Meant to Be: A Novel

By Rita Coburn Whack

Book Overview

In a novel reminiscent of the work of Maya Angelou and Ntozake Shange, Rita Coburn Whack tells the story of how a young woman's spiritual awakening leads her to maturity and self-fulfillment. When Meant to Be opens, thirteen-year-old Patience Jan Campbell is called upon to read and interpret her favorite scripture for the church congregation: "I think this scripture means that children know every shut eye ain't sleep and every head bowed ain't praying, so grown-ups ain't fooling us or God. . . . So nobody should hold a child back from God just 'cause they may be having trouble finding Him." But a traumatic experience causes Jan to stumble and lose her "voice." Unable to turn to those around her, she calls for her grandmother Hannah--who died before Jan was born--in prayer. Unbeknownst to Jan, Hannah does come, and through her wise eyes we follow Jan into her early twenties as she moves to the big city, goes to college, and begins a career. A reflective father, a misunderstood mother, a sage aunt, and two pivotal lovers all build emotional bridges that help Jan progress on her journey to womanhood.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375758097
• ISBN13: 9780375758096
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: Villard
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.7" x 5.2"

Customer Reviews

Spritual and Moving

Meant to Be is a beautifully crafted, well written novel that explores love and family relationships with great depth and honesty. Told from the point of view of a deceased grandmother who hopes her spiritual presence will be strong enough to save her granddaughter, Patience, from the fates that have haunted her family. At a very young age Patience realizes that although both her parents love her dearly, they show very little love and caring towards each other. Daily she watches and wonders what the cause of the conflict is and if it will eventually cause major changes in her life. Patience finds comfort and solace in her long heartfelt conversations with her Aunt Ada, who seems to have great insight into most of life's mysteries, and she discovers a love of music by listening to her parents old Jazz and Blues recordings. This becomes one of her greatest passions as she is mesmerized by the music of Billie, Sarah, Ella, Dinah and Nancy. As Patience matures and moves away from the quiet little rural town her parents sought refuge in, she starts reflecting on her love life. She's not sure what she wants in a relationship but she know she does not want the dysfunctional situation her parents have. Patience meets two very different men who both have her considering what it truly takes to have a life filled with love. Her parents, Aunt Ada, Grandmother and best friend Sarah will all mentor and counsel her with their experiences. My only qualm with this book is that at the end little is resolved. I don't need a story wrapped up with a big red bow on top but I enjoy a little packaging. Still this is a very good debut novel, Rita Coburn Whack is definitely a talented writer. I look forward to future novels from her. Reviewed by RubyAPOOO Bookclub

An Inspiring Journey into Womanhood....

Meant to Be is a young girl's journey into womanhood. Jan deals with parents that are sometimes as cold as ice, with secrets so hot they could melt the sun. A spirit spills the story through loquacious narrative chronicling Jan's journey through adolescence, into womanhood, through college, during relationships, and into loss. Invariably she learns keen awareness, acceptance, and forgiveness.I had a distinct appreciation for the rhythm of the story, which delved in and out of the characters' thoughts, spinning perspectives and providing lucid details through Jan's distorted puberty. The women grazing in and out of Jan's peripherals add variety, color, and perspective to the story. Ms. Coburn is as lyrical as they come. Smooth, wise words slip in and out of the pages branding location, setting, and characters in your thoughts. In Meant to Be, you'll read with your ears as well as with your eyes. The words are so succulent and familiar that if you read too fast, you'll miss the clever mixtures of wisdom and sarcasm.The story is engaging. The writing is mesmerizing. I only have one complaint. I abhor lengthy narrative, which reminds me of boring college lectures where you are not an active participant. Narrative is the medium through which this story is told. Consequently, had the author spun the tale without this particular narrative, the story would adopt a totally different meaning. Eventually I learned to tolerate the verbose voice leading me through each scene and thought. Take your time reading this or the loud narrative will overwhelm you. This is not a speed read. Pace yourself in order to really appreciate the depth of the message, the melody of the words, and the spirit of the story.

Well-written and thought-provoking

First of all, it is very hard to write a review for a book such as this. It is complex and difficult to describe in simplistic terms. All that can be said is, this reviewer was hooked from page one because of the character called PJ. Even as a child, she had spunk, sassiness, and was vividly drawn. And as an adult, she was real, making choices in life that weren't all good or bad. Throughout the novel, the writer's words are like poetry; she is very adept at putting one word after another to paint and sketch so the reader can see and hear. The one thing that one must be aware about, however, is the abundance of narrative in the story which may make it seem slow. You're anxious to get to the end, but you may find it difficult to do so. But if you're patient, and stick it out, you may be happy to read a story that makes you about the possibilities of how your ancestors can guide you, speak to you, and make a difference in your life even when they aren't no longer physically present.

A Spiritual Journey

Patience Jan Campbell was always thought to have a chip on her shoulder, and in her life she always thought it was her against the world. She was raised in a home with two parents who loved her but did not seem to love each other. Jan, as she preferred to be called, went to church on Sundays alone, and she was sustained by the love of her aunt Ada who was always there for her. During her childhood, Jan endured a devastating experience. In addition to the pain she experienced she lost someone very important, herself. She could not seem to stop the pain she was feeling and seemed to be stumbling around making mistake after mistake. Being the religious person that she is, Jan calls on the spirit of her deceased paternal grandmother, Hannah. She believes that her grandmother can help her. Hannah is a major force in the story, though she cannot stop Jan from doing stupid things, she seems to fill the empty places Jan has inside of her heart. Hannah, gives the reader the inside track as to what is going on in Jan's head and she also tries to steer Jan away from bad situations. Rita Coburn Whack's Meant to Be is a beautifully written and touching narrative. Ms. Whack's writing style is lyrical, very literary and paints a picture for the reader. I enjoyed Jan's journey and Hannah's guidance and look forward to reading more by the author.Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks