. On the whole, I would have liked to have given this novel an additional 1/2 star, but it wasn't an available option.
November 18, 2014
To be fair this is the 5th book in a series, I was semi-forced to read it for a book discussion (for the record I didn't pick the book), and I'm certainly not the demographic the author was aiming for(I'm guessing middle aged African American female). Maybe if I had read some of the other books in the series the characters would have appealed to me more, but this book was pretty awful. To explain the awfulness, I think the rest of this review will just have to be one big spoiler. Okay so the main character in this story is named Blue and he's super in charge, super manly, but loves his woman and treats her so right, and he is the best sexiest singer ever, and everyone in his neighborhood respects him, and he's like this non-violent mob boss that runs his town, and he's been reincarnated a number of times so he's all mystical too. Then there's some fashion models who are really vampires, and they are called the Too Fine 5 and they're so skinny and sickly and weird looking, but some how so hot to most men,, but not Blue he's too much of a bad-ass gentleman for that, and as he tells his concerned wife (Regina), he likes his women with, "more meat on their bones." *Swooon* Oh yeah and the vampire super models don't drink blood they drink tomato juice, yes... TOMATO JUICE, because it is red I guess (no word on the efficacy of eating red crayons). So they aren't that dangerous. Oh, wait no they actually are because they made a deal with some college kids to give them a scholarship as long as those young men would become their sex slaves when 4 years were up, and in the fine print they get to bite the heads off of the young men. So the young men talk to to Blue 'cuz he is Oh So In Charge and plead their case, but Blue is reluctant to help them because they entered the contract willingly, plus they are shitty guys who treat women terribly. But then Regina convinces him to help and to make a long boring story a short boring story Blue defeats the Too Fine 5 by signing an incredibly moving rendition of "At Last" to his wife in front of a large audience including the vampires, and the leader of the vampires is so moved by the evident love that she agrees to let the young men out of their contract. Then to make a bad story that much worse Regina wakes up and it was all a dream. Then to make a doubly bad story even worse Blue sings another song that shows us how much he loves his woman. Barf. I'm out!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2011
I received this book thru the Goodreads giveaway program and this was a new author for me. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pulled in by her take on vampires (this was very different from anything I had read) and my interest was held waiting to find out how the story would play out. This was a fun quick read and I felt there was a good lesson to be learned.
June 5, 2011
Mrs. Cleage delivers once again. I just kept thinking she is telling a story which included vampires and I still could not turn away. Only a truly gifted writer can draw you into a story about a subject you have no interest and captivate you. As usual once I have completed the book, I am sad and waiting impatiently for the next one.
September 2, 2011
I'm having trouble figuring out what I think of this book. On the one hand, I kinda like it. I think the vampires, as metaphor, work. I've liked Cleage's writing style before and I still like it. On the other hand, I don't like the main character much. Blue is simultaneously too perfect and creepy. *Of course* his singing will save the day. It's like when a person wakes up from a TV coma just as someone else says "I love you." But then, in addition to being the ideal husband, father, role model, singer, and man in general, he's also supposed to be like the local Godfather who keeps order. This is not a flattering comparison and I'm not sure why it's supposed to be.
And then we've got the ending. When I was in second grade, I ended a creative writing assignment that way and my teacher wrote on the bottom of the paper "You can do better."
But it does make the rest of the book work. Blue's singing can save the day, just like a cheesetastic Lifetime Original Movie, if nothing's real. In that context, everything else makes sense. So maybe it's not a cliche -- maybe it's a brilliant decision.
And then we've got the ending. When I was in second grade, I ended a creative writing assignment that way and my teacher wrote on the bottom of the paper "You can do better."
But it does make the rest of the book work. Blue's singing can save the day, just like a cheesetastic Lifetime Original Movie, if nothing's real. In that context, everything else makes sense. So maybe it's not a cliche -- maybe it's a brilliant decision.
August 12, 2011
I really wish I could give this book 2.5 stars. I didn't hate it. It was just my least favorite of Pearl's books. (Let's just restate I am her biggest fan.)
What I realized is I was looking forward to catching up with the characters in the book. I'm well aware it's fiction. However, it's always had a touch of realism. However, with this novel, it was just too out there. I've not bought into the vampire phenomena-non that's overtaking the globe, so this felt a little forced on me. Of all of her novels, I'm eager to pass this one on. I'm already looking into what I can read next.
Sorry Pearl. I'll still remain a fan. I'll just have to wait for your next collective. This did NOT do it for me.
What I realized is I was looking forward to catching up with the characters in the book. I'm well aware it's fiction. However, it's always had a touch of realism. However, with this novel, it was just too out there. I've not bought into the vampire phenomena-non that's overtaking the globe, so this felt a little forced on me. Of all of her novels, I'm eager to pass this one on. I'm already looking into what I can read next.
Sorry Pearl. I'll still remain a fan. I'll just have to wait for your next collective. This did NOT do it for me.
November 2, 2011
I'm not happy with this book. I'm not sure what Ms. Cleage is doing with the vampires but I'm not happy about it and I hope that before I finish this book some redemption comes to this story line because so far...it sucks.
Tomato juice as a replacement for Blood? Vamps drinking alcohol? *Sigh
I just couldn't get into it. Too many intentional themes going on in the book that I didn't buy.
Tomato juice as a replacement for Blood? Vamps drinking alcohol? *Sigh
I just couldn't get into it. Too many intentional themes going on in the book that I didn't buy.
June 25, 2011
Surprisingly enough I ended up loving this. I say that not because of the author, because I've loved all of her books. I'm saying it because when I read what the premise of this storyline was, I was taken aback. I don't love the very end, but I'm giving it 5 stars anyway.
May 20, 2011
It is funny that the subject of young boys doing bad came up since I just saw right in front of me in living color a similar example. But if you think you've been young, living on top of the world and life can do NO wrong, then you need to sit down and read this book.Once again, our knight in shining armor, Blue Hamilton, former singer turned self imposed godfather of Atlanta's West End is up against something that even he cannot do without. A group of tall thin models has descended upon Atlanta to do an Essence photo shoot, and also to take care of a hidden agenda of their own. to pick up four young men to further their race and destroy them. When the dillemma ends up on Blue's desk, then it is up to him to find a perfect solution to this.
June 18, 2011
Five sororal vampires employed as supermodels and rehabilitated to drink Bloody Marys instead of the more traditional ichor, arrive in Atlanta for more than a glamorous Essence magazine photo session.
The quintet nicknamed "Too Fine Five", have been hurt by too many failed romances. However the vamps need to sustain their tribe and they are seeking the best and the brightest Morehouse College men available to help them fulfill their mission and return to their paradise island.
At the heart of this funny and meaningful story is a tale about faith in affairs of the heart.
This novel was my introduction to Cleage. The tale of cocktail drinking love-scarred vampires seeking to exploit folly of men will appeal to women.
This is a fun and entertaining read.
The quintet nicknamed "Too Fine Five", have been hurt by too many failed romances. However the vamps need to sustain their tribe and they are seeking the best and the brightest Morehouse College men available to help them fulfill their mission and return to their paradise island.
At the heart of this funny and meaningful story is a tale about faith in affairs of the heart.
This novel was my introduction to Cleage. The tale of cocktail drinking love-scarred vampires seeking to exploit folly of men will appeal to women.
This is a fun and entertaining read.
June 24, 2011
Oh no! You too, Pearl Cleage! You have also ventured into the "vampire genre" that seems to dominate the widely read fiction scene today! I was a bit disappointed by Ms. Cleage for this foray, but, true to form, she tells a good story with some good lessons to learn - especially about Black women and our hardness of hearts towards our Black men. We need to start at ground zero and begin to heal our many dysfunctional relationships between Black men and Black women - I LOVE my brothers, but....something has gotta change - and it takes both of us to do it.
January 28, 2013
I love love love Pearl Cleage. I will love her always but I felt seriously betrayed by the foray of VAMPIRES into my beloved West End and then slapped about the head and face to find that "it was all a dream" 12 bucks for an ebook. At least if I'd gotten the hard back I could through it across the room when I was done. :( Even so I'm just a fan throwing a hissy fit because things didn't go my why. As always the writing is solid and good. That said I did not enjoy my trip to West End this time - but will def drop another $12 for her next effort.
July 23, 2013
I am a Pearl Cleage fan, and have been since "What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day." What I enjoy about Pearl's novels is she carries her characters over to other novels. "Just Wanna Testify" dealt with with the current trend of vampires, but on a completely different level. It had characters from her previous novels, and you truly know the people involved in her stories, and what they represent.Pearl's stories, no matter the twists and turns, always involves love. Keep them coming, Pearl. I love it.
September 28, 2014
Well, once again I have learned the old adage "Don't judge a book by its cover," is true. I expected a suspenseful courtroom drama, something like John Grisham's A Time to Kill. It is rare that I find myself enjoying books about vampires. Just Want to Testify was well written and at times enjoyable. For vampire fans, I think this would be just the thing, and I will recommend it to them (I already have).It just was not a good fit for me.
June 14, 2011
I like Pearl Cleage and her West Side series. That said, this last installment left me off-balance. The twist that the Fine Fab 5 brought was just left of center for me. The West Side stories have always had a tone of 'other-worldilness' but I just couldn't buy it with this storyline. A good standalone, but it didn't work with the knowledge of the other stories.
September 14, 2012
I am going to be very honest- I have not completely finished this book. But as a honest Pearl Cleage fan this book is a disappointment on so many levels. I began reading the book a few months ago and have had little desire to finish it. It is difficult to get into to, and lacks the meat and potatoes that Cleages' books usually provide. I would have to say this book is not a must read.
July 26, 2011
I love Cleage, but I think her mind went on vacation when she wrote this one. Vampires,that only want men for sex and then kill them before they can cause problems. Then it's the "Dallas" cop out of "it was only a dream"? Come on!
September 24, 2011
Pearl Cleage has done it again...never would I have put together vamps in Atlanta after Hurricane Katrina..but the question is what do they want...Cleage is so entertaining and I love Blue, Regina, Abbie, Aretha and Peachie...Great read..
April 7, 2011
This book was funny, a vamp book which I do like........well written, funny characters, well some funny ones....lol an enjoyable read!
May 29, 2011
I don't understand why Cleage sold out and used "vampires" to tell this story. The story would have been more powerful if the vampires had been left to Stephenie Meyer.
December 26, 2012
As usual it was extremely well written but I can't understand how the author got caught up in the vampire hype.
June 20, 2013
The vampires were totally unexpected. It is certainly a different twist but I am still a fan.....creative to say the least. I am not a fan of vampire books or films.
May 10, 2014
It was different, the author tried something new it worked, I prefer my Blue novels straight no filler
May 24, 2019
Why? (Spoilers Ahead)
Sometimes, you just wanna read something fun and fluffy and funny. Sometimes, you just wanna chill and let the author sweep you away with stories of sweetness and love. Up to this point, Ms. Cleage's West End series did that for me. All goodness and light. Empowerment, faith and restoration. This story here? A complete waste of my time and energy. I love vampire stories. But this? Hissing and otherworldly beauty, tomato juice and black widow spiders? And then we get the ending to end all endings. It. Was. A. Dream.
Don't waste your time. Just...Just don't.
Sometimes, you just wanna read something fun and fluffy and funny. Sometimes, you just wanna chill and let the author sweep you away with stories of sweetness and love. Up to this point, Ms. Cleage's West End series did that for me. All goodness and light. Empowerment, faith and restoration. This story here? A complete waste of my time and energy. I love vampire stories. But this? Hissing and otherworldly beauty, tomato juice and black widow spiders? And then we get the ending to end all endings. It. Was. A. Dream.
Don't waste your time. Just...Just don't.
September 6, 2017
Fun from start to finish!
I enjoyed the characters and recognised that I jumped into a moving train. The characters were so comfortable with each that I understood that they had been together literally before. The story was playful and I was glad because I wanted something lighthearted.
I was glad that it was set in a part of Atlanta that I spent a lot of time in growing up. It meant that I shared something special with the writer.
I can't wait to read the other stories so that I can find out how Blue ended up in West End.
I enjoyed the characters and recognised that I jumped into a moving train. The characters were so comfortable with each that I understood that they had been together literally before. The story was playful and I was glad because I wanted something lighthearted.
I was glad that it was set in a part of Atlanta that I spent a lot of time in growing up. It meant that I shared something special with the writer.
I can't wait to read the other stories so that I can find out how Blue ended up in West End.
July 21, 2018
Strange turn of events
As with Pearl Cleage novels, this was a page turner. A very different story line, but with a twist. We get to experience Blue and Regina Hamilton and many of the characters from the first book in the series. The storyline focuses on "good men" and not so good men, and how the latter affects women and their trust for men. Blue saves the day and the young men. It takes a "good man to teach boys how to become men. Although, we find all is not what it seemed. This was a good read.
As with Pearl Cleage novels, this was a page turner. A very different story line, but with a twist. We get to experience Blue and Regina Hamilton and many of the characters from the first book in the series. The storyline focuses on "good men" and not so good men, and how the latter affects women and their trust for men. Blue saves the day and the young men. It takes a "good man to teach boys how to become men. Although, we find all is not what it seemed. This was a good read.
August 15, 2018
I tore through this in one night, but didn't like this as much as Cleage's other West End novels.
December 14, 2017
Well, this is the first book I've read about Black vampires, lol. The only thing I knew about Black vampires was Eddie Murphy in Blacula. It was a very intriguing book. The Too Fine Five were beautifully weird. My takeaway from the book is this, love trumps ALL. I Corinthians 13 says it like this: after everything else is gone, there will still be love. It seems like I've read about Blue in another book?
April 28, 2024
Well Damn!!!
I really enjoyed reading this book! But, I love all things Pearl Cleage! Blue Hamilton is EVERYTHING and so is his wife Regina! There is nothing better than reading about great black folks doing great things! The ending though caused me chuckle out loud! Just know, you’re not ready for the beginning or the ending!
I really enjoyed reading this book! But, I love all things Pearl Cleage! Blue Hamilton is EVERYTHING and so is his wife Regina! There is nothing better than reading about great black folks doing great things! The ending though caused me chuckle out loud! Just know, you’re not ready for the beginning or the ending!
October 22, 2019
A very different type of vampire which kept me interested, especially with the hissing sounds and deadpan faces.
Spoiler Alert: The end wasn't believable for me even though skinny vampires drinking tomato juice made sense.
Spoiler Alert: The end wasn't believable for me even though skinny vampires drinking tomato juice made sense.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews