Friday, February 4, 2011

Review of “What Happens in My House” by Patrice Howard


By: Frances Moffett


“What happens in my house, stays in my house.”
For many African-American households, this saying could have been engraved on a plaque hanging right above the front doorway—a stern reminder that everything that goes on between those walls is to stay there. But this same saying can also lead to years of lies and secrecy, which is what rising author Patrice Howard details in her debut novel, “What Happens in My House.”
The book introduces you to the Seaborn family, a tight, close-knit unit whose roots were laid in the church. The story begins with the main character and narrator Noelle discovering that her teenage sister is pregnant. On her search to determine who the unborn child’s father is, she finds out that there is more to the situation that she initially thought. Noelle eventually unlocks a history of secrets including incest and sexual abuse—something she hadn’t expected from her “God-fearing” family.
Soon, she is faced with the decision to continue to sweep these transgressions under the rug or reveal the truth. The story follows Noelle and her family as they come to terms with the ugliness with which they are faced.
“What Happens in My House” is an enthralling work that tells a story we often don’t hear in the African-American community. It embraces the taboo subject of sexual abuse and gives a real account of how it affects not only the victim but those who live with and love that person. It also attests to the real-life notion that not all stories end with a “happily ever after.”

1 comment:

  1. Hey Patrice your book is very very articulate and I read it and isn't really good how you captivated the readers attention like that your book is a work of art... Do you think that it is going to heals families across the nation? Is this book based upon something that happened in your family? Because most authors have written books upon their experiences that happen to them or what is happening to them?

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