- Hardcover: 336 pages
- Publisher: Dafina (1 Sep 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 075820342X
- ISBN-13: 978-0758203427
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15.7 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,496,455 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Red Light Wives
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More About the Author
Product Description
Book Description
From bestselling author Mary Monroe comes a powerful new novel abut six very different women who work the streets of San Francisco under the control of one charismatic man, Clyde. Despite their love of the high life and each other, they all long for a life free from him and the hundreds of other men they must entertain. Then one daring act changes everything. A warm and stylish story about hopes, dreams and the power of friendship.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
Another great story from Mary Monroe. If you are familiar with other novels by her, the style of this one is very different. There are six different heroines and the story goes back and forth between the characters. I think it is important for an author to change their style of writing to keep their fans interested and show diversity. If you like this novel I,m sure you will enjoy God Don't Like Ugly, God Still Don't Like Ugly and God Don't Play.Happy reading!
Format:Paperback
This is the first Mary Monroe book that I was actually disappointed in and I couldn't wait to get to the end of the book just so I could put an end to the torture.
The novel tells six women who ended up working in the world's oldest profession for a smooth operator called Clyde.
My problem with the novel was not the story, language or characters; my problem was the style. Those familiar with Mary Monroe would be aware how she often uses short chapters to keep the reader in suspense, and you are usually following one main protagonist. In Red Light Wives there are six protagonists, and each needs explanations as to how they ended up where they are, what they are doing, and what their plans of action are. In the end I was getting so confused and so frustrated at having to wait for so long for each protagonists story to continue. There were some very long chapters; well long by Mary Monroe standards anyway. In the end I lost a lot of sympathy and patience for most of the "wives" and just wanted Clyde to disappear.
Try it and see, maybe it's just me and I should try reading again in a few years.
The novel tells six women who ended up working in the world's oldest profession for a smooth operator called Clyde.
My problem with the novel was not the story, language or characters; my problem was the style. Those familiar with Mary Monroe would be aware how she often uses short chapters to keep the reader in suspense, and you are usually following one main protagonist. In Red Light Wives there are six protagonists, and each needs explanations as to how they ended up where they are, what they are doing, and what their plans of action are. In the end I was getting so confused and so frustrated at having to wait for so long for each protagonists story to continue. There were some very long chapters; well long by Mary Monroe standards anyway. In the end I lost a lot of sympathy and patience for most of the "wives" and just wanted Clyde to disappear.
Try it and see, maybe it's just me and I should try reading again in a few years.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
36 reviews
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Married to the Moll
11 Sep 2004
Format:Hardcover
Working girl. Escort. Hooker. Prostitute. Call Girl. Pro. These are all words commonly used to describe women in the oldest profession in the world. However, Clyde Brooks calls his girls wives, and you'll never hear him calling himself a pimp. The six women prominently featured in Mary Monroe's latest novel, RED LIGHT WIVES, all fall into Clyde's profession in one way or another, be it lineage, circumstance, chance, or loyalty.
Ester has known Clyde for much of her life. When she was a baby, Clyde found her lying in a dumpster, left for dead. Over a decade later Ester and Clyde reunite and she becomes his first wife. But being without a family or lineage has left Ester confused about her heritage and even more confused about her purpose.
Rosalee has been haunted most of her adult life by a supposed curse that virtually wiped out her family. Upon her mother's insistence, Rosalee, her new husband, and her mother fled to escape the curse that Rosalee's mother believes in wholeheartedly. However, Rosalee's mother is rarely satisfied, and she demands that they move yet again. Rosalee's husband refuses to move and she leaves him behind and becomes a new type of wife to Clyde Brooks and a puppet to her mother.
Lula Mae seems to have a dark cloud following her in life. After witnessing her mother's loose ways and later suffering abuse from her stepmother, Lula Mae takes up with the wrong man and finds herself in a tragic situation. Her solution is to flee her problems and make a new life in a new town. But tragedy strikes yet again for Lula Mae, and she finds she must survive by any means necessary.
Rockelle's husband left her and her three children without so much as a Dear Jane letter. Feeling the need to keep up with the Joneses, Rockelle enlists her body as her moneymaker and soon finds herself married to the moll.
Mary Monroe staggeringly brought the four previously mentioned women, two others, and their manager, Clyde, to a luminous life. Monroe did not glamorize the profession, nor did she bash it. Rather, she made certain that she illustrated the good, the bad, and the ugly of being a working girl. Each character holds their voice in the story, and are never left behind or forgotten. She simplifies the sometimes-daunting task of not only introducing a large amount of protagonists, but also following them all through to the very end. RED LIGHT WIVES is a dazzling work by a masterly maven of fiction.
Reviewed by CandaceK
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Ester has known Clyde for much of her life. When she was a baby, Clyde found her lying in a dumpster, left for dead. Over a decade later Ester and Clyde reunite and she becomes his first wife. But being without a family or lineage has left Ester confused about her heritage and even more confused about her purpose.
Rosalee has been haunted most of her adult life by a supposed curse that virtually wiped out her family. Upon her mother's insistence, Rosalee, her new husband, and her mother fled to escape the curse that Rosalee's mother believes in wholeheartedly. However, Rosalee's mother is rarely satisfied, and she demands that they move yet again. Rosalee's husband refuses to move and she leaves him behind and becomes a new type of wife to Clyde Brooks and a puppet to her mother.
Lula Mae seems to have a dark cloud following her in life. After witnessing her mother's loose ways and later suffering abuse from her stepmother, Lula Mae takes up with the wrong man and finds herself in a tragic situation. Her solution is to flee her problems and make a new life in a new town. But tragedy strikes yet again for Lula Mae, and she finds she must survive by any means necessary.
Rockelle's husband left her and her three children without so much as a Dear Jane letter. Feeling the need to keep up with the Joneses, Rockelle enlists her body as her moneymaker and soon finds herself married to the moll.
Mary Monroe staggeringly brought the four previously mentioned women, two others, and their manager, Clyde, to a luminous life. Monroe did not glamorize the profession, nor did she bash it. Rather, she made certain that she illustrated the good, the bad, and the ugly of being a working girl. Each character holds their voice in the story, and are never left behind or forgotten. She simplifies the sometimes-daunting task of not only introducing a large amount of protagonists, but also following them all through to the very end. RED LIGHT WIVES is a dazzling work by a masterly maven of fiction.
Reviewed by CandaceK
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Monroe Delivers Again!
21 Oct 2004
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Monroe pens another hit in her latest release, Red Light Wives. As the title implies, the story centers on the complicated interrelationship of four "working" ladies and their pimp, Clyde Brooks. The story is in the telling and Monroe creates full-bodied women with sordid pasts that leave them desperate for money, affection, happiness, and independence.
As a beautiful failed model Rosalie embraces the "life" to provide for her manipulating and controlling mother who is haunted by a voodoo curse;
Ghetto fabulous Rockelle is abandoned by her husband and has a penchant to keep up with the "Joneses" at all costs;
Street-smart Ester is deserted at birth and rescued by a teenaged Clyde, her dedication and loyalty to him is obvious but flawed;
Helen, a mentally challenged girl who mimics her idol (Rockelle), relishes the physical attention from men and boys until fate catches up to her; and
Lula Mae, a country girl, has had it rough from childhood and who is rebounding from losing a lover, husband, and child finds herself penniless, alone, and in the lowest of low places when she meets Rockelle who introduces her to Clyde.
Clyde, devoted father, grandson, and womanizer provides escort services to a variety of clients.
These colorful characters have deep roots, haunting histories, and a myriad of problems that only Monroe can imagine. She taps in to the human psyche of each woman as she connives to leave Clyde and reclaim her life and dignity. Told in alternating voices and true to Monroe style, there is plenty of fast-paced drama with several surprises along the way. I found myself turning pages with anticipation to see how it would all play out. Although the subject matter may disturb some readers, she handles the subject matter with plausible respectability and decency thus delivering a seemingly tolerable, easy, and ultimately enjoyable read. Monroe has earned a place on my favorite author list - looking forward to whatever she releases next.
Reviewed by Phyllis Rhodes
APOOO Book Club
Nubian Circle Book Club
As a beautiful failed model Rosalie embraces the "life" to provide for her manipulating and controlling mother who is haunted by a voodoo curse;
Ghetto fabulous Rockelle is abandoned by her husband and has a penchant to keep up with the "Joneses" at all costs;
Street-smart Ester is deserted at birth and rescued by a teenaged Clyde, her dedication and loyalty to him is obvious but flawed;
Helen, a mentally challenged girl who mimics her idol (Rockelle), relishes the physical attention from men and boys until fate catches up to her; and
Lula Mae, a country girl, has had it rough from childhood and who is rebounding from losing a lover, husband, and child finds herself penniless, alone, and in the lowest of low places when she meets Rockelle who introduces her to Clyde.
Clyde, devoted father, grandson, and womanizer provides escort services to a variety of clients.
These colorful characters have deep roots, haunting histories, and a myriad of problems that only Monroe can imagine. She taps in to the human psyche of each woman as she connives to leave Clyde and reclaim her life and dignity. Told in alternating voices and true to Monroe style, there is plenty of fast-paced drama with several surprises along the way. I found myself turning pages with anticipation to see how it would all play out. Although the subject matter may disturb some readers, she handles the subject matter with plausible respectability and decency thus delivering a seemingly tolerable, easy, and ultimately enjoyable read. Monroe has earned a place on my favorite author list - looking forward to whatever she releases next.
Reviewed by Phyllis Rhodes
APOOO Book Club
Nubian Circle Book Club
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Mary Monroe Does It Again!!
21 Sep 2004
Format:Hardcover
I've read all of Mary Monroe's books and will continue if her writing stays as consistent as she has shown in Red Light Wives. Ms. Monroe writes in a unique style that I can't really describe but that you know when you read her books. It's something in the words she uses to describe her characters and their thoughts that makes you feel she writes things that people think but wouldn't dare say.
I liked reading each chapter from the female's point of view that the chapter was titled. My favorite character hands down was Helen Daniels. I laughed out loud at some of the stuff she said and thought about Rocky. She was sharper than a lot of the other characters gave her credit for.
True Mary Monroe fans will appreciate this effort while new fans will want to go back and read her other works. I have to admit that God Don't Like Ugly is still my favorite but this book also did a good job with character development. As always when I finish her books much too quickly because I can't put them down, I'm ready for another book from this author!
I liked reading each chapter from the female's point of view that the chapter was titled. My favorite character hands down was Helen Daniels. I laughed out loud at some of the stuff she said and thought about Rocky. She was sharper than a lot of the other characters gave her credit for.
True Mary Monroe fans will appreciate this effort while new fans will want to go back and read her other works. I have to admit that God Don't Like Ugly is still my favorite but this book also did a good job with character development. As always when I finish her books much too quickly because I can't put them down, I'm ready for another book from this author!
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