Sparkle: A Novel

by Denene Millner

Sparkle is an epic tale linspired by the story of The Supremes. It's 1968 Detroit and a time when the entertainment world is thoroughly mesmerized by the Motown sound. In the midst of that musical and entrepreneurial phenomenon three beautiful sisters -- the daughters of a former R&B singer-turned-Bible thumper -- leave the bosom of the church and, against the strenuous objection of their mother, dive headfirst into the tough, unforgiving world of R&B. As Sister, Dolores and Sparkle submit to the Svengali-like styling of their manager and fight against the ruthless ambitions of a cast of characters bent on taking advantage of their fortune and fame, the close-knit family is torn apart by greed, ambition, broken loyalties, and the merciless glare of the spotlight. But one sister, Sparkle, may yet have what it takes to emerge as the brightest star of them all.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 7, 2012

About the author

Denene Millner is a six-time New York Times best-selling author, Emmy Award-nominated TV show host and award-winning journalist and book publisher who has written more than 30 books, among them: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, co-written with Steve Harvey; Around the Way Girl, a memoir with actress Taraji P. Henson; the Fresh Princess picture books, with Will Smith; and, The Vow, the novel on which the hit Lifetime movie, “With This Ring,” was based. The writer and editor is also the editorial director and publisher of Denene Millner Books, an award-winning imprint that publishes stories featuring Black children and families, by Black authors and illustrators. The DMB list includes two Caldecott Honor books, a Kirkus Prize for Children’s Literature, two Society for Illustrator honors, a Southern Book Award, an instant New York Times bestseller and three NAACP nominations. Denene also co-hosts the nationally syndicated PBS show, A Seat at the Table, and is the host of “Speakeasy with Denene,” a podcast exploring Black culture. Denene’s upcoming novel, One Blood, a multi-generational epic about motherhood, adoption and race, is slated to be published in eight countries when it debuts in 2023. A MacDowell fellow, Denene lives in Atlanta with her two daughters and their goldendoodle, Franklin.

Reviews

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

I had already watched the movie when I picked up this book but as always, the book is better than the movie. The use of words and descriptive language beautifully painted the picture of these three women on their quest for fame. The story was not drawn out or overbearing. I was also relieved at how relatable the scenes and characters were to me even though this was supposed to be a different time.

I heard the original Sparkle had a story line that was a bit different from this one, reading this book has peaked my interest in watching the first one now just to compare.

[ILoveBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I have not yet seen the movie, the novel, Sparkle, has made me want to. I love the story, characters, and back-and-forth dialogue. Millner did a great job describing the events of the book; it was easy to imagine the scenes taking place. I loved the humor and speech patterns of the characters. Everyone was quick-witted and funny. If the book was this good, the movie and music must be fantastic.
Three sisters begin singing together and after winning a contest in 1960s Detroit, their talent quickly takes over the city. Romance, abuse, and drugs are the problems that threaten their rise to the top. Sister becomes engaged to an abusive man and takes up cocaine, Sparkle has to move past her nerves and embrace her talent, and Delores merely wants to help her sisters’ rise to the top and earn enough money to fund her education. All this drama takes place in the midst of the Civil Rights movement.
Millner’s novel is excellent and anyone would enjoy reading it. The book is fast-paced and never lost my attention. I give this novel four out of five stars.

[Melissa T]

The beginning of this is too over the top. What little I read is also very church oriented, which doesn't appeal to me.

The thing that made me most irritated in reading this is that the book is about 3 sisters. One of the character's names is Sister. So every few words is the word sister, sometimes the name and the relationship back to back.

No. Just no. I couldn't take it. I DNF'd this at 39 pages.

[Book Him Danno · Rating 2 out of 5]

What can I say about this book? Hummmmm…..I’m thinking really hard because this is a tough one. First off you need to know that this book is a novelization of a movie, Sparkle, starring Whitney Houston, Jordan Sparks and a host of other actors. That said, I hope the movie is better than this book. The characters fell flat, the mother was mean, uncaring and hard to like. Sparkle was naïve to the point of almost stupid and her sisters were polarized to the extreme. Now I don’t want to give the book away, but the ending was not only predictable…tears of happiness for Sparkle….but also to perfectly wrapped up in a little package with a pretty bow. Real life is not so neat and clean. Also, the whole fight scene at the home of the oldest sister was ridiculous.

*******Spoiler Alert***** Do not read any further if you want to be surprised. If I killed someone by accident I think I would have a hard time moving on in my life…maybe that’s just me. Well the character in this book did it, let someone else take the blame and hopped in a car to attend medical school. What? Not a bit concerned, or remorseful or maybe upset about the person that she loved going to jail for the rest of her life? Crazy…or maybe I don’t understand family loyalty to the extreme. This made the story hard for me to swallow. Guess what? The mother even became more human and likeable after all…imagine that? What a surprise….NOT!

The ending was over the top and you saw it coming from the first page. I realize that the novelization of a movie is going to be shorter and lacking in character development. But this book was short, 256 pages, and yet it felt like it went on and on and on….and not in a good way. Too little character development, too little motivation for most of the things that happened and I did not connect with anyone in this book. I kept thinking, ‘Are they serious?’

See the movie, but don’t waste your time on the book. So don't judge the movie by its book...or maybe do.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really easy read, engaging though predictable. Good if you want something light and easy to read, like on a plane.

[Angge Vasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Music is the heart for family, friendship and love. I got caught up in their time and felt every word and heard every song.. I would definitely look for the movie and watch it.

[Faridahyunos · Rating 4 out of 5]

It can be considered as a good read, if u r searching for something very light.

[Kudzai Mhangwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love, love, love 'Sparkle'. I watched both versions of the movie and I loved both in a different way; consider how parents say they have different love for their children. The novel by Denene Millner is a beautiful prose version of the powerful story of Sparkle and her sisters as they search for fame and fortune. Reading the novel version of the story felt a whole lot intimate and Millner was able to add more layer to the characters and flesh out some of the details we did not get from the movie. For example, we learn about Emma past a little more and we get a more intimate look at Sister's relationship with Satin. The book also changes some minor details from the original story for example, the dress Sparkle wears at the end of the story is changed from ruby red to silver at the end of the story.

I loved that there is a novel version to this amazing book and I will surely treasure this book. A definite recommend for lovers of rags-to-riches stories, stories of musicians and lovers of the movie of course.

[Magda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one.

[Shelverly B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it.