Dare [Paperback]

Abiola Abrams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 11, 2007

Meet Maya Hope. Double-dipped in cocoa with brick-house curves, she's a lover of jazz, a political poet, and a sociologist. Her best friend and roommate, Athena Jackson, is her opposite in every way -- a petite ex-cheerleader who's always blaring rap, grinding out rhymes, and ready to take the next man home. When Maya is forced to pinch-hit in an audition and bust Athena's rhymes, she finds herself on an undercover escapade in the wild world of hip-hop as the raw, sexy, roughneck Jezebel. After striking a deal with her own personal devil, Maya sets off on the tempting roller-coaster ride of a lifetime -- finding music, more fun than she's ever had, and even a man or two...but not without consequences. Brimming with electric sensuality, Dare is an unforgettable, envelope-pushing odyssey of two gutsy women playing by their own rules.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Abiola Abrams is best known as the host of BET's The Best Shorts. Her first novel, Dare, is a Faustian tale set in the world of hip hop. Abrams has a keen ear for dialog, and though almost outrageous at times, her characters are believable and often fascinating. Dare may end up in several nooks of your bookstore, filed under "chick lit," "African American literature," or even in the burgeoning "street lit" genre. Don't be fooled by the labels, this is a promising and enjoyable debut." -- David Gutowski, Large Hearted Boy

"Abiola Abrams' debut is like a breath of fresh air for young fiction and the depiction of women in hip hop. Finally, the world will see the conflicted struggles of ladies in the rap biz in a way that women in hip hop have known and understood for years." -- Raqiyah Mays, Writer/Radio Personality on Hot 97 & 98.7 Kiss FM

"Abrams uses the mystery, bling and oft times violence of the hip-hop world, the rapper's delight, if you will, as a backdrop for a strangely twisted coming of age story. Sometimes lovers, both old and new, don't know what to make of a caterpillar's transformation into a butterfly. Neither do friends, for that matter. But what happens when a woman looks around, finds herself hiding in a corner, and coaxes herself out to play? Now that's the stuff good books are made of. Taking a DARE doesn't get any more enlightening than this." -- The Rawsistaz Reviewers

"DARE is the first novel by Abiola Abrams, who is also a filmmaker and a pretty dynamic sister. The book is a hip-hop retelling of Faust, but as Abrams acutely describes, it's about "finding love and finding yourself." I thought this book was dope for several reasons. Including: 1) It represents what great hip-hop fiction can be: smart, edgy, hip-hop inspired, but not just hip-hop, empowering, and provocative. 2) It's a great story about living life, not just existing, and makes you think about your own journey thus far. 3) It's fun and entertaining." -- AOL Black Voices

"Filmmaker Abiola Abrams blends literary and hip hop sensibilities for a daring debut." -- Upscale Magazine

From the Author

Thank you so much to all of the wonderful readers, book clubs, magazines, book stores, radio shows and students who have embraced my debut novel Dare. I wanted to present this audience with something unique, poetic, well-written, and different than the fiction that we are used to. Someone asked me if readers were ready for a fun, smart and satirical adventure about friendship, drama and love that happens to be set in the world of hip hop; a story, as one Amazon reader put it, that is not about "gangstas, pimps, hustlers or hos," and the answer is a resounding yes! Thank you readers, for showing with your many enthusiastic letters that crashed my site that Dare is the book you were waiting for, and that their are many different kinds of books to serve our audience, and all are valid and necessary.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (December 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416541667
• ISBN-13: 978-1416541660
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,574,871 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Abiola Abrams, your favorite bad girl and good woman, writes books, blogs and columns and broadcasts TV and web shows about love, lifestyle and pop culture. Current projects include: BBC Radio Entertainment Correspondent reporting on celebrity news and relationships, MTV Teen Dating Empowerment Coach on the reality series "Made," blogger and editor on her lifestyle site "Abiola's Passionista Playbook," and host/producer of her own award-winning web series and advice vlogs.

Abiola's upcoming book, The Passionista Playbook for Rockstar Living, is part humorous memoir, part fun handbook, about living with passion. Dare (Simon & Schuster), a hip hop love story, Abiola's popular debut novel was taught at Amherst College and her essays have been published in anthologies such as Behind the Bedroom Door, Dirty Words: A Literary Encyclopedia of Sex, and A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer.

In the past Abiola Abrams has hosted TV shows like BET's "The Best Shorts," HBO's "The Buzz" and NBC's "Source: All Access," starred as "Miss Picky" on VH1 reality series "Tough Love" and appears as a pop culture talking head on networks like FOX. Recent press includes being interviewed for a feature about sex toys in Essence Magazine, being quoted in The New York Times about Fashion Week and talking about the Person of the Year on The Judith Regan Show on Sirius XM Radio. Abiola has written for and been written about in publications from Gawker and Jezebel to Paper Magazine and Self.

Abiola is a lead lifestyle & entertainment content contributor (articles, videos, celebrity interviews) in the areas of love, lifestyle, pop culture including advertorial and branded entertainment. She's interviewed celebrities such as Patti Labelle, Quincy Jones, Chris Rock, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J and Henry Louis Gates, Junior. Clients and sites include and have included: Pepsi We Inspire, American Airlines' Black Atlas, HP, Yahoo, Glam, Hello Beautiful, Examiner and Luv Em or Leave Em.

Abiola Abrams has given keynote addresses on empowerment at many schools such as NYU, The New School for Social Research and Howard University. She was featured in the 2010 Sex Bloggers Calendar and as a part of her ongoing safe sex initiative she directed the award-winning and critically acclaimed feminist erotica art film, "Afrodite Superstar." Her social issues short films and documentaries have shown in festivals, museums and universities.

Abiola Abrams has a BA from Sarah Lawrence and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She curated the Chashama Gallery exhibit Hos, Putas and Dragon Ladies: Our Sexuality Remixed and VDay's Until the Violence Stops Film Festival at the Museum of The City of NY and the Museum of TV and Radio. Recently Abiola hosted the 6th Annual African American Literary Awards in New York City.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I dare you to read this and not find something you'll love!, April 24, 2008

By 

R. Kyle (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dare (Paperback)

Maya and Athena have been sisters of the heart since gradeschool days, but they're nothing alike. Maya's a Masters degree level sociologist, a poet, and a political activist. Athena's a cheerleader, a rapper wannabe, and though Maya loves her--she thinks her roommate's 'easy'.

But love is thicker than disagreements and the bonds of sisterhood are strong between these two sister-friends. When Athena's Mom becomes ill and Athena cannot make the rapper audition of a lifetime, Maya comes and does Athena's audition.

When Maya's audacity causes her to win, Athena convinces her to take a sabbatical from her job and continue the ruse until they can get things straightened out and get Athena her chance to shine.

Maya thinks she's crazy, til Athena DARES her. Now, these two women aren't children, but Maya can't refuse that dare.

"Dare" is a beautifully written book by a woman whose soul is full of light and who obviously wants to brighten up her reader's lives, too. You not only get a heart-rending tale of a strong woman's life, you get life lesson's as well. Abiola Abrams has filled "Dare" with personal dares that will change your life if you open yourself up to them--one of these is a "Beauty Day". No, this isn't pampering at the spa, it's noticing and acknowledging beauty everywhere.

Ms. Abrams writes with the rhymic beauty of both a musician and a poet. Her imagery is strong with color and sensory impressions. Scenes from "Dare" will bring tears to your eyes and leave you laughing and cheering.

You don't have to love rap or hip hop to love this book. You do need poetry in your soul and be willing to open up and learn--because Maya does have some amazing insights into life in general.

Go on--read the first chapter on this page. I dare you. Bet you won't put the book down til you're done. I also bet you're going to keep the book for the rules and the inspirational material in between the narrative.

Rebecca Kyle, April 2008

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FINALLY-- REAL & SMART AFR-AM CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE!!, March 25, 2008

By 

Jackie Simon Adams (Beverly Hills CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dare (Paperback)

GO DARE! I am so excited about writing this review. One of my best friends and I have been arguing about this book for a week, so we're both going to post our reviews. I absolutely loved it, and she wasn't crazy about it. But it got us both talking so I guess that the brilliant author accomplished her point. Here's what the big issue is-- this book is MIS-CATEGORIZED. It is listed as "Urban Lit," but as one of the other reviewers says, Dare is definitely either "CHICK LIT" or just "CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE." I guess that since it's a book by a black woman, the simple category they threw it into was "urban fiction."

Here is why I ENJOYED DARE SO MUCH and my friend did not-- our tastes in reading are totally different! I am a LITERARY reader. My favorite authors are Maya Angelou, Edwidge Danticat, Erica Simone Turnipseed, Zadie Smith, Toni Morrison, Gloria Naylor and Sofia Quintero. I LOVE SMART BOOKS that are creative with strong characters and a meaningful plot. My friend-- whose negative review you will see here ;-D -- loves "urban reads"-- books about hip hop, hustlers, gangsters, etc. If that is what you read or what you are looking for, that is definitely not Dare. No insult against any other authors, but Dare is literature. If you are used to easy reading about pimps, prostitutes, gangs and hustlers, buy something else. If you are an educated reader who loves profound, poetic and thoughtful storytelling and literature, BUY THIS BOOK IMMEDIATELY!!!

The crazy thing is that because I am biracial, I have friends of all races. However, the books that my white girlfriends read and my black girlfriends read are totally different. The black books tend to be so one dimensional and basic. My white girlfriends are loving Dare too because they are not used to books like the others that appeal to the lowest common denominator. Edwidge Danticat and Abiola Abrams ROCK.

Dare is so rich and it was wonderful for me to read something that is as good as or better than "regular" chick lit but aimed at ME!!! The character was not a pimp, prostitute or a hustler, but a strong, proud, educated black woman like me. I didn't intend to keep going on and on, but I guess that the only flaw Miss Abrams has as a writer, if any, is that as a black writer she is above the pack, and that by itself might hold her back. People who are used to Big Macs can't understand caviar.

I can't wait for the next book by Abiola Abrams. I couldn't put Dare down. I loved the affirmations and literary references. More, please!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Daring debut!, December 21, 2007

By 

Miles Maker (Harlem, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dare (Paperback)

Sociologist Maya Hope is re-united with Hip Hop culture when she reluctantly agrees to stand-in for her best friend Athena at a nationwide talent search for the next emcee. After confronting Hip Hop mogul "Shell" at the audition, Maya is rewarded for having "cojonés" with a recording contract from the hottest Rap label in the industry, Camp Hustla. Athena dares Maya to accept the offer and sign the deal with the intention of making the switch in a few weeks--but their song and dance gets remixed when Maya morphs in the limelight from would-be fan to famous. Her swagger subdued, Athena is reduced to mere hype-man status, while Maya succumbs to willing victim in her own social experiment. Tension builds when Maya's ex-fiancé Rob is introduced as her new manager, proving once again that revenge is the best therapy when your ex-man faces the next man.

Maya clashes with superficial celebrities, deceitful insiders, the media machine and her own self-esteem on a sordid Hip Hop tour of self-discovery from the female perspective. The truths among the lies in the Rap game have never been disclosed so insightfully--with thought-provoking portrayals and captivating narrative. Abrams' breakaway debut novel is a chart-topping, champagne popping, heel-clicking adventure you wouldn't Dare ignore!