Customer Reviews

Gutter: A Novel

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

GUTTER is the long awaited sequel to K'wan's very first novel. To say that it's colossal would be like saying water is wet. Captivated by the excessive hunger, readers are instantly caught up in a vicious war. And while you may know that it's wrong, you feel yourself shift as you've instantly chosen a side. Your heart is beating in your ears as the first bullet is chambered. Afflicted with guilt, terrorized and terrified, but at the first sight of blood, you're unable to turn away. Like a leech, you read on, thirsting and needing more.

GUTTER begins with best friends Kenyatta, aka Dollar, and Louis, aka Baby Loc, talking about what Dollar has done to ruffle feathers. Dollar decides that the only way to make sense about what is going on is to start from the beginning...

Lou-Loc is dead and as a result of it, Gutter is laying everything red down! Sharell is pregnant and fearful that her man won't survive, and poor Satin is grieving while being held prisoner by her own mind. Remarkably enough, while obviously so much time has elapsed, you're still able to recall each scene like it was just yesterday.

K'wan is truly an exceptional author. Admittedly, I felt guilty each time I turned the page. But like a soldier caught in the mist, I welcomed each challenge. I can earnestly say that GUTTER has awakened my thirst for the grittiness and heartache associated with the hood. While this dosage was enough to hold me off, I am looking forward to another hit and soon. GUTTER is truly an engaging urban tragedy that shines light on what it is to truly be a product of one's environment.


Reviewed by Crystal

Kwan has done the damn thing!!!!!. I read Gangsta right before I read Gutter as so much time had passed since the release of Gangsta. Kwan has come with the gritty and I truly know more about "gang banging" then I EVER wanted to know.

It's the year 2021 and we're taking a walk thru memory lane with the OG's seeds Kenyatta aka Dollar and Louis aka Baby Loc. Dollar goes on her own fishing expedition into her and her best friend's father past. What she learns will shock all of us. Dollar takes us back into Harlem where the beast in Gutter was unleashed after the death of Lou Loc. Everyone on the wrong color barrier will pay for taking his best friend away. Kwan brings back some of the characters from Gangsta back. Satin, Snake Eyes, Sharell, Pop Top even Jesus makes a guest appearance. Kwan brings us up to speed on what has been popping with them. Kwan introduces us to a host of new characters. This story is so entertaining I did not want to put it down. Kwan has a way with words like no other. This excellent author has a way of drawing the reader into the story. Just like its predecessor this sure to be a hood classic.

This is my fifth book of Kwan's that I have read and he just keeps getting better and better. I am a fan for life. I eagerly await his next novel and if you read Gutter you also know what it is. Mums the word on my account you gotta cop this book to find that answer out.


SiStar Tea
ARC Book Club Inc.
5 star rating

Seems like today everybody wants to write a sequel, but few are worthy. K'wan's GUTTER definitely falls in the small group of those that clearly know what they are doing. K'wan packs his pages with details and drama. Then there's the character of Gutter, an interesting man. An intriguing tale, this book is well worth reading and also warns readers of the consequences of living life on the streets. Put GUTTER atop your must read list.

GUTTER is by one of the rawest Urban Lit books that's representing Street Lit and wrapped up 2008 w/out a doubt. With Gutter comes a true life education in the world of the Crips and Bloods. Drama, suspense, pain, danger, shouting, smiling, crying.....is sure to shake up these emotions and combine true hard reality. Gutter comes back in this sequel and puts in what he does best "work" but now he's on the West Coast getting things in order and taking care of "bidnezz". The East Coast is up in shambles and it's raining Major Blood and he's bringing the heat and keeping it gangsta and repping for the West Coast bloods. If you haven't read Gangsta, I would highly recommend you do and then pick up the sequel Gutter, because the drama continues and you don't won't to miss a beat. I promise you will get a valid glimpse of East Coast vs. West Coast and the way each coast represent, it becomes incredibly frightening that the gang life is captured in true form. I'm sorry to say if this one goes to the big screen, it should be thought out w/a serious decision w/estreem caution, because it sure will rock america and stir up controversy in each coast for years to come. This is a book that establishes Kwan as an author to follow, applaud, rank him as a high professional w/the pen game, and stripe him as one of the kings of Street Lit. Take your stand, Kwan is here!!!

K'wan, K'wan, K'wan...wow...I'm speechless! This novel begins with a bittersweet introduction as Gutter and Lou Loc's offspring discuss the events that led to the demise of their gang banger father. Prepare for an exhilarating ride filled with excitement, suspense, and shockers galore!! Get your rest...because you are definitely going to need it!

Entering the initial scene is Gutter, hell bent on avenging his best friend Lou Loc's death by any means necessary. Seeking street justice, Gutter is ferociously raging as he plows down any Blood gang member or associate without a conscious. Despite Gutter's cold-hearted killer instinct, his fiancé Sharell is the only person that can bring forth the human side of this callous murderer. The love between the two is surprising and refreshing as well as the other mysteries that are constantly appearing in this gangster read.

Gutter's mentor-uncle, and father figure Gunn is left for dead. The family has summoned Gutter to the California home front because of this treacherous attack. Once his feet hit Cali soil, murder, mayhem, and tragedy are occurring in his wake; But in his absence from New York, an even more deadly plan is unfolding.

Gutter by K'wan is so powerfully emotional that it figuratively clinches the reader in a deadly chokehold from beginning to the surrealistic ending. I've been a long-time fan of K'wan. I love his literary swagger, and his stylistic storytelling skills have always been gangsta. But I've always had one complaint...the lack of emotions, indicative of a male author. Well, I take my hat off to the author. The execution was perfect; Gutter captures all feelings, eliciting various ranges of emotions like love, loyalty, egotism, revenge, sorrow, betrayal, redemption, and murder (did I mention love?) K'wan brought the pain! 5 out of 5 is not nearly enough to describe this fabulous read! Total kudos to you, K'wan! You mos def did the damn thang! Take your bow my brotha, take your bow!

Reviewed by Tazzyt2bossye
for Urban Reviews

There have been a lot of let downs this year when came to sequels and trilogies, but have to say Mr K'wan did this thing with this one. I highly recommend it. Gutter really lived up to his name because he was gutter to the core. If you want to know any more you have to read the book....

The book was pretty good but I was a little disappointed....I was expecting it to have somewhat of a ghetto love story in there somewhere but the entire book was about a gang war. I personally thought that "Gangsta" was better....and one thing I don't like about K'wan's writing is that he introduces way too many characters in his books which makes it hard to keep up with who's who. You will find yourself going back (in the book) to find out who's down with whom. I will say however, that Cross is my favorite!

I just started reading Urban books this year since all my friends was telling me what I was missing, I stared out by reading B-More Careful by Shannon Holmes never believing our brothers could produce such excellent writing. Then I come upon Gangsta and it broke my heart when Lou-Loc died, so I had to read the follow-up Gutter and can say that it has top any and all books that I have ever read. I got an insight on just what goes on in the drug world and the choices young men and women make or if they have a choice in which take them down these path. It was if I had an up front seat, I laugh, cried, and became somewhat down knowing that this was a work of friction and yet a lot of facts.
Keep up the good works K'WAN, now I have to pick up your other books.

With his physical wounds healed but still recuperating from his emotional wounds, the loss of his friend Lou-Loc, Gutter must continue to lead the Harlem Crips. But when a family emergency calls him back to California, all hell breaks loose.

It's been more than a minute since I'd read anything by Kwan. I'm glad I decided to give GUTTER a chance. Kwan's writing style is gritty, volatile and gripping as Gutter struggles with his inner beast. Defined by death, blood and violence, GUTTER will pin you to your seat.

Raw: An Erotic Street Tale

I read Gangsta some time back, so I hurried up and re-read before reading this book. Kwan did a GREAT job with character development, and building tension, and taking the story thru dramatic twists and an exciting conclusion. Very, very, good book!

Raw: An Erotic Street Tale
Prey For Love