Customer Reviews

The Dying Ground: A Maceo Redfield Novel (Strivers Row)

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Dying Ground is one of the best novels I've ever read. Nichelle D. Tramble's debut novel is hard-hitting and gritty and goes from 0 to 60 in 6 seconds with the suspense meter.

THE DYING GROUND takes us to Oakland, CA...circa 1989, drug wars, crack and gun fire runs rampant in the streets, and we're introduced to Maceo Redfield, a young black man who has always been on the conservative side of ganging and slanging, opting for college instead of drugs and guns. Since slightly parted, Maceo laments over the break-up of his childhood friendship with Billy Crane and Holly Ford, two well-known men in the drug world. When Billy Crane is murdered, Maceo finds himself teaming with Holly to bring Billy's murderer to justice...and to find Felicia, Billy's girlfriend and his first true love. Maceo's decision finds him immersed in violence and drugs and dealers and the dark side, ultimately leading to a shocking, painful climax...he learns that there are ALWAYS prices to pay when you play on the dying ground.

Tramble's description of the dark side of urban life - violence, drugs, death - were so vivid and sadly, true to life, that you're immediately drawn into the world that she creates. As much drama that ensues, this book is a wonderful suspense as well, and will leave you flipping pages with the swiftness to reach the end, because Tramble gives NOTHING away in this book...you want to know who did it...and why? Read to the very last page. This novel is a stark SHOCK of reality, a reality we rarely see between the pages of a novel, a reality filled with pain, but Tramble writes so deliciously through her characters, you make it through the pain to realize what a literary gem THE DYING GROUND is!

This outstanding first novel, set in crack-riddled Oakland of 1989, is one of the most accurate portraits of the friendships and conflicts of young black men in the inner city I've come across. Although the book is subtitled "A Hip-Hop Noir Novel" it doesn't really have much to do with either (the hip-hop mostly comes from a minor character who speaks in lyrics and a cameo by Too Short, the noir refers mainly to the importance of the past--a central theme in film noir and in the book), rather, it's a highly inventive twist on the traditional procedural.

Cut from much the same cloth as Boyz N the Hood, and indeed greatly in debt to it, the book kicks off with an excellent (and highly cinematic) barbershop confrontation. The killing of local drug baron Billy, propels his two childhood friends, Maceo and Holly, into a quest to find his killer and Billy's missing girlfriend, Flea. Former high school baseball star and recent Berkeley dropout Maceo Redfield makes an unlikely, and very flawed, detective. Until now, he's always managed to stay out of the hustler's drug life, never having to pick sides due to his untouchable athlete status. However once his old friend is killed, he decides he must find Flea and avenge Billy as a matter of honour, even if it means getting involved with people much nastier than he can ever be.

Tramble exposes the empty codes of honour for what they are through the outsider character of Alixe, who challenges Maceo to walk away from it all. And just as Maceo couldn't face a tough challenge in college, he can't face this one, "Despite my family, my talent or even myself, all any of us felt we had was the game.... invented manhood." Even though he's got everything to lose, and little to gain, one reads on, hoping Maceo will manage to squeak through against the odds and come out clean. This book (just like Boyz N the Hood) makes a vivid point about how even the those with solid upbringing and potentially bright futures can still get caught up in all kinds of nonsense.

The book's biggest strength is Tramble's remarkable ability to reach into each character's head and come up with just the right voice and make that come alive on paper. Her skill is evident in that she accomplishes this across all ages and both sexes. The use of local slang and pronunciation is blended effortlessly in every conversation. The book's other real strength is the vivid depiction of time and place--Tramble makes Oakland come alive. If you like this book, check out Jervy Tervalon's "Living for the City" or pretty much anything by George Pelecanos. Tervalon's short stories about growing up in LA, and Pelecanos' D.C. crime novels have the same strengths in voice and setting as this book.

I appreciate this book for two reasons. 1. Being from the Bay Area, I really enjoyed the familiarity of the setting (area and time period). 2. The book made me understand the plight of some young males from Oakland. While the storyline was somewhat predictable, there were instances when I really began to understand the feeling of a young person who was essentialy abandoned by both parents. While I was raised in a very loving family with both parents, I couldn't ever really understand why anyone could allow his or her self to get caught up in the game when there are many options to succeed in life (legally that is). But when parents choose drugs over their children, what type of message does that send to the child? This story shows how much children are affected by being abandoned, even if other family members pick up the slack. Although, I still feel that there are other ways for these children to survive other than pullin a hustle, I can better see why being hustler is an easy option. I was slightly annoyed with the end of this book though. It seems to me Maceo gave up on life when life itself had given him extra chances. This is a book that can mean many different things to many different people and I recommend it because of that.

First off let me say that I was anxious to read this novel after hearing comments from other readers and scanning the back cover. I just knew it was going to be my type of book. Apparently my expectations were too high because I found myself highly disappointed.

The book did not grab me from the first page or even the fiftieth page. In fact, from page fifty until page two-fifteen, I was waiting for the roller coaster ride to begin. When I got to page one hundred, I paused to read the back cover again and figured that all the excitement the back matter promised would happen at any second.

Maceo Redfield has two best friends, Billy Crane and Holly Ford. Billy has been seeing Maceo's only true love, Felicia AKA Flea. One day while Maceo, known as the Watcher because of his astuteness between pitches on a baseball field, is waiting to get his hair cut at the neighborhood barber shop, all hell breaks lose resulting in Billy's death and Felicia's disappearance.

Because Maceo feels that Billy would have done the same for him, he decides to find out who killed his friend at any cost. Plus, he is still head over heels in love with Flea despite a new relationship. Thus, he tracks her down and gets her to reveal the truth. At least, the truth as she knows it.

While I feel the writer has a wonderful writing style and a delightful gift for dialogue, the novel simply didn't satisfy my cravings for suspense. Maybe if I had never read other novels like Whoreson by Donald Goines or Rough Trade by Cole Riley, The Dying Ground would have enticed me in some manner. However, I think I will pass on the sequel.

I must say that after reading the insert that I thought I was going to be reading another street saga with a typical simple storyline and plot but boy was I wrong. This book held my attention and even had me anticipating chapter after chapter. I actually finished it in two days.

The characters had depth and going into the backgrounds of their past relationships with each other really helped to enrich the story for a better understanding throughout.

The language was right on point because I have a cousin out in Marin City right outside of Oakland and all I hear out of his mouth is "Is that Right?" then "Right. Right"

The story was well written for it to be the writer's first novel. I never been to Oakland but the writer put me right on the street corner to see it. I will definitely be on the look out for her next novel.

This book was amazing. The writing was incredible - the characters, the story, everything. It's hard to call this a mystery book, because the quality was just many steps above the typical mystery.

I could not put the book down. I heard there's a sequel to this called "The Last King," and I can't can't wait to read it.

To begin I purchased THE DYING GROUND under the assumption that the title held a totally different meaning. I read the first chapter on three occasions and I finally decided to set aside the time and read it. THE DYING GROUND fooled me in a good way. It wasn't HIP-HOP like I'd read, but instead a mystery littered with question after question. The characters, plot and depiction are so very real making you feel as though you are right in California as the story takes place.

THE DYING GROUND is Nichelle D. Tramble's first novel. I found it fascinating and detailed, allowing the reader the perfect entrance. I do hope to read more from this aspiring author soon.
A Maceo Redfield Novel (Strivers Row)]]

The Dying Ground is the debut novel by Nichelle Tramble. In The Dying Ground, Tramble offers a poignant view of life in Oakland, California in 1989. Through Tramble's storytelling, we see Oakland learning to deal with its newest demon, crack cocaine. The price of life with this demon is premature death and wasted potential in a time when the youth of the area are consumed with the Drug Trade and living a "Playa's lifestyle."

The Dying Ground tells the story of Maceo Redfield in a quest to find who murdered his childhood friend Billy and his search for his lost love, Felicia who happened to be Billy's girlfriend and with him at the time of his murder. Tramble paints Maceo as a good guy from a strong family who managed to escape life in the drug trade through his athletic ability. Maceo's investigation into Billy's murder and Felicia's disappearance draws him into a world that he used to watch from the sideline. Maceo places both feet in a world filled with drugs and violence. His desire to find Felicia is fueled by his unrequited love for her. Maceo is accompanied and protected during his quest by his best friend, Holly. Holly is a respected member of the drug community who has doubts about Felicia's innocence in Billy's murder.

Tramble tells an effective tale that is filled with action. A number of minor characters are introduced in the book at various times. The multitude of players can become confusing at times and readers never truly get to know Maceo. Even though the story is told from Maceo's point of view, often he is telling the readers about others with very little insight into himself and his actions. Throughout the book, Maceo is plagued by dreams of death that challenge him, but the dreams are never explored or shared with any of the other characters.

Nichelle Tramble's writing style is compelling and entertaining. Readers will enjoy The Dying Ground despite the lack of development of some of the key

characters. The Dying Ground is a 3 on the RAW Scale....

I read The Dying Ground twice. Once to get to the end, find out the killer and all that, then to actually hear what the writer was trying to say. It was interesting to go back and see clues I missed the first time but that wasn't the point. The point to me was getting to know these people. I'm not sure if this was really a mystery/thrilelr because Maceo's thoughts about life seemed just as important. I was more curious to see how he would find out who he was. Honestly, I still don't think he knows but maybe that was the second point. If I'm guessing then that's good. Recommend for anyone who likes good old fashioned storytelling that's well written.

Tramble's first venture into writing novels was very successful. In The Dying Ground she uses great charactariztion to let the readers understand her characters. Maceo, a former athletic star, is slowly drawn into the world of the Oakland drug trade when one of his best friends, Billy, is murdered, and his girlfriend, Maceo's unattainble love, disappears. Following various leads with the help of his Holly and friends, he is sucked deeper into the mystery. The writing is fast paced, complex and interesting, with believable characters. The end slowly ties up loose ends, though it keeps you guessing for it doesn't conclude in a way most would expect. I thought it was a really great book, and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.