"A witty and engaging display that shows excitement, fun, and finding love doesn't end at 60." -The Bordeaux Side
Title: It's Not All Downhill From Here: A Novel
Author: Terry McMillan
Publication Date: 02/9/2021
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 384
EAN/UPC: 9781984823755
US SRP: $17.00
Additional Format(s):
$30 - Large Print* (Trade Paperback), 496 pages. Random House Large Print, 9780593153444
$40 - Compact Disc* (Audio CD). Random House Audio, 9780593148136
Digital Format(s):
eBook (3.04 MB), 368 pages. Ballantine Books, 9781984823762
Audiobook (0.69 MB), 610 minutes. Penguin Random House Audio, 9780593148143
*Backorder
Summary:
Loretha “Lo” Curry is in her late 60’s and doesn’t subscribe to the idea that her best years are behind her. She is a successful business owner of two beauty supply stores and she is madly in love with her husband, Carl. Her husband is retired from his lucrative contracting business, and he spends his time renovating the rental properties that they own. Lo’s granddaughter, Cinnamon, and her boyfriend, Jonas have an apartment in one of their properties, as well as Lo’s twin sister, Odessa. Loretha doesn’t subscribe to the idea that once you reach a certain age you have to stop living an adventurous life or looking good. This is why she still wears 3-inch heels to work every day. She believes that you can still seek new adventures and work toward your dreams. Loretha wants to sell her beauty supply stores and open a more glamorous and upscale beauty store. Her family and some friends think that she should just slow down because she’s turning 68. This is partially why she isn’t really interested in doing the same old “surprise” birthday party with her family. This year for her birthday, Carl surprises her and plans a trip to one of their favorite resorts. Loretha couldn’t be happier because she does not have a good relationship with Odessa, and her daughter, Jalecia; last year neither one of them attended her birthday party. The upside of her last birthday party was that her lifelong girlfriends, Lucky, Poochie, Sadie, and Korynthia were there.
Unfortunately, a little while after arriving at the resort, Carl has a massive heart attack and dies. A number of Carl’s relatives from Flint, MI come to the memorial service and one of the young men, Kwame, decides to stay in Los Angeles because there are more opportunities in LA than in Flint. After he dies she goes through a really tough mourning period, her best friends and her dog B. B. King are there to help her through this difficult period. Throughout this process, Loretha learns that Kwame is Carl’s son and Carl did not know about him. Loretha welcomes him into her life because she knows that would be what Carl would have done. She also learns that her best friends are experiencing their own personal issues and family problems. The ladies learn to accept themselves and address those things which are keeping them from living their truth and in turn achieving happiness. This includes admitting and embracing homosexuality, addressing mental health issues and substance abuse issues. Through this Loretha finally realizes that she has to take her diabetes seriously and start exercising and eating properly if she wants to be able to play with her grandchildren and live a happy life which includes opening the upscale beauty supply and glamour store and possibly dating again. She also learns how to continue to love and support her daughter.
I really enjoyed reading this book. The writing grabbed me from the first page. The story is very relatable and is told by the protagonist, Loretha, with the dialogue of her friends, family, doctor, and dog as well. The story was very well developed, but there was an area that I wish would have been given more attention. This part was when Sadie came out and told her friends that she was gay and the next time this was referenced was when she brought her girlfriend on the cruise that Poochie had arranged for them. The girlfriends may not have discussed it with her because Loretha always thought she may be gay, but didn’t think that she had accepted it yet. It could also be because her friends didn’t think it was a big deal and were more concerned with her happiness most of all.
The ladies went on a cruise after Poochie died and it was Poochie's wish when she arranged the cruise that each person bring someone significant in their lives. Sadie brought her girlfriend Callie, Loretha brought her twin sister Odessa, Lucky brought her husband Joe, and Korynthia brought her boyfriend Henry. It was at this time one could see how the ladies had each really worked on their personal issues and were doing much better. The story overall triggers different emotions. For instance, when Loretha is mourning Carl’s death, you really can feel her pain and loneliness; you really understand Loretha’s anxiety when she cannot find Jalecia; you feel Loretha’s joy when her daughter voluntarily checks herself into a treatment facility to get help with her depression and alcohol problem. The readers will also feel angry because there are many times that Jalecia aunt is asking for money under the guise to feed and house Jalecia, but it doesn’t always seem like this is how the money will actually be used.
Ratings:
Quality - 🍷🍷🍷🍷
The plot and the characters have been richly developed.
Popularity - 🍹🍹🍹🍹
Terry McMillan is well known for writing books which center on the lives of African American professional women. This will be popular among her fans and others because this is a subject that isn’t normally covered in books.
Significance of the book:
The book is significant because I do not know how many novels have been written about women of color in this phase of their life where they are looking to experience different things in life that bring them joy and possibly start dating as well. Offhand I do not know how many books have been written, but there are a couple of movies that are kind of similar which are geared toward more mature women - The Book Club and It’s Complicated. The popularity of these movies shows that there is an audience for this type of book and film.
Author's website and press:
Appeal Factors: Culturally Diverse, Funny, Moving, Engaging, Witty, Own Voices
Read-alike Titles:
Best Friends Forever by Kimberla Lawson Roby - culturally diverse, own voices
The Secret Women by Sheila Williams - culturally diverse, moving
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams - culturally diverse, witty, moving
Lists / Awards:
New York Times Bestsellers List
Essence Awards
Booktalking ideas:
She’s still got it! (page 4, Loretha dancing and Carl admiring her dance moves)
Not agreeing with her doctor’s diabetes diagnosis ( page 13, Loretha explains to her doctor why she doesn’t need to lose twenty-five, preferable thirty-five pounds)
It’s never to late for love! (page 227, Korynthia tells Loretha that she’s been going out with a man and this will be their fifth date. She shares that she may be falling in love)
I would probably do a small booktalk to introduce this book to a patron that likes this genre.
Book discussion questions:
Once Loretha was told that Kwame was Carl’s son she accepted him right away. Why was this so easy for her to do, and why is it so hard for other people to be so accepting?
How much should a person help relatives financially?
Why do you think there is still such a stigma around mental health issues? Do you think that is why Lucky, Odessa, Jalecia, and Poochie couldn’t talk about their individual issues?
Why I Chose This Book:
I chose this book because I am a fan of Terry McMillan and I missed this one when it was initially released. It was appealing to me because the characters are African American women in their late 60s and I will be this age in less than 10 years. I thought it would be interesting to see how their lives are portrayed, and I hoped this would be as witty and engaging as her previous novels. I really enjoyed three of her previous novels, Waiting to Exhale; How Stella Got Her Groove Back; Who Asked You. I like to see the interaction of the female characters, as well as how the characters are developed.
“Clues for the Future”: African American ladies in their late 60s; Southern California; Relationships; Depression; Substance abuse issues; Friendship; Family
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