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Mochascafe
Regular Poster
Username: Mochascafe
Post Number: 78
Registered: 08-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 07, 2008 - 10:30 pm: | 
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First let me start by saying, I loved “The Coldest Winter Ever”. I adored it. I think it began an unprecedented movement in the African American Literary Community. I mean, a character like Winter Santiago, she represented survival, instinct, just plain old doing what you have to do to get by. I respected that, although I grew up in Edmonton Alberta Canada (and yes Black) and could not necessarily relate to Winter on a personal level, I still “got her”.
When I moved to America, I met several Winters, or Winter variations. I dare say, I knew her personally because I would have made a lot of the same choices. There is a saying that says “There but for the Grace of God, Go I”. Who knows, if I were in the same predicaments that Winter found herself in, what would I have done?
But that’s just it. It provokes that kind of thought. Not all of us were Winter, but as Chris Rock said, “May be I wouldn’t have done the same thing, but I understand”. I got her. I felt her, I felt Sister Souljah’s message. I felt her passion and her pain, so I was willing to join the movement and say, “I Got Your Back Girl, Do What You Have To Do to get by”.
And then came “Midnight, A Gangster Love Story”
Oh Boy.
After reading the book in one day, (approximately 5 hours), why do I feel really unsettled. I am not sure what to think. I cannot honestly say that I connected to the character. I just did not find him believable or authentic, after all, I related to Winter and I grew up in Edmonton Canada…. I just had a struggle with Midnight.
Is it because he was a male? I don’t think so. I love to get into he minds of men, especially young black men. It is fascinating to see what shapes their minds and attitudes, what makes them who they are…
Was it Akemi? No, I was really feeling the Japanese girl. I thought the whole love story between people who could not speak the same language but were yet so intimate was an amazing story line. I felt their love. I wanted them to be together. I needed them to be together….
My disappointment came with…. I don’t know… I was expecting more. More than the diary of fourteen year old. More than the unbelievable. I mean really, am I to expect that a 14 year old be so accomplished, I don’t care if he was from Africa, I have been to Africa twice and a 14 year old is just that. A 14 year old. Not a shrewd business-man, not so level headed…Not trying to get married. He is just 14 and that is and would have been ok.
He killed two people and was not messed up at all? Trying to honor is family? Didn’t think twice… no consequences…
African or not… it’s a stretch….
Don’t get me wrong, I totally appreciate that you were trying to get us into the psyche of a young black man who respected women.. Who loved women… who would lay down is life for a woman… An overall honorable Black Man. But I expected more truth…
I did not believe Midnight. I did not believe that a 14 year old could be that mature. Even if he came from the Motherland. Just because you were raised on African Soil by a born and bred African Man… It did not ring authentic….
I am disappointed, but not unforgiving. There is a sequel after all that claims it will answer all of our questions and tie everything in with this book and The Coldest Winter Ever.
I’ll wait for that, but after investing almost 400 pages of my time in 5 hours, Sister Souljah…. Sister Girl….
I hope I am not left feeling with the same feeling I have today….
Unfulfilled.
Most Sincerely,
One of your Biggest Fans
Mocha |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 13175
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 08, 2008 - 01:17 pm: |
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The great appeal of the best-selling "The Coldest Winter Ever" is always escaped me. I thought it was a poorly-structured book whose main character had few redeeming qualities, - a self-absorbed young woman who had more than one option when it came to surviving. But her worship of materialism was her downfall.
Not only that, Sista Souljah committed the cardinal sin of injecting several self-serving chapters about herself into the story line.
I agree, however, that this book was in the vanguard of street lit; it also set the standard for the flaws of this genre. And the "sequel" to this book sounds like it is an example of the author's disregard for the convention of fiction writing. |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1613
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 08, 2008 - 03:47 pm: |
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Mochascafe, may I republish as a review?
I've been asking booksellers and readers for feedback regarding Midnight, A Gangster Love Story and the verdict is pretty much the same... I have not spoken to anyone that really liked the book. I spoke to adults only -- teenagers may express different sentiments.
I agree with Cynique's first paragraph regarding the Coldest Winter Ever (save the "poorly-structured" part).
Though I was a little surprised when I encountered Sister Soulja's character in Coldest Winter Ever, it did bother me much.
Overall Coldest Winter Ever was fine, certaintly more for a younger reader. Nothing to rave about. I would certainly recommend it to a teenager.
Publishers Weekly's review was a little schizophrenic describing Midnight, A Gangster Love Story as a ...a slack plot and slow pacing cause serious bloat, and Souljah's distinctive prose is woefully unpolished.
but in the very next sentence says;
"Frustrations aside, Souljah has obvious talent and sincere motives, making her a street-lit sophomore worth watching."
It is almost as if, by PW assessment, that "sincere motives" and talent (not demonstrated in the novel) is acceptable for a street lit read...
Kirjus agreeing with Mochascafe says: "Lengthy coming-of-age set apart by the hero's African identity, but never is the willful Midnight believable as a 14-year-old." |
Mochascafe
Regular Poster
Username: Mochascafe
Post Number: 79
Registered: 08-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 08, 2008 - 05:32 pm: |
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Sure you can... I just hope Judith and Malaika dont get too mad at me 
I dont know, Its just that I waited 9 years to find out things like what happened to Winter or did she rehabilitate herself and go after Midnight?
Instead what I got was a thorough lesson in the morals and virtues of Islam and an ongoing blatant disrespect for African American women, which is quite bizarre being that they make up most of her fan base. Unless her argument is that their aren't any African American's of quality that can come out of the projects....But its a contradiction because that's where she grew up and is a product of Cornell University.
Oh and I amost forgot, I also got a lengthy background in the art of becoming a ninja.
And what was up with the drug dealer sponsored basketball leauge? That plot was never really developed, unless that will also be explained in the next book.
"No Disrespect" but I just never thought that I would have to work so hard to get the message, especially one coming from S.S. |
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