This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Book Review: "69 Ways" by A. Montellus C.

Braxton Family Values regular Andre Carter (A. Montellus C.) offers relationship tips to readers in one of his five books.

The third of five books by author A. Montellus C.’s (some know him as Andre Carter) “69 Ways” is a relationship guide that offers 69 tips for couples in committed relationships. 

Montellus C. informs the reader that he is not a professional therapist and that the book is a fun alternative guide to avoiding problematic situations that prevent couples from achieving a healthy and emotionally-gratifying relationship.

The author wrote the book after he and his wife, Towanda Braxton, examining their own relationship. The couple extended their dialogue to include interviewing and discussing various relationship issues with other couples as well. This book, in essence, is a result of the couple coming up with their own “marriage therapy” and sharing it with others.

Find out what's happening in Cascadewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Each page of the book covers one tip or theme. The topics include: "jealously/envy;" "remember what means the most;" "STV/HIV-test and talk;" and "that’s mine."

In reading the book (it took about an hour), I cannot say that I learned anything new. This is not to bash Montellus C.'s book because like many self-help books, we know what we need to do, but sometimes we need to read a book like this to remind ourselves of these facts.  In Montellus C.'s book, his antidotes are fun facts and this is not a book to take too serious.

Find out what's happening in Cascadewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I can imagine that the best time to read “69 Ways" is on an evening when you are with your partner, or even a "girls night in” event, and you want to do something a little different. So, you pull out “69 Ways” and begin a lively discussion on the dos and donts of being in a relationship, self-love, and more.

The topics are there to give ideas for discussion and it will be up to the person to explore and exchange ideas, feeling, experiences, and etcetera. As a matter of fact, I can imagine Montellus taking this book to another level and making it into a board game.

I recommend “69 Ways” as a book that you have that you can first read yourself, then use it as a tool for additional discussion moments with others.  It is not intellectual or “deep."  If this is what you are looking for, then “69 Ways” is not the book of choice for you.

Montellus C. grew up in Southwest Atlanta and attended both private and public schools. While “69 Ways” is a light read, Montellus is an author to be taken seriously. 

This is shown through his other books: “Crazy for a Man.” “Code D.A.N.”, “Who Wears the Pants,” and “Fried Fish.”  These books are much longer, have greater depth, are about 400 to 500 pages and can be purchased at www.amontellusc.com.

Montellus C. is most known for being a cast member of “Braxton Family Values" as Toni Braxton’s brother-in-law. Braxton is a six-time Grammy Award winning songstress selling over 40 million records worldwide.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Cascade