Blue And Other Colors

By D. Paul Reynolds

Vince Ocheri, 35, is a slightly neurotic college professor who has fallen in love with one of his students, 26 year-old Cherese Jenkins. After sharing a wonderful night of dining and a morning of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1424110874
• ISBN13: 9781424110872
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Publishamerica Inc
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.8" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Great Book--Too Short!!

This was a very enjoyable book with many likable characters in addition to Vince and Cherese. I wish the author had given some insight or glimpse into Wilma's life after her friendship with Eunice (she was 16 at the time) until her friendship of sorts with Cherese, when she was around 90+ (I think). Since Wilma was one of the driving forces in the book, this was a glaring hole in the story, and I was very disappointed by the absence. Also, I wanted to read more of the relationship between Vince and Cherese, how the relationship developed and how they handled life together. I guess I just have to be satisfied that Cherese did finally follow her heart in the end. I was less pleased with the whole "sell-out" part of the story (i.e., Cherese's conflict--that of going with the true love she had been waiting for her whole life, or that of appeasing her African-American friends and neighbors by not becoming a "sell-out"). I see this as more of an issue during the 70's (black power movement) or 80's, not the 21st century. I would hope that the majority of African-Americans have moved beyond this pettiness. Overall, this book was very good and had many thought provoking points to it---but, it should have been much longer than this--at least another 50 pages or more. I'd really like to see more from this author--a sequel perhaps??!!

Good read

I had to read this book a second time to really appreciate how well written this story was. It is a different type of love story as the main characters are so different, they have very real problems and the fact that the main female character is having a difficult time seeing herself in an IR relationship with her college professor. Everyone that she knows has an opinion about this and even her minister has the audacity to speak of this matter in church. Her family and friends are against her developing a relationship with this guy. And as for the leading white male in this drama he has several issues with the first being issues controlling his desire where he comes to soon. Very well written. This stiry is worth reading give it a chance.

A lesson on following ones heart and conquering fear.......

Definitly a thought provoking read. Cherese, an 26 y/o black student falls in love with her white professor, Vincent. After an amourous evening, her mind becomes conflicted with her heart. Along this story line of two people struggling with their inner demons, and believe me, Vince has an conflicted psyche, is Wilma. We meet Wilma at the age of seventeen when she leaves home after she is sexually molested by her father. She has no belief in the human race that she is apart of, nor that people are good except for her best friend Nell and dead sister Eva. When she meets up with a dying white woman, Eunice, the short time they spend together gives Wilma an new lease on life and an chance to no longer feel disempowered. Wilma and Cherese bump into each other and Wilma sees the conflict in the young woman, she does what Eunice did for her and in the end Cherese is able to make a decision that will forever change her life. This story is eloquent and a different take on race and relationships. Mr.Reynolds does a great job telling the story of not only the four main characters but the characters that are vital to each of them. I especially enjoyed Vince's memory as a young boy when the conversation of race is brought to his attention. The innocence of children and the issue of color was the cutest thing and so true. All in all I found the story insight of the human psyche great. I wish it was longer, but then again, maybe we didn't need it to be longer.

Excellent read

I loved reading this book. Vince seems content to sleepwalk through life, but experiences an awakening when meeting Cherese. One of them is white, the other is black; one is the professor, the other the student. Will they cross cultural boundaries and follow their hearts? Blue and Other Colors also shows a number of characters who, for one reason or another, are living in the past. As the characters and the plot develop, they mature and grow. Just as in real life, people can change, no matter what age they are. My favorite character may not in fact even be a character, but the city of Baltimore in the hot summer, portrayed as accuractely as I can remember. If you're a Baltimore fan, this is a book you can appreciate. Blue and Other Colors touches a variety of topics: race, socioeconomic standing, war, disease, religion, freedom. Read it and find out what is important to Vince, Cherese, and, ultimately, you!

Beyond expectations

My sister bought this book for me as a gift and I truly enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the story of Wilma and Eunice. I really liked how the author portrayed the women in this book. It was very realistic and it a little humorous. I have to be honest and say that I was also taken back when I saw that this book was not written by someone of color. The details in the book were such that I would have thought only an African-American could have written them, especially the part about our traditional Sunday dinners. Good job author!