I Left My Back Door Open

Stevie Stevenson #3

by April Sinclair

A successful female DJ refuses to let a few romantic catastrophes keep her down in award-winning author April Sinclair’s dazzlingly soulful novel that was hailed as “a Bridget Jones’s Diary for black women” by the New York Times Book Review

Daphne “Dee Dee” Dupree has arrived at age 41 with a career she loves, but a romantic life she doesn’t. Insecure about her weight and protective of her often-broken heart, Dee Dee is an expert at hiding her inward struggles from the thousands of Chicago residents who hear her on the radio every night. A successful, charismatic DJ for the local blues station, Dee Dee is still looking for the type of love she’s missed since her divorce. After a traumatic event at work, Dee Dee meets Skylar, a union mediator who could be just what she’s looking for—if only there weren’t so many obstacles in their way.
 
Meanwhile, Dee Dee’s coworker Jade is nearing her own divorce; her best friend, Sharon, has come out of the closet; and Sharon’s teenage daughter is dangerously close to a breakdown. As Dee Dee works to ease the problems of her friends, she finally faces her own troubles—both old and new—in this uplifting, thought-provoking novel.
 

Genres: Fiction, Lesbian, Novels

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

April Sinclair was born in 1954 and grew up in Chicago during the times of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. As a young black woman during and after these times, she began to take advantage of her experiences along with her artistic talents to become an active member in her community. She has worked for over 15 years in community service programs, has directed a countywide hunger coalition, and has taught reading and writing to inner-city children and youth.

(from http://voices.cla.umn.edu/artistpages...)

Reviews

[Maya Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Coffee Will Make You Black" was the first "grown-up book" I ever read as a child. I've always been a titles girl, and that one certainly grabbed my attention at the age of 11 or so. As such, April Sinclair was my literary introduction to sexual exploration and queerness, and probably one of my first novels that dug deep into race as well. So I have a soft spot for her as a figure, even if as an adult sometimes the characters and tropes feel a wee bit stiff.

[Equal Opportunity Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was just way too much. Within the first 50 pages the author hits you with incest, eating disorders, office harassment, coming out of the closet in middle age, being an orphan and the of course the most tired of tired tropes, the lonely fat broken middle-aged black woman in search of a good black man.

It's actually emotionally draining to read all of this, especially since the narrator is totally devoid of humor, wit, warmth, or even more than the most basic and immature interests in everything including her own life. The plot is routine, the writing is boring and just...don't read this one, okay? Read "Coffee Will Make You Black" instead. It's also not that good but its iconic and broke major ground in it's day, unlike this.

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as Coffee Will Make You Black or its sequel, but enjoyable nonetheless.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, somewhat light read (besides all the eating disorder and trauma stuff LOL). But I did genuinely find myself smiling and tearing up at different points reading this. It read as just the right amount of corny yet realistic. It’s the kind of book where not a whole lot happens but you’re along for the ride anyway. I’m glad she got her happy ending! I wish there was a resolution to Phil and Deedee kissing tho… that would’ve been tea

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listed to the audiobook -- another amazing narration. This is not a continuation of Stevie's story but an equally interesting strong, female protagonist.

[Christopher Hachet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the emotional honesty and openess of the main character carried the story quite nicely.

Worth reading just for that alone.

Author is worth following and exploring, I thoroughly enjoyed everything she wrote.

[Preetee · Rating 2 out of 5]

not as interesting as the first one i read of hers. but might be because i did not click with the character

[Katie M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing particularly original about the premise (though you gotta love chicklit whose first line is "I am not young, or thin, or white or beautiful") but a quick, mostly-fun read.

[Reka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just wow

This was a great book. It is a story of self-love, past hurts, abuse, and trauma with a mix of comedy love and self reflection. There are lots of trigger warnings in this book, such as abortion, incest, fertility, and foster care. Ober all this was a beautiful book that really made you love the characters.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not that good. I connected and disconnected with this book. Over and over again.

[Chelsea Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Serious themes but a good read.

[A T · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely not as good as her previous books. Fun, quick read though.

[Elsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of loose ends but the main characters development is quite interesting

[Grace Beckemeyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

reading chicago books while living in chicago >>

[Stef · Rating 3 out of 5]

dnf

[Brynsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Left My Back Door Open

I haven’t read anything from this author in a long time.She didn’t disappoint this was a great read. I liked all of the characters and smiled a lot.

[Letta Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abrupt ending and all..

I had a hard time with this one. Deedee was painfully stereotypical in a lot of ways that are troubling. I know not every character can be likeable all the time, but in the end the only character I did like through out was Jade.

It's a well written book and not inaccurate for the time.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

(FROM JACKET)Dee Dee is forty-one, divorced with no children, and searching for love in the I-Feel-Your-Pain '90s. Dee Dee doesn't expect to cause whiplash when she walks down the street, but she would like to turn a few heads now and then. Although she has some close friends, they can't keep her warm during the long, cold Chicago winters.
When she meets Skylar, an attractive mediator brought in by the radio station to resolve a sexual harassment dispute, Daphne's hopes are raised. They exchange business cards and she cautiosly awaits his call. In the meantime, Dee Dee's struggle with food continues as she confronts a haunting childhood secret. Her best friend Sharon tells her that she is a lesbian, and Dee Dee has to deal with this information while helping Sharon's teeanaged daughter, Tyeesha, to cope....

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book because i'm doing lynchburg pub's summer reading challenge, and one of the choices on the menu was to read a book by an african-american author. Now, it's not to say that i wouldn't pick up a book by an afro-american otherwise, but this was more of a "hey, look for a book by an african-american" on purpose pick. Anyway, this book is really quite good. I enjoyed a different perspective...I unfortunately have read lots of books by white women...and now I feel like I've broadened my range of who I've read. It has some tough issues that are pretty intense that I can identify with and talks a lot about the self-esteem and the confidence of a woman, but not in some feminist supreme way. I liked it. I'd read her other stuff.

:) Thanks!

[Aspasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chicago deejay Dee Dee is 41 and looking for love, and dealing with:issues from the past, her wieght, her best friend's coming out, friends' marriages, niece and nephew problems, a lawsuit at work, and to top it all off she's taking bellydancing lessons! Although this isn't one of my favorite books, it was a quick read and better than I expected.

[Adelina Adeyemi · Rating 3 out of 5]

so far i've just started this book so i havent really learned anything so when i do i tell you

[Marci Akoma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story line