Willie's Market

By Michael R. Lane

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• ISBN: 0971645329
• ISBN13: 9780971645325
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Bare Bones Press
• Length: 230 Pages
• Weight: 0.71 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A Gathering Place

WILLIE'S MARKET highlights everyday life in a small urban community. Abe and Winona Stone move to East Liberty from the South and through hard work and a supportive family they are able to purchase Willie's Market and realize a dream. In addition to being a place to shop, the market serves as a community gathering place, where everyone knows everyone. But all of the characters in the story including Abe and Winona have a deeper story to tell, and as the story evolves we are reminded that life is much more complicated than meets the eye. It is this deeper story that will grab you and draw you in as you meet a colorful group of characters that indeed keep the story moving and the reader turning pages. We meet Abe and Winona's son Dwight, whose comfortable home life, and love for Louis Armstrong doesn't outweigh his need to learn his true identity. Reverend Embry Wilshire, pastor of the neighborhood church, takes his job as spiritual advisor quite seriously, yet he has his own demons to battle. And Felton, whose bizarre behavior and elusive ways leave most people in East Liberty scratching their heads. Some of the other characters include a beautician/nude dancer, a washed up singer, a lonely widow, and a homeless orphan.WILLIE'S MARKET is a strong character driven novel that evokes a strong sense of empathy in the reader. I found myself wanting to understand the characters better and curious about how things would end up. One of the strengths of this book was that it featured ordinary characters experiencing struggles that were inherently human. East Liberty could be any place and there were aspects of the characters' personalities and experiences that nearly any one could relate to. The book dealt with social truths and human truths and kept me enthralled until the last page. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Michael R. Lane....

Fast paced, entertaing novel

A fast moving, intriguing novel which provides an informative insight into a close-knit black community. A real page turner with entertaining twists and turns along the way.

The Power of Community

"Willie's Market" provides an engaging view of the joys and drawbacks of living in a small community. Abe and Winona Stone own a corner grocery store and are central characters in the novel. All of the characters are tied to the Stone's in some way - through friendship, through spirit, through animosity and jealousy. These characters demonstrate how strong personal integrity, love of family and friends, and perseverance can overcome many of life's difficulties.

Totally engaging

Everyone of the characters are completly developed, love them or hate them, it was hard to let them go. They are a complex group of people who, while being sheltered in their own established neighborhood, still felt the ramifications of a changing world. We get to witness their reactions over a period of a year,sometimes it is painful,but other times you can't help but share thier joy. I still pick up the book and reread passages.and am secrectly hoping for a sequel