I Left My Back Door Open: A Novel - Softcover

Sinclair, April

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0380732807 ISBN 13: 9780380732807

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks, 2007

Synopsis

Chicago deejay Daphne "Dee Dee" Dupree is sassy and successful—but a series of catastrophic relationships has left her gun-shy. Now with her own life and the lives of those closest to her seemingly coming apart at the seams, she's going to have to leave the safe cocoon of her broadcasting booth to face her world, her secrets, and a new promise of mature love fearlessly and head-on.

About this title

About the Author

April Sinclair's debut novel, Coffee Will Make You Black, was named Book of the Year (Young Adult Fiction) for 1994 by the American Library Association and received the Carl Sandburg Award from the Friends of the Chicago Public Library. A Chicago native, she now lives in Berkeley, California.

From Kirkus Reviews

A witty narrative and sympathetic characters rescue (but just barely) a story that overexerts itself to include nearly every anxiety known to pop culture. Let's get real, says Dee Dee Dupree. What are the chances of an overweight, over forty, black woman meeting Mr. Right? This concern is at the center of almost all the other elements of Dee Dee's life: her job as a radio DJ in Chicago, the souring romantic relationships of her friends, and her struggle to make peace with being an incest survivor. As the story opens, Dee Dee is hardly excited about her arranged meeting with Skylar, a mediator brought in to settle a sexual harassment complaint filed by her friend Jade at the radio station. When Dee Dee and Skylar meet, however, the attraction is mutual, and they begin a tender if at times troubled relationship. As things go on, however, Dee Dee learns both through her own experience and observation of others that love is a briar patch. Jade considers leaving her domineering husband; high-school friend Sarita becomes increasingly detached from her husband, who then makes a move on Dee Dee; and best friend Sharon comes out as a lesbian, slightly rocking the friendship but most of all affecting Sharon's teenaged daughter, Tyeesha, who does all she can to rebel. Most worrisome to Dee Dee is her own tenuous relationship with Skylar's young daughter, Brianna, and with his ex-wife, who just won't go away. Playing unofficial counselor to everyone in sight, Dee Dee has a full emotional platewhile she desperately tries to reduce the portions on her literal one. Sinclair (Aint Gonna Be the Same Fool Twice, 1996, etc.) realistically weaves together a variety of characters, offering a panoramic view of black women approaching 40. Unfortunately, much of the realism flies out the window at the close, when all strings are tied together happily and very quickly. Uneven at the end, but an amusing read. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0380732807
• ISBN 13: 9780380732807
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304