Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #600290 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Annette Goode, born in the racist South of the 1950s, is the heroine of Monroe's strong second novel (after The Upper Room), a coming-of-age journey depicted with wit, poignancy and bite. Up until 1963, when 13-year-old, overweight Annette Goode meets beautiful Rhoda Nelson, only daughter of the Richland, Ohio, town undertaker, Annette's life has been a nightmare. After Annette's father left her mother (Muh'Dear) for a white woman, Muh'Dear has scraped by as a domestic, stealing leftover food from her employers' kitchens; Annette overeats to compensate for her father's abandonment. Annette is only seven when she asks their boarder, Mr. Boatwright, to be her daddy. Soon after, he begins raping her. Annette, who considers herself fat and ugly, endures silently, thinking no one will believe her. She suffers the attacks for years until Rhoda befriends her and decides the man must be stopped. Monroe's characters are well drawn, full-bodied and not all bad. Monroe paints sympathetic portraits of Judge Lawson, the honorable white man Muh'Dear works for; Mr. Nelson, the undertaker; Scary Mary, who runs a brothel but has a good heart; and Pee Wee, Annette's young gay friend. However, it is the convincingly depicted friendship between Annette and Rhoda that drives the narrative and gives Annette the courage to end her abuse. In using a young girl's innocent voice to narrate, Monroe recounts a tale of extreme hardship with a hopeful, uplifting tone. Some readers will find the characters more enjoyable than the plot, which occasionally lapses into predictable melodrama, but readers of contemporary African-American literature will discover a highly satisfying page turnerDand one that will stand out on bookstore shelves with its bold, purple-hued cover. (Oct.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Read Toni Morrison or Maya Angelo instead
I read this because the author was likened to Maya Angelo and Toni Morrison. They each wrote a book dealing with a young African American girl being raped ("I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and "The Bluest Eye", respectively). It is not an insult when I say that Mary Monroe is no Toni Morrison--no one else is. Only one artist is Leonardo da Vinci. "The Bluest Eye" was Toni Morrison's first book, and although she has implied that it is her weakest, it is a much more powerful book than "God Don't Like Ugly." If you like this book, then you should read "The Bluest Eye." Maya Angelo's book "I know Why the Cged Bird Sings" is also a beautifully written classic.

"Ought to be required reading in schools"
I started reading GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY on a Monday night, read past midnight. The next night, after everyone had gone to sleep, I'd run to the book to see if Annette was in danger. She had become a dear friend by Chapter 1; had to see her through. By Thursday I couldn't wait for evening...so I stayed in my room during the day, finished the book, and sighed a big one for sweet Annette. What a story teller Ms. Monroe is! She deserves the Pulitzer Prize. The powerful voice/messages of GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY reminded me of TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD.

Missed opportunity!...and that was ugly.
I personally love reading books that take place in the South in the early to mid 1900's of the African American experience. There's just something about it that I find so humbling. This book may not be for everyone as it really touches on the subject of child sexual abuse. The description was quite ronchi I didn't expect all that. The book was good but also frustrating. I'm disappointed that the author did not take the opportunity with this book to "out" the abuser. Instead she chose to keep the crime a secret and the shame remained on the victim. A huge aspect of this book was also on friendship. The development of the friendship was really nice, makes you remember that best friend you might have had back the school days. Good times:) the book ended with (once again!) some over the top drama. (...) I'm hoping that in the sequel, the secret of the crime will finally be revealed.