The Itch

by Benilde Little

“[A] nuanced, Edith Wharton-style treatment of the upper reaches of black society…[Little] is an arbiter of that insular world.” — The Washington Post

Abra Lewis Dixon is the envy of the fashionable, professional women of her well-heeled social circle. She leads a charmed life—having attended all the right schools, married the right man, and started a successful film production company with her best friend, Natasha Coleman—and seems like an ambassador from the world of perfection. It is only when her impeccable marriage turns suddenly shaky that her utopia is left in pieces…

Genres: Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published June 11, 1998

Reviews

[Kim G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read a book by this author, so as I am reading, I wonder where this story is going. Typical husband cheats on wife fall in love with the mistress and leaves the wife devastated. A shocker happens to the wife from the husband. And the subject matter was never mentioned again in the story. It was like it just put in and then dropped out. The characters seem to have found themselves and were happy ever after. I needed little drama in this story, just too plain of a story. I have more books by Benilde Little. I hope the books are better.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok, just really slow

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light read (listen). Natasha seemed to be set on love not being in her cards. I felt like Miles was sent to show her the possibilities she could experience if she was willing. Although it was easy come, (not so) easy go in the end, lessons of love had been taught. I felt for Aubra and silly Cullen who couldn't resist temptation and allowed that 20% to ultimately mess up the 80% he had. Aubra was strong I felt and played her hand well. She had her own career and life and I think that independence gave her strength to not fall apart while allowing her heart to heal. This was a story of love and hurt but also strength and wisdom.

[Sandra Mccall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relationships are complicated

I always enjoy Benilde Little's titles. The Itch exposes the complicated nature of each character's relationships, giving the reader insight into both men and women's perspectives on love, marriage, sex and their own selves. Little always gives me a little more than the traditional fiction writer.... Her insight into the truth of people is captured with seeming effortlessness, challenging but the reader to connect on a much deeper level than a typical read.

[Pepsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted more. I hope the author will write a sequel.

[Juliewheatcox.Net · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a book I would have chosen myself, but my husband is the one who makes the runs to the library and this is one he chose.

The book was well written, but the story was too real for my taste. No one got a happy ending. Just the opposite.
Just bad breakups for everyone. Normally, this would make me sad, but I didn’t care that much about any of the characters.

[Kalie Buffinet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very slow and not easy to read. Could have been so much better and more drama. There almost wasn’t a plot to the story. There was so much potential with this book and almost like the author held back.

[Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Insecure was a book with boujee people, I'd like to believe this would be it. I love the different povs of characters and how seamless it was to read.

Found this book while clearing my aunt's stuff. That lady has good taste. It's also so interesting that nothing really is new under the sun.

[Josephine Burks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The book was similar to the author’s first book. Still nicely written.

[Sedona MaCloud · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t really remember

[Mark McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: Spoilers Below


Benilde Little is the author of Good Hair which was made into a movie, thus hitting the daily double of writing: The Successful Book and The Movie Deal. She deserved it, she's a good writer.

The Itch follows Abra and Natasha, long-time friends and partners in a Hollywood deal. Abra is married to Cullen and is fabulously happy -- until she realizes she isn't. Cullen is a dream man, a catch, and about to embark on an affair with a beautiful young model. Little really knows her way around an affair (writer's imagination, of course) just as I recognize Benilde Little really knows her way around an affair (more writer's imagination, of course).

So we get the tiredness and dissolution of the old "perfect" marriage, then the wild ride of the affair and subsequent let-down.

While Abra is going through her changes, her friend Natasha falls for a few guys; a wealthy white producer and Miles, a dyed-in-the-wool player who's . . . thinking . . . about getting married -- mostly because the musical chairs of his love life is coming to an end. Miles is pushing forty and he feels like it's time. It doesn't so much matter who the woman is when the music stops -- it's time.

All of these stories play out against what Little called the "niggerati" a delightful phrase I could never use in a million years --maybe that's how she got the movie deal?

All the African-American characters in this book have made it --MBAs from top universities, successful TV shows, high six-figure incomes -- the American dream in spades. (Okay, I didn't say that.)

But in "The Itch" the money and the glamour only serve as a backdrop. Nice, but they don't change a thing for the characters. Little seems to be saying without the love, it's just work and stuff. And getting the love can take you to some hard places and through some hard times. I really liked the fact that both women wind up single in the end. Single, and more sure of what works and what doesn't; hard won knowledge in a well-written, fascinating book.

[Charmaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good read by Ms. Little. If I wrote books, I'd like to tell stories like hers.

[Squishysandee · Rating 2 out of 5]

filled my time with words. Would never recommend spending time reading it.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I related well with several of the characters. Little did a great job as usual!

[Tamika]

very very good

[Monique Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking!

[Rena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this years ago, but I do remember enjoying this book.

[Jil Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a real page turner. I didn't stop until it was finished and then I was sad it was over. Would love to see a movie adaptation of this book.

[Kiela Joseph]

Sometimes there's that itch that needs scratching but is it really worth it in the end?

[Nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was pretty predictable.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lesson: Do you. With or without a dude, woman, know thyself. :)