Customer Reviews

An About Face

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

AN ABOUT FACE takes the reader into the mindset and the struggles of a homosexual man. Miguel Morris, an ex-con, is well aware of his sexual proclivities, but tries relentlessly to cross to the other side. As he is tormented internally by his demons, Carlton, a co-worker with revenge on his agenda, makes the task even more daunting. His underhanded antics seem to meet Miguel at every turn, until Miguel decides that he's had enough. Will Carlton's tactics cause Miguel to break?

Miguel finds himself attracted to Jasmine, another co-worker, who is unable to accept him as more than a platonic friend once his past is revealed. He desperately wants to pursue a relationship with her, but knows deep inside that he is straddling the fence. Can Miguel really change his ways?

Mr. Morris draws the readers into this interesting and informative saga that makes the readers ultimately appreciate the tug of war that goes on in the minds of many homosexuals. It is obvious his writing comes from a very real place. The third book in a trilogy, AN ABOUT FACE, is an excellent read.

Reviewed by Marcia Brevard Wynn
for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

This was a great read just as the first two books you published.
Keep up the good work as I look forward to reading more of your work.

AN ABOUT FACE is a bad soap opera, pure and simple. Given the very strong (but technically challenging) autobiographical first novel, FOR I HATE WHAT I DO and the forgettable INTERNAL CHAOS, I was expecting some personal insight and self-assessment by the author in the final book of the trilogy. I was unprepared for this over-the-top soap opera that bore little resemblance to his first (and best) book. It was like a dreadful E. Lynn Harris novel, but worse.

I was hoping he would share what he learned from his addiction and recovery; his incarceration, and potential challenges in returning to civilian life. Those arcs were completely absent in this book. I was looking for some self-assessment, introspection, and plans for moving forward with his life. What I found were repeated references to the type of car he drove, his fashionable apartment, the trendy restaurants, the designer clothes he (or others) wore, or the co-workers who wanted to do him in. I had zero interest in these details which lessened the impact and cheapened the novel. The story, such as it was, meanders through various false starts, incomplete scenes, and unbelievable interactions. Many scenes stretch beyond credibility; including the one where his co-worker visits the parole officer and the ludicrous lunch meeting that occurs with the principals. But then, looking back, it was perfectly acceptable if you view the novel as a bargain bin soap opera.

I wanted to know more about Mr. Moore/Miguel; especially why he struggles with his sexuality; why he would throw his best friend (who's interested in dating him) under the bus and announce he's no longer dating men. Mr. Moore erroneously implies that being gay is equated with misery and unhappiness - a theme that, unfortunately, is never explored. He somehow believes that by dating women, his life will be better. His denial about his sexuality and his steadfastness to have a relationship with a female was fascinating, but not fully explored. This may be one of the reasons he's finding life so challenging: he cannot fully accept the fact that he's a gay man and he's attracted to other men. Women ARE attractive, sexy, smart, flirtatious, funny, etc. but a gay man to fool himself into having a long-term relationship with one is comical if it wasn't so sad. Mr. Moore/Miguel has learned nothing over all these years.

I honestly hope that Mr. Moore has moved past his issues with his sexuality and embraces who HE is. Mr. Moore doesn't reveal anything about what he learned through all these years and I'm unsure, now, if he's even comfortable with, or accepts, his own sexuality.

Well, I will say that overall I thought the book was good. It was a quick and easy read. I personally struggled a bit with the writer's ambivalence surrounding his sexual identity and looking to God to help him change versus accept who he ultimately is as a person, but just my personal bias. The author developed his characters well enough for me to get a sense of them and string together their thought process. So... plain and simple I liked the book and hope he continues to write more. Everyone makes decisions that sometime have negative consequences, but that doesn't mean that we can't do "An About Face". Keep writing Mr. M.W. Moore!

Mr. Morris takes command of subjects that strain and tug at the comfort chords or the American Fabric, especially unwritten the behavioral codes of the African-American Community, with class and integrity. His approach is fresh and uniquely his own.

Mr. Morris presents a work that moves rapidly and draws the reader in. The characters are so thoroughly developed and realistic that they become as familiar as family, friends, coworkers or associates from daily life. Whether you love, pity or hate them, they evoke true emotion. An About Face is the perfect closer to a daring trilogy. Don't cheat yourself by starting at the end, start with For I Hate What I Do, transition to Internal Chaos and then close with An About Face.

Well, hate to say it; the story line had promise but the book failed to deliver. I didn't care about the characters. I got the feeling that the author just needed to voice his personal story. Maybe I'm wrong but after about 50 LLLOOONNNNGGG pages I gave the book to my friend to read. She's still angry with me. Sorry I wanted this to be good.