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Incredible tale about a strong woman
Traveling the Road to Self Discovery
My Life

Camille's Dilemma
D. C. Johnson
Manufacturer: DAR J. PUBLISHING
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1930847971
Release Date: 2005-03-20

Product Description

A little girl always on the run, you'd think would grow up to be a track star. Tragic events involving a sister missing, fondled by her mother's boyfriend, being chased by a lunatic, and dealing with her sexuality, sends Camille into the closet for safety and solace. It is where she meets, Louise, her imaginary friend who gives Camille the strenght to face all her fears.

Customer Reviews:

Incredible tale about a strong woman.......2006-06-11

Note to readers. We are a review service. Our first reviewer did not like the book, however, when a review comes in negative we often give the book another chance for a review. We are posting both reviews so that the reader may make the decision for themselves.

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (6/06)

"Camille's Dilemma" feels very true to life. The story takes you through Camille's childhood to young adulthood. She deals with many issues including molestation, rape and discovering what her sexual orientation is. In the background, assisting with narrating this tale is the ghost of Louise. She was a slave that killed her master after she could no longer endure him raping her. His son killed her. Louise finds herself watching over the life of Camille.

Camille does not feel loved within her home. She has other siblings that are not close. Her mother seems to be caught up in just trying to survive. Camille wants to be loved and have affection. When she finds a neighbor that gives her this, the neighbor's boyfriend rapes her. While Camille struggles to deal with this, she ends up finding herself alone and has to become a stronger person to get through the pain.

I admire Camille's character because for every negative experience that she has, she becomes a stronger woman. It was also interesting to see how she deals with discovering that she is a lesbian. She finds herself attracted to other women as a teenager, but it takes her awhile to figure out what it means. She also has to deal with being judged because of this. I felt that Camille just wanted to be Camille. But everyone else has to lump her into a specific category in which she is discriminated against: black woman, lesbian, single mother, etc. Even as a lesbian, her peers wanted to classify her as a femme or a stud. Like most of us, she just wants to live her life and be loved. "Camille's Dilemma" also has some fun, enjoyable moments. Some of these take place while she is in the Army. The way that she handles some of her situations will make you laugh.

I recommend this book for women's reading groups that are open-minded. I also feel that it would be for groups that involve gender orientation and child abuse. Even though it is a fictional story, it feels so true to life and I believe that people can either learn from her or relate to her.

Reviewed by Kelli Glesige for Reader Views (6/06)

Life seems to be extremely cruel to the young black 8-year old Camille Jenkins who lives with her mother and three siblings in the Chicago area. While still a young child, Camille is repeatedly abused by her mother's boyfriend and raped when she is a teen. Camille is, needless to say, even further disturbed when she witnesses terrifying crimes that take place in her neighborhood. With a mother who gives little affection or attention to her youngest daughter, Camille struggles with anxieties and insecurities but finds solace in the back of a dark closet.

"Camille's Dilemma" reveals that Camille has the spirit of an 85 year old lady by the name of Louise living inside of her. At times, Louise tells the story; then Louise will hand the telling over to Camille. Individuals and their conflicting issues are constantly at play in this novel. Camille has a great deal of conflict going on inside her head and seeks to find herself. Much of the story is written as the characters speak, and I found this difficult to read at times. For example, "mo" is used for the word "more" because that is how they pronounce the word. At times, Camille lives so much in her own world that I found it difficult to follow the chain of thought the author, D.C. Johnson, was trying to convey.

As Camille ages, she questions her sexuality and ultimately decides she is a lesbian. Camille enters into several relationships which are fully developed in the book with many details. During these series of relationships, Camille finds herself pregnant by her friend's cousin and ends up with son, Calvin.

Camille labors to decide what life holds for her, thus "Camille's Dilemma". Camille then decides that joining the Army and becoming an undertaker will be just the career for her. After joining the Army, Camille changes her mind and decides that maybe the Army isn't for her, especially since her oldest brother Chester is back home dying of AIDS.

I am uncertain of the target audience D.C. Johnson had in mind when she wrote this story. It is definitely not for impressionable children, and I would not want my young teen reading it either. My best guess would be some young women in the 20-30 year range with sexuality issues might find it interesting.

I found this novel to be unlike anything I have ever read before. It is definitely unique and one of a kind. At times, I was shocked and disturbed by Johnson's descriptions of what Camille was experiencing. "Camille's Dilemma" is not a "feel good" story; however, it does end on a positive note. Although I believe Johnson to be a talented author, I will not recommend "Camille's Dilemma" to my friends. If you are interested in the angst of homosexuality, choose for yourself, but personally, it was not for me.

Traveling the Road to Self Discovery.......2005-08-21

As she travels the road to self-discovery, Camille Jenkins encounters many men that contribute to who she becomes as an adult in D.C. Johnson's, Camille's Dilemma. The story, as told through the eyes of a spirit named Louise, a former slave, starts when Camille is a child living in the projects. It continues throughout Camille's childhood and into adulthood. As Camille grows, she discovers her sexuality and soon comes to grips with who she is.

I found this book to be distracting and confusing. The story was not only told through the eyes of Louise, but through the eyes of Camille and the narrator as well. Oftentimes, it was difficult to tell who was narrating the story. For example, Louise spoke with a certain dialect and in the first person. The narrator often picked up the same dialect and used first person as well. Other times, the narrator spoke in third person omniscient. In addition, sometimes when the author switched from points of view, she would "warn" the reader by having the narrator say something like: "I'll talk to you later, bye." This proved to be distracting.

In the past, I have read a few novels that adapted the concept of a story being told by multiple narrators. Even then, there is a scene break which lets the reader know that the other voice will be picking up the story. Unfortunately, Johnson has not mastered the craft well enough to adapt such a complex writing technique.

Despite my rating for this book, I predict great things from this author as plot and character development were on point.

T. RHYTHM KNIGHT
APOOO BookClub

My Life.......2004-09-17

"Take a look in my life and see what I see." These words sung by Mary J. Blige come to mind after reading CAMILLE'S DILEMMA by DC Johnson. Told through the lost soul of Louise, a deceased slave, Camille's story unfolds. Her story is disturbing, emotional and comical at times. At a young age, Camille's older sister is abducted, and as her mother grieves her missing child, Camille feels that her mother will not continue to love her, in her sister's absence. This tragic event sends Camille into the safety and solace of her closet, where she has previously found respite from the sexual abuse from her mother's male friend. As Camille grows into womanhood, she comes out of the closet when she comes to terms with her sexuality.

DC Johnson weaved an interesting and emotional read. There were instances in the novel were I was shocked and disturbed at what was taking place, and other times I laughed out loud. I really enjoyed the novel, although it could have been better if Ms. Johnson expanded the character of Louise more to give her purpose. There was a bit of background information given, but her connection and purpose, in relation to Camille was not clear.

Reviewed by Aiesha Flowers
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

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