My Blue Suede Shoes: Four Novellas

by Tracy Price-Thompson

A powerful collection of novellas by four leading African-American women writers, each tackling the terror of domestic violence.

In Other People’s Skin, Tracy Price-Thompson and TaRessa Stovall, along with writers Elizabeth Atkins and Desiree Cooper, took on intra-racial prejudice. The second book in their successful Sister4Sister Empowerment Series once again offers hope and healing, this time from the nightmare of abuse.

In Desiree Cooper’s Breakin’ It Down , a highly successful talk show host, haunted by the abandonment and self-loathing she felt as a child, is shocked to find herself inflicting the same abuse she experienced on her seven-year-old daughter. Tracy Price-Thompson’s Brotherly Love goes deep into the disturbing relationship between a beautiful, accomplished teenage girl and the seemingly dutiful brother who raised her after their parents’ death. TaRessa Stovall’s Breakin’ Dishes reveals the turmoil behind the scenes of a picture-perfect marriage as an angry wife beats her cheating husband. And in Elizabeth Atkins’s The Wrong Side of Mr. Right , an outwardly beaming bride-to-be comes to terms with the inner turmoil brought on by her emotionally abusive fiancé. In all four novellas, redemption and hope appear when a pair of blue suede shoes enters each woman’s life, helping her to overcome her challenges and stop the cycle of abuse.

A raw, engaging, and enlightening collection from beginning to end, My Blue Suede Shoes is as informative as it is entertaining.

303 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 2011

About the author

Tracy Price-Thompson is the national bestselling author of the novels, Black Coffee, Chocolate Sangria, A Woman's Worth, Knockin' Boots, and Gather Together in My Name. Tracy is a highly decorated Desert Storm veteran who graduated from the Army's Infantry Officer Candidate School after more than ten years as an enlisted soldier. A Brooklyn, New York, native who has traveled extensively and lived in amazing places around the world, Tracy is a retired Army Engineer officer and Ralph Bunche graduate Fellow who holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a master's degree in Social Work.

Tracy is also the co-editor of the anthologies Other People's Skin and Proverbs for the People and composes professional literary reviews based on established elements of writing for several print sources.

Tracy lives in Hawaii with her wonderfully supportive husband and several of their six bright, beautiful, incredible children.

Reviews

[CKE387 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book include four novellas by African-American women writers, each tackling the terror of domestic violence. Including understanding how the abusive cycle begins, stopping the cycle of violence and getting help for the abuser as well as the abused.

In "Breakin' It Down" the issue of parental abuse is the focus, but I was mildly surprised that the point of view was that of the abuser instead of the abused. She (yes, I said she), the mother, seems to rationalize why she is abusive to her daughter and how she comes to realize that what she is doing is wrong. "There's no shame in failing, there's only shame in not learning from your failures."

Next is "Breaking Dishes", which I didn't know was also the name of a song (by of all people - Rihanna, how apropos) which deals with a seemingly perfect couple, but one is physically abusive but only after she is emotionally abused by the husband. Which is worse - physical or emotional abuse??? I liked how each chapter was named for a color - it sort of fit the mood and the color was used as a turning point in the chapter. During the story there is mention of how the wife is following in her mother's footsteps because she also endured abuse at the hands of her husband (the character's father). I liked the conversation with Gabby, who was mopping the floor outside of the jail cell where the wife was awaiting trial - but I wondered, was she real or just a manifestation of her consciousness? "The hardest thing in the world isn't forgiving the person who did you wrong, the hardest thing is forgiving yourself."

Third story, "Wrong side of Mr. Right", typical woman abused by her controlling boyfriend/fiancee story. During the story the main character learns to listen her inner voice while meditation to come up with a fitting solution for her situation.

In "Brotherly Love" the taboo subject of incest is dealt with - not for the faint of heart. I liked the main characters: Regina, social worker, who related well with clients - "they responded to her because her background was similar to theirs and her willingness to meet the client on his or her own level" and the sadness as she realizes that the "population of at-risk clients was getting younger and less educated each day"; and Zina, the victim, beautiful and smart fourteen year old girl - "talk like a hoodrat and then two sentences later start to speak like you actually have an education."

The blue suede shoes seemed to be used as an epiphany/salvation or life changing symbol in each story. I remember an episode of "A Different World" that dealt with dating abuse and the character wore blue suede shoes during a key scene on the show - I wonder if that inspired the book (since the show aired in the 90's and the book was copyrighted in the 2000's)? Interesting read, and hopefully people who read will recognize the signs of abuse (whether in the abuser or the abused) and offer some type of help to stop the cycle of violence.

[Merredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This random book i picked up at the library new book shelf is really four novellas, all with blue shoes woven in. They're also all about different types of domestic abuse. The best, and hardest to read, one was the first, which was about a woman who was abusing her little 7 year old girl, but it was from the mother's perspective not the child's - something that's not often done. i may have given this first story five stars. it's definitely sad though. the second one was about incest, the third about a woman who beat her husband and was cheated on, and the fourth about a woman being controlled/abused by a man. i really applaud the unique pov's that this book showed...i just think that sometimes the writing was a bit cheesy, which took away from the important messages. Also it had a bit of a 'touched by an angel' aspect to each one, which i wasn't a fan of. still, the stories themselves before they got to that point were moving enough.

[Essence Cropper · Rating 3 out of 5]

All 4 novellas had one thing in common blue suede shoes. I liked that it represented the same thing for the main characters. Now, it was difficult to get through 3 of the 4 stories due to domestic violence happening, but I still enjoyed it.

[Dalesha R · Rating 5 out of 5]

These were all great stories, some of the time I was so irritated with the ladies and the stories but I managed to get through it and finished all four

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend told me I had to READ this book, I was not ready for what I uncovered as I was reading the first novella. This book consists of 4 novellas that deal with various types of abuse as I said I was unprepared for. The stories are very well written and intriguing and the abused/abuser are all eventually comforted and made Whole by their "Blue Suede Shoes"

Very good and thought provoking stories.

[Carmen Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love short stories! It seems few authors see the value in writing them anymore. Therefore, I applaud these 4 authors!!! This book was also my GOG Book Club selection.

Domestic violence is a very ugly topic and I praise the authors for their courage to write about it. I learned some things and for that I am grateful.

[C.René · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the writing style of the novellas was simplistic and somewhat predictable, the authors did a good job of presenting relationship abuse in the various ways it can manifest. I love the title and the way the shoes connect to each story. My Blue Suede Shoes shines much needed light on an issue that is still too much in the shadows.

[Judy Ivory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very emotional read for me. I grew up watching domestic violence in my family. So reading about it opened wounds I didn't realize I had. Went out a bought me a pair of blue suede shoes upon completion.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good read.

[Geraldine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an extremely difficult book to complete. I did not enjoy it but it does shine a light on abuse and how the cycle can be broken.

[Sheraie Darby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprising I enjoyed this book. I liked that the characters were strong but you

[Gail Adams-Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read!!!