Flight of the Blackbird

By Faye McDonald Smith

A family in turmoilMeet the Burke family: Mel, her husband Builder, and their daughter Sasha. They are the very image of upwardly mobile Americans -- full members of Atlanta's black professional elite. Yet when Mel loses her corporate job due to the downsizing trend sweeping the country, the fragility of their world is harshly exposed. What follows is a richly detailed portrait of one family's dreams of prosperity, and fears of failure.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446605611
• ISBN13: 9780446605618
• Release Date: December 1997
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

OVERSPENDING NIGHTMARE

FLIGHT OF THE BLACKBIRD is the story of the downward spiral of a woman, Mel, and her family when she loses her job. This book questions living above one's means, and not saving and putting away for lean times. It addresses decisions made while under financial duress and how they affect family members. Finally, FLIGHT OF THE BLACKBIRD looks at the impact of having less on family pride, values and images. Even though this book presented a very real scenario and I'm glad I read it, it was depressing. One bad situation kept happening after another. I put myself in the lead character's position and thought that there were many pitfalls which could have been avoided. One last note, I finished reading this book with a resolution to take better control of my finances.

"That which does not kill us, makes us stronger".

FLIGHT OF THE BLACKBIRD" is a novel about strength, perseverence, and love, and how everything that was once lost can be found again. I thought that there was nothing left for this family, and then another tragedy brought about newfound priorities and stronger family ties. The best part of this book was that it was so real. Downsizing is a part of the corporate structure, and people cope in different ways. This family, to me, took it too lightly, and the walls fell it-HARD! It was a very powerful novel and I enjoyed it throughly.

Excellent

All I have to say is this is a must read for everyone. The world in which we live in is no longer steady employment -- no matter how loyal an employee you are. Downsizing and corporate restructuring is happening everyday and when it happens to you it can be devastating. Ms. McDonald Smith brings this story together with laughter, tears and hope. It holds your interest from start to finish. I wish more people would pick it up and read it. This book also knows no color -- because as I stated earlier downsizing and coporate restructuring effects us all in everyway - family, finances and emotionally.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat

The book was a real page turner. It is very rare that you find a book as realistically written as this and still call it fiction. At the end of each chapter I was left wondering what could possibly still happen to Mel and Builder. I was impressed that the author also wanted to depict the changes that the situation was taking Sasha through as well. I felt like a member of their family. I just wanted to help get them back on their feet. I will recommend this to my book club

I found this book engrossing - I couldn't put it down!

I felt like Mel and Builder Burke were very believable characters. Their trials and tribulations parallel real life situations. As in life, fairy-tale endings are just that - fairy tales. The dialogue is realistic as well as the development of all of the characters. Under conditions of financial distress, any American family can relate to the strains of the Burkes' family relationships. This book would be a real winner for Oprah's Book Club