Searching for Tina Turner
Jacqueline E. Luckett
Grand Central Publishing
320 pp.
ISBN-13: 9780446542951
Summary
On the surface, Lena Spencer appears to have it all. She and her wealthy husband Randall have two wonderful children, and they live a life of luxury. In reality, however, Lena finds that happiness is elusive. Randall is emotionally distant, her son has developed a drug habit, and her daughter is disgusted by her mother's "overbearing behavior."
When Randall decides that he's had enough of marriage counseling, he offers his wife an ultimatum: "Be grateful for all I've done for you or leave." Lena, realizing that money can't solve her problems and that her husband is no longer the man she married, decides to choose the latter. Drawing strength from Tina Turner's life story, Searching for Tina Turner is Lena's struggle to find herself after 25 years of being a wife and mother. (From the publisher.)
Author Bio
Jacqueline Luckett is a former sales representative for Xerox. After leaving the corporate world, Jacqueline took a creative writing class on a dare (from herself) and began writing short stories and poetry and never looked back.
Jacqueline loves living in Oakland, California, but travels frequently to nurture her passion for photography and learning to cook exotic foods. She is currently hard at work on her next novel. (From the publisher.)
Book Reviews
Fiftyish Lena Spencer asks, "What's love got to do with it?" when a midlife crisis forces her to make a choice between her current comfort as the wife of a wealthy but distant husband and the dream of opening a photo gallery she gave up 26 years ago. The road to self-discovery is frightening and painful, as Lena risks losing the love and affection of her family and friends in order to regain her faded self-respect. Using singer Tina Turner's bold journey to independence and success as an inspiration, Lena pushes herself to discover the peace of mind for which so many often hunger. Readers are left to question whether true happiness is defined by the life that we experience or the dream that burns within us. Verdict: Readers relishing a quick and entertaining read will be disappointed, but fans of Terry McMillan's insightful dissections of love and life will appreciate debut novelist Luckett's similar writing style. —Lisa Jones, Birmingham P.L., AL
Library Journal
In her debut novel Luckett delivers a strong, likable heroine who comes through her crisis by recognizing her true worth and empowering herself. Luckett’s triumphant tale will rally readers of all backgrounds. —Patty Engelmann
Booklist
Wealthy California matron in midlife crisis uses the veteran entertainer as her role model in Luckett's debut. While husband Randall is on an extended business trip, Lena stews in their Oakland mansion and reads Tina's autobiography about life after Ike. Randall is no abusive Ike Turner. But he is a self-absorbed businessman who won't go back to marriage counseling and has told Lena to figure out on her own what she wants. Lena put her ambitions as a photographer on hold in order to support Randall in his climb up the corporate ladder. Now he takes her for granted and can't understand why she doesn't appreciate the expensive lifestyle he's provided. She tells him: She wants his attention, not his gifts (although readers might notice she does seem to relish the expensive trappings described in loving detail). When Randall gets home, the marriage goes from bad to worse. He may or may not be fooling around with his assistant, but he definitely resents what he considers Lena's disloyalty as much as she resents his high-handed arrogance. When the two separate, their bratty college-age kids are with Randall all the way. Soon Lena is comfortably ensconced in her new luxury apartment with a dream gallery job starting in two weeks. She takes off for southern France, hoping to meet Tina and see her perform in concert. Wouldn't you know it, shortly after arriving in Nice she runs into an old flame at the hotel pool. Years ago, Harmon chose another woman and has regretted it ever since. Soon he's wining, dining and bedding Lena—not to mention proposing. When Randall shows up, full of apologies, she is understandably torn. Then she learns that her beloved mother has died and cuts her trip short. Even though Lena never actually sees Tina Turner perform, her self-affirming spirit carries the day. The fact that the characters happen to be African-American adds nothing to this standard woman's empowerment romance.
Kirkus Reviews
Discussion Questions
1. In the beginning of SFTT, Lena is scattered and no longer able to manage her life. Were there other ways that Lena could have maintained balance in her life? If she had, do you think her marriage would have fallen apart?
2. What can a younger woman gain from Lena’s experience? Does age have anything to do with Lena’s situation?
3. Lena chose one aspect of Tina Turner’s life as a role model for strength. Were there other aspects of Tina’s life that helped her as well?
4. Are role models important? Who are your role models? How have their lives inspired you?
5. What lessons can women learn from Lena’s experience?
6. Lena chose to leave the life she and Randall built together. What other ways can women regain “self” without giving up what they worked so hard to gain?
7. Lena and Randall talk to their children separately about their divorce. If the four of them had discussed the situation together, do you think Kendrick and Camille would have been less bitter toward Lena?
8. Lena tries to explain how she feels about her life to Camille. Can Lena be a role model for Camille? What is it about her mother that Camille should be proud of ?
9. Why do you think that Candace comes to Lena’s aid at the dinner party? What did Lena learn about friendship from that situation?
10. When Lena picks up Randall from the airport, what could each have done differently to connect with the other? Or was their marriage already over?
11. Lulu offers this advice to Lena: " make it enough. Make it enough to last until death do you part. I hope you’re not thinking about doing something foolish. There’s no way you could live like you do without Randall." Given the generational difference between the two women, what could Lena take from this advice and pass on to Camille?
12. Do you think that Randall was aware that his best friend was flirting with his wife? If so, why didn't he do anything about it?
13. If Lena understood the differences between her and Cheryl, why do you think Lena agreed to go with her to France?
14. How do the differences between Cheryl and Lena help Lena? What does Lena learn from Cheryl?
15. What does Lena learn from her relationship with Harmon? Is he good for her?
16. Lena forgives Harmon for past behavior. Is there an old flame in your past like Harmon? What would it take for you to reconnect with that person?
17. Did Lena do anything that hints to what her future with Harmon could be?
18. What does Bobbie’s support mean to Lena? What are the differences between the sisters?
19. Why do you think Bobbie decided to visit Lulu?
20. What, if anything, did Bobbie learn from Lena?
21. If Lena had gone with Randall in Paris, would he have accepted the “new” Lena? How would the two of them have reconciled the changes in Lena?
22. If Lena had accepted Randall’s offer in Paris and reunited with him, do you think she would have fallen back into the pattern of their old relationship?
(Questions issued by publisher.)
top of page