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

Undying Friendship

The 3 main characters in this book may come from very different backgrounds yet they manage to create a bond that was solid as a rock. As you travel with them through life you feel like a friend in the shadows cheering them on through every challenge and victory. Their relationships reinforces how fragile life can be as we tragically lose a couple of characters we grew to love. This story of friendship, love, and life is a must read.

WOW What a Story!!

This entire story touched my heart from beginning to end...I spent some sleepless nights not wanting to put off hearing what was next. The characters were outstanding, the story line reminded me of so much of the friends in my life that are new and long lost. Thank you for helping me to remember what true friends really are...

Awesome

love this book. I needed more this story was awesome. every character needs a book. jewel and Billy's story. definitely ty and Regina's story

better than I know myself

I enjoyed this book; I found it very entertaining, holding my interest throughout. The characters were an interesting contrast and well developed by the authors.

Pretty good

I like the characters and how the narrator voice changed appropriately to reflect the characters.

Loved it

WONDERFUL BOOK
LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT
MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE APART OF THE STORY !!!

Such a great and important story

I loved listening to this book, and loved finishing it even more. At times, the long pauses between characters were annoying and the different voices were a bit too much, but the story nonetheless is a great one. Lots of lessons to be learned by reading this book.

Great Listen

I have listened to and read many books by African American writers, but I think that this is one of my favorites. I laughed, cried, and enjoyed the triumphs of these three ladies. Having been one of 3 sisters in my family, (all close in age), I was able to easily identify with the relationship between these women. GREAT LISTER, I highly recommend this book.

Three Girls I Would Like to Know

This story is well told and engrossing. The characters are well defined as individuals. The turns and twists of their lives pull you in and keep you. Although the writers do not have a distinctive talent for the "turn of phrase" the way one might see with Zadie Smith or Chimamanda Adichie, their story telling is solid enough to stand on its own.

Restored Sistah

I loved every chapter in this book. The characters were distinct and real. What an awesome story woven with these committed friends. I couldn't wait to get to a quiet place so I could relax and list to my book. There was expected situations and some very unexpected issues.....kept me on my toes. Enjoy!!!!!!