Topshelf. - A Love of My Own; Inner City Miracle; Ralph Ellison: Emergence of Genius; Achievement Matters: Getting your Child the Best Education Possible - book review

Ebony, Oct, 2002

A LOVE OF MY OWN (Double-day, $24.95), the latest of E. Lynn Harris' page-turners, is filled with sex, love, humor and heart. With memorable characters, struggling to find a love of their own, Harris explores his signature themes of friendship, love and family. But he also tackles for the first time the question of wealth in the Black community and its effects on members of the Black power elite and the upper middle class in particular. Harris is one of a select number of Black male writers who's having great success on the publishing scene. With over 3 million copies of his books in print and two No. 2 New York Times bestseller list debuts to his credit, E. Lynn Harris is a publishing phenomenon.

INNER CITY MIRACLE (One World/Ballantine $23.95)is the memoir of Judge Greg Mathis, a former Detroit District Court judge who rose from delinquency in the Detroit housing projects to star in his own nationally syndicated television show.

RALPH ELLISON: EMERGENCE OF GENIUS (Wiley, $30) is a study by Lawrence Jackson of the first African-American awarded the National Book Award for fiction for his novel, Invisible Man. Jackson used portions of the closed archives of Ellison papers at the Library of Congress to explore the life of this enigmatic and respected figure.

ACHIEVEMENT MATTERS: GETTING YOUR CHILD THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE (Dafina, $27) offers inspiring stories, practical tips and expert advice for parents from National Urban League President Hugh B. Price. Price issues a call to excellence and offers practical strategies for parents to improve reading skills and to help their children become enthusiastic learners and high achievers.