Block Party [Paperback]

Al-Saadiq Banks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2003

The author shows you what life looks like through the eyes of a middle-aged hustler, who is forced to change his entire game plan just to survive against the new generation of hustlers. It's a new day, with a new breed of hustlers. The old rule book has been discarded, and a new one has been written. Either you learn how to play by the new rules or don't play the game at all. Cashmere has just been released from Federal Prison. After serving seven years, he has finally paid the Government the debt he owed them. Now he wants what the streets owe him.

His plan is to pick up from where he left off. The only problem is, the new generation has taken over and they refuse to accept orders from the middle-aged veteran.

It's seven years later, the little boys he left back home have turned into grown men. It's their turn and they're not going to sit on the sideline and watch him take over.

Watch Cashmere do everything in his power to make it to the top, where he feels he truly belongs.

Will he regain the crown or will he have to bow down?

Product Details

• Paperback: 271 pages
• Publisher: True 2 life (December 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974061018
• ISBN-13: 978-0974061016
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #437,428 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read!, June 23, 2006

By 

Gina C. "author of VIGIL" (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Block Party (Paperback)

Block Party by Al- Saadiq Banks is a fast-paced, entertaining read. It grabs you from the first page and keeps you entertained until the very end. The characters are real, the setting is true and the message is clear. As an author myself, I am most impressed with what Al- Saadiq Banks has to offer. This is exciting urban fiction!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read, June 3, 2006

By 

Love me some books "Jounay" (New Orleans, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Block Party (Paperback)

I cannot believe I had this book in my possession for months and never read it. The reason being I did not like the bold print throughout the book. I am glad I got pass that.

Block Party is about the life of Donald "Cashmere" Pierson.

He has just returned home after a seven year prison bid and the streets and the players have changed. Can Cash adjust to this change?

Cash is a devoted husband, father, friend, and street hustler. No matter how hard he tries to ignore the call of the street he can't. Will this be his downfall?

I loved this book and I am looking forward to reading any book Mr. Banks writes.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bank's Depiction of Brick City's Informal Street Adminstrators, June 2, 2006

By 

Timur A. Davis "Timur" (Newark, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Block Party (Paperback)

Al Saadiq Banks is a prolific urban novel writer who wrote the titles No Exit, Sincerely Yours', Caught `Em Slippin, Menace II Society, Block Party, and Block Party 2: The Aftermath. In Block Party, Banks illustrates the harsh reality of drug dealers in Newark (Brick City), New Jersey. The in this gripping novel the writer developed characters such as Cashmere, Mayor, Slim, Ice, Love and Desire. In this suspenseful tale of the underworld of Brick City, Cashmere was in federal prison for seven years due to drug dealing.

In the book, Cashmere was a drug dealer who made a lot of money on streets. He developed great recognition for his hedonist lifestyle of luxury cars, houses, and clothes. While in prison he marriage, Love; a school teacher who was unconditionally in love with Cashmere.

Unfortunately for Cashmere, after being released from prison there was a new dealer on the streets who did not leave any room for competition at all. Mayor was the new leader of the dope game. Mayor and Cashmere had a misunderstanding due to Cashmere aggressiveness and naiveté about the new street financial capitalist the Mayor.

As the story progresses Cashmere who is nearly forty years of age is peer pressured into selling drugs by his son's grandfather Slim and Mayor, who constantly harassed Cashmere about his older model Mercedes Benz car. Eventually, Cashmere submits to the pressure telling himself it would only be a 90 day run. In addition, to dealing with his drug dealing, he also has problems with his children's mother Desire. Upon Cashmere's release from federal prison, Desire developed a loving relationship with a young jealous drug dealer named Ice. Cashmere as a father became concerned about his sons' welfare.

Block Party is an urban novel that depicts some of the social nihilism that exists due to one's desire to become rich by selling drugs. Mayor who is nineteen years dealer was making millions with his dope product called Block Party. Cashmere became an archrival to the Mayor in the story, and he took his life in his own hands. The Mayor's only concern was trying to make money to stay on top of his "game."

The book highlights social realities such as AIDS, violence, robberies, and substance abuse. The author described the social reality of dope addicts, hustlers, and unethical means one would undergo to stay on top of the "game." This book is a deterrent to adults and young adults who may be curious about making fast money through narcotics dealing.

Block Party is suspenseful, gripping, emotional, and exciting. It is a must read.