By the Light of My Father's Smile Paperback – 17 Feb. 2005

I adored this. I first became a fan of Alice Walker when i studied 'Color Purple' at High School and i have loved her work ever since!When i read this i fell in love with the characters, was sad happy and anxious with them, Walker portrayed the complexity of Human emotion and the double standerds that we all have no matter how much we try to be liberal.Sensual in her description of relationships and paternal in the fathers descriptions and narrations.As for the idea of Walker hating Black men... i just don't see it here, the Father does what all fathers do and watches over his children with the utmost love.Walker beautifuly described heritages with care and understanding and 'By the Light of my Fathers smile' is another example of her genius.

A family saga with a difference. Magical, sad, serene, mysterious. On the level of 'Love in the time of Cholera'. One is pulled into the mix of mundane family problems to a deeper level of trying to understand what is family love and bonding. How a small moment of distraction can cause years of pain and misunderstanding. It was a pleasur to read as Ms Walker is wonderwoman of the English language.

This book draws you in and wrings you out. It is powerfully written and is an experience. The way in which it changes narrator gives you different perpectives of the charachters, making them much more rounded and believable. Well worth buying but don't read it if you are feeling down.

I found this too complicated to get into and it is definitely not a read on the train book you need to read chapters once or twice.