The Word on Street Lit No. 7
Rollie Welch, Cleveland P.L. -- Library Journal, 10/08/2008
Librarians have repeatedly voiced their concern that street lit's characters too often fall into stereotypes. Women are portrayed as ultra-sexy gold diggers; men, ruthless perpetrators of violence concerned only with stacking cash and using women for sex. But breaking through these generalizations is a new crop of complex male protagonists who have grown weary of gangster violence and are seeking a way out. They're extremely loyal to their women and families, but, alas, the streets are as mean as ever. These fellas will always need to have someone watching their back.
Among this month's authors who escort us into the crucible of violence, betrayal, and "wilding" from a male perspective are K'wan, who continues his hot streak with Gutter, and newbie Freeze, who makes an outstanding debut with Against the Grain. But the headliner—and an exception to the male-only rule of my column—is the long-anticipated sequel to a classic work of street lit. Sistah Souljah's Midnight recounts in-depth one man's journey from Africa to the dangerous inner-city streets of America. In a kind of he said, she said analysis, look for Vanessa Morris's own review in next month's column.
Pick of the Month
Souljah, Sistah. Midnight: A Gangster Love Story. Atria: S. & S. Nov. 2008. 512p. ISBN 978-1-4165-4518-7. $26.95. F
Verdict: Fans will rush to libraries and bookstores to snap up this long-awaited follow-up to The Coldest Winter Ever. However, those eager for a sizzling romance between Winter Santiaga, the heroine of Souljah's ground-breaking 1999 debut, and Midnight, the enigmatic lieutenant of Winter's drug-dealer father and one of that novel's more intriguing secondary characters, may be disappointed. More of a prequel than a sequel, this story takes place before Midnight encounters Ricky and Winter Santiaga and explores his background and how it shaped his spirit and mysterious personality. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/08.]
Background: When he was seven years old, Midnight and his pregnant mother fled a dangerous situation in the Sudan involving his father. Now settled in Brooklyn, NY, Midnight has become at age 14 the man of the family, dedicated to caring for his mother, Umma, and his little sister, Naja. He constantly searches for a way to leave the hood, but for now he moves between two worlds. In one, he's a young Islamic man in control of his family's finances and in the other, a teenager shooting hoops with his friends in a hustler's league. The author is determined to illustrate how a real man carries himself, as Midnight falls in love with Akemi, a Japanese girl he will not sleep with until marriage. Sister Souljah's activist message comes through loud and clear when the young man brings forth his inner gangster if his women are disrespected.
Dutch. Thug Politics. Tru Pub. 2008. 288p. ISBN 978-0-980-20471-1. pap. $14.95. F
Verdict: In this dramatic election season, Dutch, whose real name is Kwame Teague (The Adventures of Ghetto Sam and the Glory of My Demise), poses a provocative premise: What if a guy from the streets runs for mayor of a major U.S. city? Would crime go down if everyone knows that a thug is in office? The story's threads of jealousy, behind-closed-doors scheming, and deadly decisions could easily be lifted from today's headlines. A solid choice for most collections.
Background: Maurice Sebastian, a rising promoter, hits on a plan to lock down Newark, NJ, and control money coming in from crime. With the help of his lifelong friends, Bruiser and Mel Kwon, he campaigns for mayor, enlisting a grassroots campaign that includes hustlers, pimps, crack fiends, and gangsters. But once elected, Maurice finds the office comes with problems. His wife, Keisha, nicknamed Queen Diva, is a high-profile rapper with connections to drug trafficking, and waiting to take Maurice down is federal agent Kareem Watson.
Freeze. Against the Grain: A Novel. One World: Ballantine. (Nikki Turner Presents). 2008. 288p. ISBN 978-0-345-50361-9. pap. $14. F
Verdict: With an endorsement from Nikki Turner, this impressive debut will need very little selling by librarians. Rocking a Baltimore/Virginia setting, incorporating authentic prison scenes, and detailing the inner workings of the gangster lifestyle, Freeze’s tale fits right in with the popular rags-to-riches street-lit theme. Strongly recommended for all urban fiction collections.
Background: Haunted by the death of his best friend during a bank job gone wrong, Arkadian "Kay" Frost pulls his nine years in prison and once out quickly establishes himself as a major player in Baltimore's drug industry. Relying on his mentor, Scatter, a reformed drug user, Kay skyrockets to untold wealth in the heroin trade. His friend Mike works the cocaine side of the business but wants more. Can Kay's woman, the sexy Shu-Shu, be trusted? Kay has it all: expensive cars, sleek women, and a party at Virginia Beach that is pure gangster. Once at the top, though, the only way is down, and Kay soon finds out how fast the script can flip.
Givens, David. Betrayed. Triple Crown. 2008. 204p. ISBN 978-0-9799517-7-0. pap. $15. F
Verdict: Taking readers off the beaten street lit path, debut novelist Givens introduces us to a new urban setting—Waterloo, IA. Strip clubs, cold-blooded gangsters, and O.K. Corral–style gunfights mark this action-packed, violent story by an author who knows how the game works. His take on Waterloo makes it as deadly as any major city. For larger and regional collections.
Background: Darrell Jenkins, aka The Sandman, has bulging biceps and a reputation for heartlessness. But he's nothing compared with his partner, Terry Law, who douses gasoline on a victim and lights him on fire. Control of Waterloo and a piece of the Midwestern drug trade come down to The Sandman’s Get Money Crew versus four other street gangs in vicious battles that see dozens of soldiers get their wigs split. Then there is Sherrice, a stripper with a bangin' body who needs money but wants a prince charming. Who knew Iowa was so wild?
K'wan. Gutter: A Novel. Griffin: St. Martin's. 2008. 416p. ISBN 978-0-312-36009-2. pap. $14.95. F
Verdict: Although this is a sequel to Gangsta, readers unfamiliar with that novel should not worry; there’s plenty of backstory here to fill in the blanks. With each book, K’wan (Still Hood; Hood Rat) just keeps getting better as a writer, and he obviously knows his stuff. Details like stopping for a 40 ounce and Dutch Masters put us right in the front seat with the soldiers as they prepare to ride. Urban libraries should expect heavy demand. [Library marketing campaign.]
Background: Like any leader, Kenyatta Soladine, aka Gutter, has problems, it's just that his are deadly. His boo, Sharell, is pregnant, and Gutter looks forward to having a son. But first he has business to handle following the murder of his partner, Lou-Loc. Blood will answer for blood. Gutter's thirst for revenge takes him away from Harlem to Los Angeles, where he reinforces his standing as a ghetto legend. But who is minding his business while he is away? And who can handle the stone killer Major Blood, sent to execute Gutter? K'wan skillfully handles his large cast of characters and two vastly different urban settings in a thrill ride marked by violence, profane men, and firefights.
Mathis, Judge Greg. Street Judge. Strebor: S. & S. 2008. 288p. ISBN 978-1-59309-172-9. $24. F
Verdict: Television’s Judge Mathis presents an autobiographical first novel that takes place in the Detroit courtrooms more than the streets. We learn how Mathis rose from a street background to become a sitting judge. Unfortunately, the author talks too much about himself, which prevents his admirable story from developing. Still, Mathis’s name is out there, so librarians should order.
Background: Mathis’s fiction debut is more of a procedural mystery than an action-oriented street tale. The brutal beheading of a woman from the hood attracts Judge Mathis's attention because the case appears to have a connection to his days on the street. A mysterious sex tape prompts Mathis to turn up several "rocks." Lots of nasty creatures scurry away, including some powerful attorneys. Mathis, the character, is as comfortable in his courtroom as he is connecting with street players as he searches for the truth.
