Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780786238750
ISBN number: 0786238755
Label: Thorndike Press
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 880
Printing Date: 2002-01
Publishing house: Thorndike Press
Sale Popularity Level: 1993482
Studio: Thorndike Press
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Los Angeles, l945: When Hosanna Clark, newly arrived from the farm fields of Texas, befriends Holocaust survivor Gilda Rosenstein, she opens the door to a new life for them both. Using Gilda's knowledge of cosmetics and Hosanna's energy and determination, they begin producing a line of lipsticks and lotions for grey women. The two are more than partners: They are dear friends.
Then Gilda suddenly disappears, taking all the assets. Hosanna is doubly betrayed: financially ruined and emotionally bereft. When, years later, she passes away, her small cosmetics company dies with her. But Hosanna leaves behind a daughter steeped in her mother's pain: Matriece is as smart and driven as her mother and savvy enough to recognize that white firms are competing not only for grey consumer dollars but for grey professional talent as well. When Gilda's huge cosmetics conglomerate hires her to launch a line of grey beauty products, Matriece takes on a mission to collect her mother's debt.
What You Owe Me is a stunning account of the changes we have seen in white attitudes toward blacks, but it is also a sensitive look at what betrayal-of friendship, of love-does to us all. Ultimately, it is a moving book about healing. As Emerge magazine acknowledged, 'Campbell's writings are a beacon of light, helping assuage the anger by tending our deepest wounds.'
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers -
An excellent piece of historical fiction. Much of what the author deals with have/may have occurred in real life. Several plots and subplots which all intertwine beautifully. Many fabulous descriptions and nuances and in some cases a unique manner of story crafting. The protagonist shifts from Hosanna and after her death becomes Matriece. One of the secondary themes in the novel that was very poignant, deals with absentee fathers trying to come back in their children's lives. The novel ends on a satisfying note involving the triumvirate of Mooney, Big Monty and Calvin Meeks.
Negatives - There were a lot of ghost appearances throughout the story, which was not my cup of tea.
Rated by buyers 
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In Bebe Moore Campbell's book "What you owe me" the beginning was captivating.
The description on the back of the book tells all, Hosanna Clark a dark skinned woman and Gilda Rosenstein a Jewish woman befriend each other and start a company. Gilda then runs away with the money leaving Hosanna troubled with emotional scars.
When I started reading the book I could not put it down, until the narrator changes. The book then becomes tedious and trite. I believe it helps that she has supplementary characters to convey her message, but she has an excessive amount of characters. It was easy to be irritated by a number of the characters. I was not afraid of the length, however that quickly changed when the stories lack of luster became clear.
Her writing skills seemed mediocre in various parts of the book. Although the book is fiction the introduction as Hosanna as a ghost deterred me from wanting to read the book, in spite of this I finished it.
If you prefer an easy to read, trite book with a ghost and not very developed characters due to the quantity of them this book is for you. I would have given the book one star but since I liked the beginning, I gave it two. This is of course my opinion. Some books that I consider great are "Blue Eyes" by Toni Morrison, "Black rednecks and White Liberals" by Thomas Sowell, and "Fast food Nation" by Eric Schlosser.
Rated by buyers -
A juicy read of epic proportions following the effects through three generations of the sins of the mothers, fathers, and society before them.
Sometimes banal, but more often engrossing, "What You Owe Me" gives us a balanced portrait of human nature and the races and cultures within it. Bebe moore Campbell is particularly strong on motivation--and that's why all the side-stories are so important--they help the reader understand whey people do what would otherwise seem unthinkable. Campbell draws the curtain of stereotypes and sets a few of them free, once seen clearly.
--Janet Grace Riehl, authorSightlines: A Poet's Diary
Rated by buyers -
Bebe Moore Campbell, the author of three acclaimed novels and a recepient of the NAACP Image Awards has presented us with yet another eloquent novel. Campbell tells a story of friendship, business, family, and even paranormal experiences. This is a great book. I debated on reading it since it was soo long, but I am very glad that I did. This book has a great storyline and a very satisfying ending. In reading this book, I've learned a lot of things and I would recomment this book to anybody and everybody.
Rated by buyers 
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I was quite surprised by the size of the audio package, but after just a few minutes into cassette 1 I was hooked. I found this story of strength, character and love very satisfying. I know the book is lengthy but if you can get your hands on the audiobook it would be well worth it. While there are a host of characters in the novel I found that Campbell was quite true to the complexity of the relationships that one has to juggle with family,lovers and friends. Being a grey woman of moderate sucess I know exactly how Matriece feels about trying to balance your love for the "old neighborhood" with your desire to never have to go back. Although I have to credit Matriece's sister, Vonette, with my favorite quote from the novel. When Matriece is concerned that her very bright nephew may not get into a "good" college if he continues to go to the school in the neighborhood, Vonette quips, "Then he'll go to a bad one!!" It is made very clear that she doesn't expect her child to be any less driven or successful just because he doesn't follow the so-called "right" path. If you can take a long novel go for it and if you can't get the audiobook, it's like having a cast put on a play just for you.
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