Wahida Clark
Grand Central Publishing
Summary
Tasha and Trae, the hood's favorite couple, are still together following the events of Thug Matrimony. Even with their relocation to sunny Los Angeles, the drama of New York cannot be escaped. From running a nightclub to dealing with models, shady lawyers, big money, new kinds of temptations, seductions, and drugs-not to mention new love interests-can this infamous couple weather all the storms and keep it together?
Thoughts
I couldn't finish this one. I felt that the characters were too "ghetto-ized". The excessive language and violence were also turn-offs. Knowing that Trae came from a history of thugs and when he immediately ran-off from Tasha, even though she was due any day, filled me with despair. Note that this is the fourth book about Tasha and Trae and you may be served better by reading the first three.
About the Author
Wahida Clark was born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey. She began writing fiction while incarcerated at a woman's federal camp in Lexington, Kentucky. Her first novel, Thugs and the Women Who Love Them, and the sequel, Every Thug Needs a Lady, appeared on the Essence bestsellers list. Since her release, Wahida has achieved much success with her follow-up of Thug Matrimony. Her most recent work, Payback With Ya Life, made its way onto the prestigious New York Times bestseller's list.
Wahida continues to amplify the urban landscape from her home and office in East Orange, New Jersey.
KB,
ReplyDeleteOkay, let me be real here. Why did you read this? And I mean that in I'm scratchin' my head kind-of-way. I bet five pages in you were depressed by the writing and certainly the storyline. There's a gazillion options in AA literature. Why? Feel free to tell me I'm steroetyping but this is the epitome of what people who don't read AA fiction think it is- bling, bling and gangbangers. Huh.
And I'm saying what a lot of people black and white are thinking.I'm black and you couldn't pay me to read this.
Sorry, but being black isn't an automatic pass with this sista. Your TBR is full of quality literature by AA authors and you read this?
KB, I honestly don't understand. Feel free to delete. I don't mean to offend you.
Susan,
ReplyDeleteI read this as part of a blog tour. I wanted to know what was being pushed out there. I like to know what people are seeing when they go to stores. I feel the same way you do. This is NOT a book that I would choose or recommend. I like to know both sides of any equation so that I can tailor my argument counter any objections. This is just ammunition.
KB,
ReplyDeleteI had hoped so and I suppose someone has to do it. And for full disclosure, I have books like this on our shelves. A library should reflect what readers want.
Still, I know you have said you wanted to read more AA fiction so for this to be one you'd feature...well, I think you can understand my shock. Yes, we should know. I stock it. But, I won't be reviewing any of it anytime soon though. I saw Marjolein reviewed it, too.
Thanks.
Four books, huh? So who's the audience? Who is Grand Central Publishing?
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you giving it a try!
ReplyDeleteKB,
ReplyDeleteI see this is a division of Hachette.
Have they not been reading our complaints about what major publishing houses are offering teens of color? Did they read your blog and see what you promote?
Sliding on the Edge, I was thinking the same. Of all the writers who can write that can't get published.....
I feel a letter writing session coming on. I doubt if they'll send me anything in the near future. :-)
KB, this blog tour mention confuses me on many levels. Thug Lovin is not a book for MG or YA readers. I am also pretty sure your followers aren't big urban lit fans. So why host this book?
ReplyDeleteThe cover and title tell you everything you need to know. If you like Urban lit it's a must read. Clark's books sell very well. If not don't read it. What else is there to know.
I don't like Urban lit. I've come to realize Urban lit that gets under my skin so much because of the lack of choices Black readers are offered. The Black experience doesn't not live and die with Urban lit. If publishers understood that and allowed more Black stories to be publishers Urban lit wouldn't bother me so much. And the same goes for you hosting this blog tour. KB if you reviewed more Black authors I wouldn't be as bothered by this mention. I would still be confused and not like it, but it would be just one book of many. It's not right but I do believe some White readers make assumptions about Black fiction based off of one book. If some of your White followers don't read Black authors on a regular basis because they hear their is nothing of substance then they come to your blog and see Thug Lovin, chances are they won't be reading a book by a Black author anytime soon.
Doret,
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I read WAY more than MG/YA. I read books. I requested to read this book. The publishers didn't force me to read it. I wanted to see what it was about. I also didn't have to post this tour. I wanted to.
Many of my students LOVE Goosebumps and Nancy Drew and other series that I don't consider worth their time. My job is to let them read that while slowly introducing to other reading.
The same with this. Start where people are - no matter who "they" are. I try to understand the whys and wherefores behind their reading. Then I move from there.
I don't judge any student for what they check out from the library - it's part of Freedom to Read. It's not about what I want or like or think.
I dont judge any of my friends for what they read, either. Many of them love Urban Lit and would love this book. We grew up on the south side of Chicago, in the projects. We knew people just like Trae and Tasha. Some of my friends were Trae and Tasha and a small handful of people I know still are.
I believe in reaching people. I believe in connectioning with them. I believe in leading from experience. I like knowing why other people do what they do and think what they people. I like taking people from here to there in their but I gotta go there first - no matter what.
I decided to try this - not for a diversity challenge - cause I wanted to know. Cause I needed to know.