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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 10245
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 01:47 pm: | 
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I finally finished "Casanegra", the collaboration between Blair Underwood, Tannarive Due and Steven Barnes, and I found it to be an interesting read mostly because the story tools along in the fast lane of LaLa land. The superior writing skills of Ms. Due and her husband Steven Barnes alone are enough to recommend this seamless novel, and I'm curious as to why they needed actor Blair Underwood aboard - except maybe as a "technical advisor". As a black show biz veteran, Blair is probably hip to what goes on behind the scenes when it comes to the life styles of the rich and famous denizens of the notorious west coast rap community, which is the centerpiece of the gritty novel.
With all due respect to Walter Mosley's detective series, Casanegra's male protagonist is a kind of an "Easy Rawlins" on steroids, a hard-bodied police academy drop-out whose good looks and martial arts expertise enable him to alternernate between acting gigs and duties as a male escort/body guard. He's also a street-wise dude who never met a dilemma he couldn't overcome, the most pressing of which, as the plot unfolds, is his being a suspect in the murder of Afrodite, a rap diva-turned-movie star. His name is Tennyson Hardwick - or hard dick; which ever the situation calls for. He's known as "Ten" to his friends, undoubtedly a oblique reference to how he always manages to come out on top, especially in the bed room where the authors run a clinic on how to write a torrid sex scene in 10 easy paragraphs.
The narrative is glibly told in the first person, but the lapses into mental reflecting contribute to how the plot sometimes marches in place instead of moving along at a faster pace. Nevertheless, the well-executed action scenes are vivid and visceral, the characters fairly well-drawn, the dialogue credible. Most important of all, the irrepressible hero, who is both compassionate and ruthless, makes you root for him.
As a murder mystery, this book is faithful to its genre, keeping the reader in suspense, giving false leads, and plot twists, and a succession of possible suspects all of which effectively propel the story to an exciting climax, replete with a surprise ending.
"Casanegra" is apparently the debut novel in a series which will feature Tennyson Hardwick as the hero, and the future looks bright for this character who can hold his own with any of the studs who blast off the pages of James Patterson thrillers. * * * |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 2337
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 02:08 pm: |
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Wow, Cynique. Troy should post this on the front page of the site. Really. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 5450
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 03:25 pm: |
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I'm going to surprise everybody here, Cynique--even myself, and say something nice about this review-- |
Jmho
Regular Poster
Username: Jmho
Post Number: 298
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 04:44 pm: |
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I agree, Cynique, great review. |
Crystal
Regular Poster
Username: Crystal
Post Number: 345
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 04:55 pm: |
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Thanks Cynique, I'd been on the fence about this one but now I think I'll give it a shot. I think the pre-publish blurbs about it being somewhat erotica turned me off. I prefer my porn straight. |
Jayejaye
First Time Poster
Username: Jayejaye
Post Number: 1
Registered: 09-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 05:55 pm: |
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Nice review. Very well done. I read the book a couple months ago. I thought the mystery was the weaker of the two elements with the Hollywood specifics feeling very insider.
Crystal, the erotica was the weakest portion of the book. It felt like it was tacked on after the book was completed. I did like the reporter love interest and the love story between her and the main character.
I can definitely see the potential for future books. Also, the humor was fairly decent. |
A_womon
Veteran Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 1956
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 07:18 pm: |
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Good Review! I think Blair teamed up with Tananrive because he is supposed to play the lead role in a movie version of Ms Due's book with the immortal who marries a human, sorry, I've forgotten the name, and he decided to write a book with her. |
Jayejaye
First Time Poster
Username: Jayejaye
Post Number: 2
Registered: 09-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 07:44 pm: |
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I've read Due's books and Barnes and it definitely like their writing. I wonder if Underwood just provided stories and the Hollywood details. I recognized Due's style most of all. |
Jayejaye
First Time Poster
Username: Jayejaye
Post Number: 3
Registered: 09-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 07:44 pm: |
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I've read Due's books and Barnes and it definitely felt like their writing. I wonder if Underwood just provided stories and the Hollywood details. I recognized Due's style most of all. |
Emanuel
Regular Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 378
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 08:12 pm: |
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Nice review Cynique. Maybe it's Underwood conceptual project. If so and if there is a movie deal, I'm sure he'll be the one to play the lead role. I'll wait for the movie though, not a big fan of mysteries. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 10262
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 11:35 am: |
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Thanks, folks! (I chose not to reveal too much about the story because I didn't want to spoil it for anybody who hadn't read the book yet.) |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 10271
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 12, 2007 - 12:19 pm: |
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FYI, in his "Acknowledgments" Blair Underwood mentioned that plans for him to star in a picture based on a Tannarive Due novel about the "undead" have been scrapped, probably in favor of creating a more commercial and contemporary series featuring the action hero in Casanegra. A movie inspired by this book is probably on the agenda of its collaborators. |
Libralind2
Veteran Poster
Username: Libralind2
Post Number: 939
Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 12, 2007 - 01:20 pm: |
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LiLi..off to see if I can find at the library |
Linda
Regular Poster
Username: Linda
Post Number: 207
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 14, 2007 - 12:33 pm: |
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Actually Casanagra was originally slated to be a movie with Diana Ross and Blair Underwood which fell flat. Blair loved the script/charactor so much that instead of letting it die he called Tananarive and Steven to collaborate/expand the script to book form.
Cynique: good review, similar to mine that was posted months ago when I recieved a copy at BEA along with the pictues. Glad we could agree on something. LOL
Plus - check out the picture I was able to take with Blair
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Linda
Regular Poster
Username: Linda
Post Number: 208
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 14, 2007 - 12:35 pm: |
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Sorry it came out so large. I'm not sure how to shrink it. LOL |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 10284
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 14, 2007 - 06:39 pm: |
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Yes, Linda, everybody who has read Casanegra pretty much comes away wih the same opinion of it.
That's interesting about it originally being a project for Blair and Diana Ross. I'm just curious about, at her age, which role Diana could've played in the cast, except maybe the older female movie star who was only spoken about in the book. Of course the project in question could've dated back to about 25 years ago.
Nice picture. Boy! Are you white! LOL. |
Linda
Regular Poster
Username: Linda
Post Number: 209
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 14, 2007 - 10:10 pm: |
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Blair never touched on which role she would have played. I think you're right though. It could have been the older movie star or the old lady that was his former employer. And girl, white ain't the word. When I got the pics back I almost went blind. LOL! |
Carey
Veteran Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 530
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 15, 2007 - 12:58 pm: |
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CYN-CYN, you've come up girl! I think am with Linda, a little porn can be to much for me. Make my funk the "P" funk I want my funk uncutt. I mean if we are going to do this thang lets get nasty *smile*. I suppose there are many that want to peak in on a little sex thang but it just spoils it for me. Hey, King Tremain or this *Ten trilla* gorilla? How do those two compare.
Linda, don't tease.....I need more. I know what you mean about the size of the picture. I posted a picture of myself on the board and damn, it looked like it filled the whole screen. I wanted to take it back but I didn't really know how I got it up there. I was just fooling around one day a bam, there I was. But yeah, don't be teasin' a brother *lol*.
Chris, didn't your girl knock out that review. That shit was...ahhh.....tight.
CYN-CYN, I see all those millions of posts are paying off...you all right! Now as you know I just don't throw out compliments like candy. In fact I only have one more for this year *smile*. I think I am going to hold on to that one until Linda comes back with the real thang *LOL*. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 10292
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 15, 2007 - 02:03 pm: |
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Thanks for your left-handed compliments, Carey LOL
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Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 5485
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 15, 2007 - 04:18 pm: |
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Plus - check out the picture I was able to take with Blair
(Damn--we got some FOXES posting on this site.
I am going to have to clean up my act in case I want to rap.
Cynique, quit provoking me so the foxes won't think I'm a cranky old fart!) |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 10301
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 15, 2007 - 04:33 pm: |
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They'll figure out that you're a cranky ol fart whether I provoke you or not, chrishayden. |
Carey
Veteran Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 544
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 19, 2007 - 04:55 pm: |
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Cyn-Cyn, see, I Throw you a compliment and you...ahhhh.......well let's do this again *smile*.
Hey, Cyn-Cyn, that was a nice review!
Carey
Carey |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 10365
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 19, 2007 - 07:17 pm: |
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Thanks, Carey-Carey. |
Carey
Veteran Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 548
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 20, 2007 - 02:43 pm: |
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You are welcome, Cynique. |
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