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Some Things I Never Thought I'd Do

Review

Some Things I Never Thought I'd Do



Is the enjoyment of a book lessened if you know from the start how
it will end? In the case of SOME THINGS I NEVER THOUGHT I'D DO, the
answer is no.

Right from the start of the book Regina Burns knows her fate, as
told to her by her visionary advisor, her Aunt Abbie. A recovering
drug addict, Regina has lost her job, her love, and is close to
losing the home that belonged to her mother and her mother's
mother. But her "vibrant, self-sufficient, patchouli-smelling" Aunt
Abbie predicts … no, she knows that all will be well.
"There's a man in Atlanta who's been looking for you across time,"
she tells Regina. Voices are telling Aunt Abbie that her niece will
travel to Atlanta to "complete a task for a fallen friend" and
"rescue a damsel in distress."

It's heady stuff for sure, but Regina takes it in stride as she
heads off to Atlanta to work for the one person who would hire her:
her former boss Beth Davis, a motivational speaker and the mother
of her former fiancé. She's not keen on working for the woman
who contributed to the demise of her relationship, but it's work
and it'll save her mother's house. Beth has employed her to archive
her deceased son's papers and work on a memorial to him … to
"complete a task for a fallen friend."

Once in Atlanta she finds a neighborhood that verges on
too-good-to-be-true. There's no crime, the streets are clean and
bright, and the neighbors are all friendly. One man --- Blue ---
gets all the credit for the town's charm and it turns out he also
gets Regina's heart. Eyes the color of the vast ocean, Blue has
indeed been looking for Regina and the spark is
instantaneous.

The "damsel in distress" will reveal herself soon enough, so I
won't spoil that for you. I will say though that this is a magical
story. Passionate and engaging, Regina is a lovable character for
whom you can't help but root. You may know from the start what
awaits Regina, but the lovely unfolding of the story will keep you
reading until the damsel is saved and all in Regina's world is what
Aunt Abbie knew it would be.

Reviewed by Roberta O'Hara on January 23, 2011

Some Things I Never Thought I'd Do
by Pearl Cleage

  • Publication Date: February 28, 2006
  • Genres: Fiction
  • Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: One World/Ballantine
  • ISBN-10: 0345456084
  • ISBN-13: 9780345456083