This wont be a popular review, but the book was such a disappointment I had to put my 2 cents down. I was listening to the abridged audiobook of 5 cds and I couldnt even finish the first cd. I found the characters unlikable and most importantly, unengaging. What absolutely grated my nerves to the last straw was the narrator using saying phases like "the darker race" this and the "dark race" that... it would have been okay if the book was written in the 1920's or something, but for the late 90's? what is wrong with this author? I dont like books where a black author is writing about black people to a white audience without any warning. the narrator seems like he trying to justify his very existance. gosh, I hated this book!