Customer Reviews

Basketball Jones

5 star:		(62)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

E Lynn Harris has once again knocked me out with his work! "Basketball Jones" was so good it was hard for me to put it down, and I was sad when I reached the ending!!
Aldridge "AJ" Richardson and Drayton "Dray" Jones have been secret lovers since AJ tutored Dray in Algebra back in college. Dray goes on to have a successful NBA career and AJ is still in his life, as a secret of course. Dray can't imagine his family or teammates finding out he is gay. So AJ goes along with keeping the relationship a secret, even when Dray takes a wife to quiet questions about his relationship with AJ. Aj deals with it becasue he loves Dray and Dray takes very good care of AJ financially. AJ happily follows Dray around the country just to make his "man" happy.
Unfortunately, there is someone who knows about AJ and Dray and they will stop at nothing to either get paid or expose the sordid affair of a married NBA star and his gay lover.
This book is 100 % a must read and a compelling story about love and how far someone will go to keep secrets.

Cons: The best way to make readers feel sympathetic for a character is to make us like the character. Unfortunately, I couldn't stand Aldridge James. Regardless of whether he was out of the closet or not, he was still dating a married man who was on the down low, so whenever he was mistreated, all I was thinking was "So what?" and rooting for the nemeses (and yes, there were several).
There was also a lot of irrelevant talk about Michael Vick and a conversation about "I Love New York" that slowed the pace of the book. I know it was meant to make the book more realistic and have timely conversation, but considering that Vick case is old now, it just seemed like reading last year's newspapers. However, I did enjoy the talk about Obama, although the election is over and he's in the White House now (yay!).
The blackmailers were extremely predictable, and I was hoping that it wasn't the obvious, but it was, so that was rather disappointing. And it took 237 pages and 8 lines down before AJ finally said what I'd been thinking all along.
There was also a heavy amount of snide comments about white women to the point of being tacky (ex. "really tough b***h for a white girl").

Middle Ground: If you're into books filled with drama, scandal, blackmail, fashion, and talk about attractive butts, this is definitely the book for you. I'm not really into gossip so some of it was a little too talk show for me.

Pros: I like the way E. Lynn Harris writes, from dialogue to setting up the scene to the pace of the story. I read this book in two quick days and didn't want to tear myself from it because there were enjoyable parts. Although disgusted by Jade's goal, I enjoyed her outgoing attitude. I liked reading about AJ's mother and sister, and of course the surprise character at the end made me smile a little. I REALLY think I'd have liked this novel more if Dray wasn't married with a child on the way. That part alone repulsed me. I think this would've been a great novel to talk about the problems with gay athletes, and that was touched upon, with Dray's paranoia. For that, I liked the novel, but I didn't like any of that sneaking around DL stuff. It just irritated me. However, there are some topics that are hard on the eyes and ears but that need to be discussed, so for that, I have to give Harris much respect for bringing up these controversial and graphic topics.

I bought Basketball Jones around 5pm the day it came out and finished the book that night. I could not put it down! Basketball Jones is definitely a must read!! E Lynn is such an amazing author and captures the reader from start to finish. Basketball Jones is an intense story of two men in a relationship with many twist and turns

I love how E Lynn novels are the perfect mixture of classy with a raw touch and Basketball Jones is just that. Trust me, this is well worth the money and you WILL NOT be disappointed!! Good Job E Lynn!!

-Cory

Basketball Jones was a great read. Loved the two main characters. I was drawn into their complex relationship. AJ had to make some great sacrifices, some would say he was well compensated. But you can't curl up next to that "money" at night. I did not like how he handled Miss Judi... she would have had to feel the "wrath" at least a little. He let her off too easy. Otherwise I loved the book, I hope AJ finds love in a sequel.

Basketball Jones

I just finished reading Basketball Jones and I absolutely enjoyed it. This book is vintage E. Lynn Harris. The relationships are complex and intense. He captures the varied perspectives of the characters and leaves you wanting a sequel because you do not want the story to end. I am a HUGE fan and have read all his books. Now I have to get my girls to read this one so we can talk about it over lunch and a mojito!

I, too, just finished reading Basketball Jones and was most impressed. The book reads rather quickly and has lots of twists and turns. Some are predictable and others, especially at the end, have you wondering when the next episode is coming?!? It's clever of E. Lynn to sneak in a familiar face unexpectedly.

I used to love anything and everything by E. Lynn Harris. This book is almost a parody of his earlier work. All you need is a main character to narrate, a "fierce" snapping stereotype, a doting mama, a love interest, a scandalous twist and a cameo appearance by a character from another book, dialog that is repeated from character to character, book to book ("That's what's up"), a character who is straight but will swing the other way (sometimes "gay for pay"), and voila, you have the formula to this book (and ones to follow, I'm sure).

In short, I was disappointed. I love and adore you E. Lynn Harris, but you're losing me as a reader. You're better than this!

The world of professional athletes is ceaselessly fascinating. Because of this we shower our stars of sport with every accolade, but just as quickly devour them for crossing our ever shifting foul line. In his latest page-turner (or button-pusher for us Kindle owners!), E. Lynn Harris drifts toward basketball and the events surrounding a star player--Dray Jones. Dray, it seems, has a secret. Aldridge James Richardson is the keeper of that secret and our deeply flawed narrator.

In the first pages we learn that Aldridge and Dray are a couple, have been for many years, since college actually, before the NBA and the fame and the money and the societally-driven need to slam the closet door shut and bolt it tight. Soon--and, in the prophetic words of Benjamin Franklin, "Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead"--Dray's secret is uncovered by parties unknown with blackmail on the brain. What ensues is a virtual soap opera of drama, with true E. Lynn flair, which left me exhausted and smiling and craving a cigarette in the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed this romp, and for me it harks back to the E. Lynn we all met in his earliest novels. However, it's a must-read for fans old and new. With this title, E. Lynn Harris has achieved something no other African American author has to date--10 straight New York Times Best Sellers! Huge kudos are in order. Huge! ~ Taylor Siluwé, author of Dancing With The Devil

Great book...not dissapointing at all. But now I'm left wondering will AJ & Dray actually get a happy ending. Although Dray iss a bit controlling he is really a sweetheart and AJ is a real stand-up kinda guy. I almost feel like I know them.... Thank you E. Lynn Harris.

I found each of the characters in Basketball Jones to be complex - as well as strong and vulnerable at the same time. When NBA star, Drayton Jones, decides to marry Judi Ledbetter, Jones's male lover - AJ Richardson - is caught in the middle of a web. How far will each of Harris's characters go to safeguard their interests and maintain a status quo? You'll have to read the book yourself to find out. But I will tell you this - Harris succeeds in giving his readers much to think about. He challenges all of us to examine the pressure society puts on its heroes, and how it impacts upon many decisions we make - professional and personal - as well as how far any individual might go to protect his or her privacy, wealth, and public image. (Reviewer is Jerry Marcus, author of four novels, including Broken Trust - The Murder Of Basketball Star Jack Molinas.)