The Hand I Fan With

The Hand I Fan with is a book I've read so many times I can recite passages from it.

Lena McPherson is a lady of prestige in her town of Mulberry, GA. Many readers who follow Ansa's work will remember Lena had a prequel in Baby Of The Family. This book though gives us full insight to her initial sadness - Lena was born of a spiritual birth with a caul over her face. Her people didn't believe in that, and burned the caul. Over her life Lena has had remarkable spiritual gifts, but such gifts have limited her from having meaningful relationships with people except for Sister, her best friend. Sister is prety much a high priestess and has been trying to help Lena get a handle on her gifts.

The book picks up steam with Sister goes on a show more spiritual trip for a couple of months. Before they go they do a ritual trying to conjure Lena up a man. Little do either of them know they summon Herman, Lena's 100 year old ghost of a guardian angel. Herman ain't your typical guardian angel. He's there to love Lena in any way shape or form she needs it, and he gets the job done. Slowly but surely her gifts start manifesting him as flesh and bone, especially as their love thing intensifies. This at least gives her clarity and closure on the deaths of her entire immediate family, and a deeper understanding of the state of affairs in her life, especially pertaining to Herman. But all good things come to an end. In the case of Herman and Lena, the end is just the beginning.

Read it. Starts out "slow" if you haven't read Baby Of The Family, but if you're reading a one off of it and make it to the chapter entitled "Love" the pages will turn and it will be over before you know it. show less

Lena-baby was so cool to get to know. Never mind the fact that the book is so good I was laughing aloud, shouting, snotting and downright balled at the end, you could really relate. She is surely every woman at some point, on some level, at some time in their lives. The relationship with her ghostly beau, Herman, made me hope for a better love.

Here's some homework for you. Cop "This is Acid Jazz" with R.A.D (it's a compilation CD) to hear So Complete. If I were to make this book into a movie, this song would be on the soundtrack!

Oh! the only reason I gave this book 4 1/2* is because the beginning is slow and confusing, BUT believe me it is relevant and worth the wait.