So April's discussion centered around LM Ross' Manhood: The Longest Moan. The book is a story of four high school classmates all on a mission to be stars. Ty the writer, David the dancer, Browny the singer and Face the actor/model; all start in a short lived boy group that breaks up and sends each boy in search of their own fame and manhood. They all find unplanned surprises in a 20 year story that uncover the truths about friendship, trust, lust and sex. The back of the book asks, "In a twenty year span, who among them is destined for true greatness?"
Unfortunately Manhood: The Longest Moan was one ole long ass moan. I never made it past page 171 of a nearly 400 page novel. By page 171 I was not invested in any of the storylines, well maybe the story of Face, but every time I walked past the book I would think, "XX number of days till the meeting... I'll get to it later" And apparently out of the 12 people that made it to our meeting... 10 agreed and the other 2 are cordial with the author. I still never got an answer which of the four made it to greatness.
I don't think the book was bad it just didn't pull me in. Several people said the best part of the book were the last few chapters, to which I responded, I may never know then. Others mentioned that you had to get into the flow of the book and once you did you would love it. So when I asked when this flow began, we all assumed it was after page 171.
I may eventually finish Manhood, but for now I will turn my focus to Sister Souljah's Coldest Winter Ever.
Unfortunately Manhood: The Longest Moan was one ole long ass moan. I never made it past page 171 of a nearly 400 page novel. By page 171 I was not invested in any of the storylines, well maybe the story of Face, but every time I walked past the book I would think, "XX number of days till the meeting... I'll get to it later" And apparently out of the 12 people that made it to our meeting... 10 agreed and the other 2 are cordial with the author. I still never got an answer which of the four made it to greatness.
I don't think the book was bad it just didn't pull me in. Several people said the best part of the book were the last few chapters, to which I responded, I may never know then. Others mentioned that you had to get into the flow of the book and once you did you would love it. So when I asked when this flow began, we all assumed it was after page 171.
I may eventually finish Manhood, but for now I will turn my focus to Sister Souljah's Coldest Winter Ever.
6 comments:
lol, I agree. I managed to finish that book, but yeah it did have a lot going on. All the back and forth from year to year was somewhat confusing at first. And, you're right, it doesn't begin to flow till way past page 171 lol. I believe part two just came out. Not sure if I'll be purchasing that one.
You'll enjoy Sister Souljah's "Coldest Winter Ever".
i'm actually rereading the coldest winter ever...i guess great stories never die!
I thought I was the only one that couldn't get into this book. The I did make it to page 388 I didn't finish the book.
I read the book and loved it. I guess I was just awed by the poetry of his writing-style and the dense multi-layered characters. He also went places no other black authors go. While I am absolutely don't understand why anyone would be into S&M, reading a few scenes with it was interesting was mind-opening. With a great editor, that book could have been a classic... but it's easy to forgive its flaws.
I read the Coldest Winter Ever earlier this year. It reads like a preachy BET Classics movie... didn't hate it but didn't like it either. It's an interesting window to the drug business and "ghetto" mentality.
I'm with tout noir on this. The use of language is gorgeous, at times it's almost like poetry.
Post a Comment