Book Review - Archives

March - May 2004

Gloria Mallette in the short space of four novels has managed to establish herself solidly among peers writing for the African-American literature set. With her first three novels (Weeping Willows Dance, Shades Of Jade, and Promises To Keep) Ms Mallette has done nothing to dispel that she shouldn’t be a member of the club. Her forth and current work confirms it. Now comes The Honey Well, which in my opinion, is easily the author’s best work yet. It provides a subject matter rendered familiar in our society but unconventional by anyone else at this point writing about it. Every now and then you may come across a novel that will hold your rapt attention and allow artistic value to augment a good story – The Honey Well is all of that and more!

Unlike the usual spate of books being churned out by authors of color, which tend to entertain but not be overly satisfying, I think the way this story is told it gives new meaning to dementia, decadence, and disillusioned goals in the eyes of how we see how money and power governs one of the main characters. This is a story of vaginal monologues and penile projections…armed with stimulating foreplay, the usual call & response interaction that brings it to a rousing climax! The Honey Well is deep. It resonates by taking a look into an authors’ imagination about the world’s oldest profession and a woman’s prerogative to exploit, demean, and cater to self-serving goals. Esther imposes her will on her 16-year-old adolescent daughter, Arnell with a vile and unfathomable request to sleep with their old Jewish landlord, so as not to be evicted. This request manifested into reluctant career for Arnell, and a profitable one for Esther. The fact that Arnell became a high priced prostitute and Esther became her pimping madam gave a compelling reason for wrongs to be shifted, and rights to be uplifted as Arnell goes about taking control of her life subsequently.

The Honey Well is the name given to a brothel by its distinguished customers and serve to be central point of the novel. The Madam is ‘Queen’ Esther who vows to keep the upper hand on anyone who threaten to "mess with my money”. Esther easily manages to be the character you’ll love to hate. What type of mother would force her 16-years old daughter to be introduced to prostitution, or one that would defy the laws of morality involving familial order and ethical decency? With great insight, imagination and a remarkable eye for detail, the author breathes life into her characters. Listen as she describes her brood and her place of business: “The Honey Well is a classy house, in a classy neighborhood. My girls are attractive, well groomed, well polished, and have at least a high school diploma…and a few have college degrees. None have ever stood on street corners, and none have ever used drugs. They are all ladies! Each have at least a two-room suite or a large single room in this mansion, and they can use this address as their legal residence. Even those less-cultured individuals who consider my establishment the oldest profession would have to agree that it has class!”

I couldn’t fine a negative about this book, other than the fact that it ended too soon! The authors’ attempt at a subplot could have been enhanced, but to have done so would have taken away from the ambiance of the story itself. Albeit, the well-developed scenarios gave credence to the other characters that are reinforced, complex and flawed, the abusive mother-daughter relationship was depicted to show contrast. However, the characters of Esther and her daughter Arnell are so strong that the supporting cast is rendered cameo-like, but the author manages to show her skill at blending them seamlessly within the fabric at hand in weave an outstanding storyline. The dysfunctional realm reaches record lows as introductions of blackmail, revenge, backstabbing, and double-crossing lines of deceit add flavor. Battle royals are fought throughout. This is truly a page-turner, which forces you to want Arnell to triumph and bring order to chaos. This writer is rapidly becoming a favorite of mine. The Honey Well just shows how important it is to think out of the box and find topics that can be the genesis of a good story. This novels flow with imagery and color. I’m looking forward to what is next on her palette. Other titles of hers include, Shades Of Jade, and Promises To Keep.