Better Than I Know Myself

By: Virginia DeBerry, Donna Grant

Narrated by: Lisa Renee Pitts

Length: 19 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

The beloved #1 Essence best-selling authors of Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made now deliver a novel in which you'll meet their most unforgettable characters yet. Carmen, Jewel, and Regina could not be more different. When they meet as freshmen at Columbia University, they're pretty confident that a friendship among them isn't in the cards.

Jewel is Hollywood royalty; as the teenage star of the TV show Daddy's Girl, her face is instantly recognizable all across America. Now, though, she wants two things: to get a serious education and to leave her controlling stage-mother behind. Regina is the definitive upper-middle-class African-American girl. Her picture-perfect parents are what she calls "black Ward and June Cleavers", and their goals for her are like a stranglehold. No one can see, though, how far Regina's rebellious side will take her, or how treacherous it will become. Carmen is just trying to get by. A child of the projects whose father is dead and whose mother has vanished, Carmen has been raised by her abusive brother. Columbia is the way for her to get a better life, if she can hold down two jobs and keep her grade point average up.

When the three of them meet, their lives are at a crossroad. And as the years progress, from the 1980s to the present day, they are challenged by drug addiction, fame, secrets from the past, sickness, betrayal, and the darkest things women can face. One of them won't survive. But what will be the lasting legacy of their friendship? Better Than I Know Myself is a novel of heartache, triumph, tears, and the unshakeable bonds among women.

©2004 Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant (P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

Lithonia, GA

I listened to this book 3 times just in case I missed something. i truly enjoyed this audiobook. "Better Than I Know Myself" is truly worth reading.

Remember when........

like the book the story did make you mad,laugh and cry Ms. Pitts was very professionall . made me remember the god and not so good days

EXCELLENT, but...

This book...this story is one of the best I have listened to in a while. I LOVED the friendship(s), the back stories and being able to experience their lives throughout the course of so many years. And the ending...WHEW. HOWEVER, had it not been for everything I just said, I would have discontinued listening very early on. The narrator...NO...JUST NO! She would have been bareabl had there not been male characters in the story. it was SO DISTRACTING! I don't even understand what angle she was going for when reading the male characters words. I'm SO glad I continued listening...5 stars for the authors, the story and the characters. But the narrator should NEVER read a male part again.

Will listen to again

This book is wonderful, it made me feel happy, sad, laugh and cry. It will make you think of the people in your life and thoses that are to come and how we all touch each other in different ways, some will stay and some will go and you will be the better for it.

sisters are not always related...

This is one I "could not put down". I cried, I laughed, I rooted for each of the girls as they encountered the challenges that formed their life and their friendships. A must-have in your collection.

good story

This book held my attention from start to finish, I'am originally from Brooklyn and I could relate to the White Castle and the walk up Utica Ave. I thought about the book and what messages it sent days after the ending, my wife is presently listening and constantly asking what's going to happen, next book she goes first, anyway to the authors, I say "you go girl" meant in a very good way

Beautiful story!

Great story, awesome narrator! It had my attention from start to finish. Would make a great miniseries!

Excellent

Would you listen to Better Than I Know Myself again? Why?

Yes! It was a great listen and I found myself wanting to get back to the story asap.

Which character – as performed by Lisa Renee Pitts – was your favorite?

Jewel

Who was the most memorable character of Better Than I Know Myself and why?

Carmen. She started from humble beginnings and with hard work, dedication and best friends, was able to make it to her goal in life.

Outstanding

From the beginning to end, the reader brought life to the story. In some ways, it reminded me of my school days. Although I haven’t experienced a close friends death, I have just been through a close friend’s ordeal with cancer diagnosis. Thanks for your help with this writing. God bless!

Great

Bravo!!! Loved the characters and wished them a happy life. The storyline shows that life goes on with all its joys and hardships and friendship endures forever.