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Kola Boof
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 08, 2003 - 11:43 pm: | 
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Hi Cynique,
I just finished your book "Along the Way: A Black Family Journey".
For sociological reasons, naturally, I find it interesting. The writing isn't particularly distinctive but it definitely flows, you're a GREAT self-editor and...
I'm glad you're reading a lot of people like Toni Morrison. I believe that I became a good writer partially from reading a steady diet of EXTREMELY good writers (at 15--I was reading things like CANE and INVISIBLE MAN on a constant basis--I'm now 33). It's smart of you to really STUDY many of these writers that you mention. A great way to hone your skills is to focus on writing short stories--because the limits of space force you to become inventive.
The characters are weak, though, Cynique and you tend to "tell" more than show. Also, there's not enough conflict (because you tell more than show). As well...the book being subtitled "a black family journey"...I felt disappointed that there wasn't really a single Black female character in the book (in my opinion). For demographic reasons (marketing), that might be a drawback for this book...because BW are the CORE of the market for something like this. I also closed the book with the very strong feeling that you don't hold a high opinion of "dark skin" Black women (your writing makes it seem like you didn't grow up directly involved with any)...and at best, just "sympathy" for those poor mysterious other ones. That's just being honest, Cynique.
I think you should keep writing, though. I loved your author Photo...because you remind me of the Black American woman who (along with her wonderful Black husband) adopted me!! You're sweetfaced and pretty like she is (She's a wonderful mother and my best friend, too). The photo alone made me FORCE myself to like you and to like the book.
I'm your friend, Cynique. I really wish you luck and I hope we keep in touch. I'll send you my book (God, I hope it doesn't give you a heart attack).
Look for me next week in People Magazine (I'm too terrified of what they're going to print--you know how the press is towards me)..and look for an email from me about my appearance on CNN with Connie Chung. I'm also in the very prestigious London Observer this weekend (you can read it online). I really appreciate your support and friendship and I feel that way about everyone at aalbc.com This is a great place for us to network and encourage and inspire one another-and to be honest.
All my love, Sister...Kola
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Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 09, 2003 - 10:27 am: |
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Sister Kola,
Thanks for your honest and incisive review. I think any problem you had with the book stemmed from your misconception of what I set out to do. As I've said before, I try to create a movie of the mind when I write a book. I string together a series of episodes and wind them all up at the end, because I just can't write a long drawn-out book. That's my style. This, I think I accomplished. Incidentally, I have no grand plans for this book or for a professional writing career. That's why I went the self-publishing route. I wrote it because I'm driven to write - and because I became enamoured of how easy it is to write a book when you utilize your computer's word-processor. LOL. Anyway, your review makes the review AALBC will be shortly posting rather anti-climatic. I'll be interested in seeing how the 2 compare. And I might add that the other feed-back I have received from the book was a little different from yours.
Oh, yeah. About the color thing. I didn't say what color certain characters were. I left that to the reader's imagination. I worked at the U.S. Post Office for many years, a place where you are exposed to a broad cross-section of people, and this included dark-skinned black woman, among which I had more friends than I did enemies. The ones I didn't get along with, were the ones who
made derogatory references to my skin color. Believe me, it works both ways.
Thanks again for your critique. I thought your comments were, for the most part, constructive.
BTW the reason I haven't tackled your book yet is because, and I'm ashamed to admit, I do not like short-story collections. Just a personal quirk on my part.("Cane" is the exception.)
Also, as an after thought, I've wondered myself why I made a male my protagonist instead of a female. I have to think about that some more. Hummmm.
Cynique
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yukio
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 11:11 pm: |
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Cynique,
Is your book fiction or non-fiction? Also, is "Along the Way: A Black Family Journey" the correct title of your book? I've tried to find it in several BArnes and Nobles' stores in NYC, but i can't find it...Any suggestions? |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 12:25 am: |
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Hi Yukio,
This book I've written and self-published is a strange little animal - lookin' for a home. I really haven't done a lot of wide-spread marketing of "Along The Way". I've placed it in local book stores and have simply made it available by mail order for anyone who wants to check it out. Just send cash, check, or money order in the amount of $10.00 to: Lantern Publishers, c/o PO Box 453, Maywood, IL., 60153-0453 and I'll mail a copy to you.
Thanks for your interest.
Cynique |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 12:40 am: |
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Oh, I forgot to answer your question. "Along the Way" is fiction; a novel about the life times of an exceptional black brother, beginning in the 1930s going on up to the new millenium.
Cynique |
yukio
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 11:19 am: |
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Thank You! |
Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 23, 2003 - 11:05 pm: |
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Woo hoo hoooo!! I am SO BEHIND and have missed coming to the boards, but Cynique I look forward to getting a copy of your book. I haven't "really" read anything over the last few weeks as I worked non-stop to get my site up. I hope to knock out 3 books before the 1st though.
-Tee |
Anonymous
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 05, 2003 - 11:57 pm: |
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This thread was a true set up. Dam, the words between the lines read louder than the typed words of Kola.
But Cynique, you had to know the proberbility of a good review if the 'politics' wasn't right? Why did you submit it?
We as Black people are a very, very, tough; an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, appologizing only after everyone is blind and toothless.
But it really funny though. |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 06, 2003 - 10:36 am: |
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It is funny. Kola's aggravation over how I dealt with "color" in my book was probably the beginning of the frition between us. How did you ever find a post that was written 10 months ago?? |
Anonymous
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 06, 2003 - 08:51 pm: |
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I'm new here, I started reading from the top down. Only after reading a few posts I noticed that the board flows 'backwards' (down, up).
Later, as I started to go down the list of threads, I noticed Kola's name (I first made contact with her on Black Voices,) so I natually decided to read about her. I was shocked to see people here giving her grief, but as I read I noticed that it was 'family' greif, the type of greif that parents give, that children hate, but is consistant in most normal families.
I started out posting with my name (you could research it if you want) but because this family is so close knit I think it's best for me to be 'a good neighbor' that just drops by every now and then.
The drama here is so serious, it's like board members playing double-dutch with barb wire, the pro posters ususally make it look easy, but at times the pros trip, or is tripped on purpose that results in a deep wound, but the novice get cut up badly.
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idrissa
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 24, 2003 - 08:30 pm: |
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Anonymous: I'm new here too and have been reading the posts and using my real name....maybe I should re-consider. LOL But my skin is tough from spending four years on Heart And Soul (message boards) on the BlackSinglesInternational (BSI) site. This family really is more interesting for me because we're talking about books and writing.....but the drama is the same on BSI. LOL
Cynique; I'm interested in reading your book...anywhere I can buy it online? |
Beautifulwaterstar
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 29, 2003 - 11:24 pm: |
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(Thank goodness for other "time travelers". :p) CONGRATULATIONS, Cynique! Dang, am I the only one posting on this board who is not an author? lol Either way, I haven't even read all the posts, but I'm proud of you, Sis. I know that it has to be good if it came from you. :-)
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Tee C. Royal
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 - 12:19 am: |
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Beautifulwater...you're not alone. I'm not an author. :-)
Cynique, don't give up on me. Once I make this FINAL move in a few weeks, I'm going to find my copy of your book, if not I'll buy another one. This will be the third move in 8 months and hopefully the LAST!!
Idrissa, nothing wrong with using your real name. (It's beautiful by the way.) T is my nickname that I've expanded to Tee online. Only my family members and friends from high school call me Martina.
Anonymous, are you a writer? I think I missed this original thread because I wasn't feeling the tone, but in reading your Oct 6 post that idrissa references, I caught the "it's like board members playing double-dutch with barb wire." I LIKE THAT!!
-Tee |
Stumped
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 - 03:44 am: |
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Anonymous, I went to Black Voices and searched for Kola Boof posts but never found any she herself had written.
I did find several that were written about her by both fanatical fans and haters alike. Those were pretty hilarious.
Are you sure Kola posted at Black Voices? I don't think so.
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