Customer Reviews

Lazarus

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Amidst a glut of mediocre, "i-will-survive"-themed, Black, gay, self-published novels, Rashid Darden's Lazarus shines like a diamond on a bed of coal. The language is simple and accessible; the story is fresh, engaging, and true for someone somewhere i'm sure; the conflicts are stimulating; and the outcome by no means certain.

Confession time: this could have been my story. I was predisposed to immediately identify with Lazarus's protagonist, Adrian Collins, because of my time as a closeted gay man pledging a well-known-but-unnamed-by-me-in-this-post Black fraternity. (And because my frat brother - whom i've not yet met face-to-face - wrote it.) But i was also primed to pick apart every aspect of the story that might have rung false.

I found nothing but truth in Lazarus.

The novel takes the reader on a journey through one young man's rite of passage from being an ordinary college sophomore, through a relationship, into the trials of pledging a fraternity, and to the ultimate triumph of his personal character. I'm trying my best to avoid giving any spoilers; readers should experience Lazarus for themselves. Let me just say that in the hands of a lesser author, several of the characters might have read flat and the ending probably would have been all roses and skipping off into the sunset. Not so with Rashid Darden. He gives us a story that is believable and filled with individuals who remain true to their character throughout.

In the last one hundred years, Greek life on college campuses has become a staple in the lives of young, African-American men and women. Fraternities and sororities offer students the opportunity to socialize and bond with others of similar character, while inspiring them to contribute their time and talents to their communities. LAZARUS by Rashid Darden is a two-fold story of a young, African-American man coming of age at an elite, predominantly white university.

Adrian Collins wants to make a difference in the life of others. As vice-president of the campus chapter of the NAACP, he thought that was enough, but once he was introduced to the men of Beta Chi Phi fraternity, he realized that there was more he could be doing. Feeling abandoned by his father, Adrian seeks that familial bond with the pledges and brothers of Beta Chi Phi.

In addition to making the adjustment from an all-black environment in high school to being in the minority at his campus, he is also struggling with how to publicly embrace his homosexuality, but still be accepted by those he emulates. Adrian has always known he was gay and is keenly aware of the ostracism it may cause him to experience at the hands of people he respects. These two desires frequently clash, but Adrian stays true to himself and refuses to compromise his ideals. His underground relationship with his boyfriend, Savion, however, is suffering while he goes through the grueling pledge process.

Rashid Darden has produced a vivid description of fraternity life on a predominantly white campus. LAZARUS is fun and light, but also engenders poignant moments that underscore the meaning of fraternity and the closeness of the bond that is shared. He has also created some memorable characters which he has already written into the sequel to this novel, Covenants, due out in 2006. LAZARUS is an enjoyable read and I look forward to the sequel.

Reviewed by Kim Anderson Ray
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

I'm not one to go on a rant about how great a novel is, but I just may have to for "Lazarus." This novel is very alive and compelling. The characters are real, the situations are plausible, the action is exciting. As a student on a college campus, it rings almost too true. Nevertheless, it is a book that I will reread again, and again, and share with many friends. Rashid Darden, your ascent to the top has commenced.

BUY IT! NOW!!!

When I first read the novel "The Known World" by Edward P. Jones, I was absolutely shocked learning the inner-workings of a plantation and the society that surrounded its boundaries. The novel was based on a slave earning the freedom of his son who, years after being freed became a slave owner. I was amazed at how slaves were "kept in their place" not necessarily because the `massas' wanted it that way, but because if a slave witnessed another slave acting with any authority, the wrong idea about slaves' rights would spread like wildfire, bringing havoc to a society based on racial inferiority. I never thought I'd read another book that moved me in the same way---at least, not so soon. Rashid Darden has equaled Edward P. Jones, in his modern, societal tale entitled "Lazarus".

Adrian Collins is a motivated, intelligent, 19 year-old black male at Potomac University which is set in our nation's capital. Adrian has all possible leadership characteristics. He is an active member and vice president of the campus' NAACP Chapter and has become a small "big man on campus" by his sophomore year at Potomac. With his father disappearing from his life at an early age, Adrian has become his own man. In obtaining that achievement, however, he is left dealing with terrible demons within his soul. Adrian has a deep-dark secret he dares not share with the world.

Deep under the "I got it together", "I'm motivated and ready to change the world" exterior, Adrian is plagued with confusion about who he really is. His authoritative mask of conquering the world hides the secret that he's not sure what he wants to do or where or whether he truly fits in. Obviously, these are not the type of leadership characteristics he desires to show and if exposed, it could truly ruin his image, thus ruining his future.

By the way, did I mention Adrian was gay?

Yes, Adrian is a gay, black male and he is secure in how he feels-that doesn't mean he has to broadcast it to the whole world does it? Adrian IS NOT in the closet, he just chooses not to be the spokesperson in the middle of the spotlight. He is content with this role until he and his best girl, Nina, encounters the poetic legend of Potomac University, Savion Cortez. Savion, who has traveled the world and missed Adrian's freshman year, returns to find true love. Both Adrian and Savion are sure that they do not want to continue life without each other. Adrian, suddenly, seems to have the opportunity to "have it all"...or does he?

Savion, no doubt, completes Adrian's heart but does not necessarily complete his mind. In a twist of fate, Adrian pledges to the fraternity, Beta Chi Phi, which turns out to be an organization his long, lost father was a pioneering, charter member. Can the completed heart survive with the attempted completion of the mind? Will his dedication to his frat diminish the relationship with his lover? Adrian struggles to maintain the grip on both aspects of his life, walking a tightrope between love and honor.

"Lazarus" is full of colorful, but most important, realistic characters making the story so complete. There is Nina, Adrian's closest friend, who makes an art of remaining single; Micah, leader of the NAACP chapter, whose only goal in life is to be "A Beta-man" and will do ANYTHING to be one; Calen, the macho football player, who admires Adrian completely; Steven, Adrian's strict, authoritative Dean and personal Beta prophyte (if you don't know what it means, read the book) and the list goes on and on. If you've never experienced pledging for a fraternity or sorority, you will have a front row seat-and will not miss a single detail. If you have pledged, you'll know how EXACT Darden's descriptions are as he describes the perspectives of a pledge's rite of passage.

When this book was turned over to me, I was told it was a "quick read". This is true, not because it is a short book, but because when you pick it up-you can't bear to put it down! By the time you finish it, you will realize how much we are all `slaves' to society. You will also recognize just how much masquerading we do in everyday life just to "fit in". Rashid Darden paints an exquisite portrait of college life, urban youth and the secrets we all hold from the world to maintain the image we wish to portray.

This book is about a young, gay, black male dealing with his sexuality and his right to privacy about his sexuality. It's about his dedication to his community and wanting to make a difference. It's about how much he desires to be "A Beta-man" and carry on their humanitarian traditions. It's about what he deals with in balancing the love of his partner and his determination to be a part of his father's fraternity. It's about the eggs that are broken when he can't continue to juggle them all. Tell the world, lose his frat; stay silent, lose his lover. Being in the closet has nothing to do with it.

Just as Jones, in "The Known World" constructed a collage of how the South's racist society depended upon slaves "knowing their place", Darden, in "Lazarus" shows you how destructive ignorance can be and make you question just how far our society has evolved. The most unfortunate thing about "Lazarus" is that even though it rivals and in my opinion exceeds Jones' novel, at this time, quantities are limited because it is self-published. "Lazarus" belongs on every bookstore shelf in America.

If you are a black gay college student, you will quickly find that Adrian Collins, the main character, and his "Fairy Godmother", Nina can relate to your lives in so many ways. I honestly don't know if the way they portrayed pledging is accurate, but rest assured it is a gripping tale, and one that honestly makes you think of the punishment of black males as they pledge a fraternity. Quality wise, its a pretty intense book at times, with scenes that will make you want to laugh, cry, or be a better person in general. As a black gay college student, this book couldn't have been in my life any sooner. I really believed that Adrian and his line brothers were people I already knew. His characters are that relatable. And after the book ends, you find that there are brief points of foreshadowing throughout the book. This is a book every black gay male in college should read. Go to Rashid Darden's Facebook page for more info, and insight. He responds to nearly everyone and gives his thoughts and foreshadowing for 2 sequels.

Rashid Darden has an extraordinary ability to focus his readers on several important challenges - when to acknowledge same gender preference, balancing relationships with a significant other vs. one's own aspirations, dealing with homosexuality in the college setting and in the black fraternity world. This novel follows in the footsteps of works by E. Lynn Harris and is a must read if we are to move toward a reasonable dialogue on a highly controversial subject.

Lazarus is a great literary work. I am a little more than 3/4 done and it has been a wonderful and refreshing experience. The thing that keeps me interested is the sense of realism. It's easy to put yourself in the shoes of the characters and see those events actually happening. Sometimes I'll read a book and think, "Now, that would never happen in real life", but I never said that while reading Lazarus. I consistently felt the way the settings and scenes were described and the extent to which the plot was developed, were very authentic.

What I liked most is the use of similes and metaphors. They really helped to paint a picture, yet are not overused. Rashid Darden does a superb job with the level of descriptive detail in his writing. It's almost as if you are right there in the same room with the characters.

My favorite character is Micah, not only because his personae and demeanor are much like my own, but also the way in which his friends/associates relate to him is very similar to the way in which my own friends/associates relate to me. But the main protagonist, Adrian, is a likeable guy and readers can easily empathize with him and the issues he faces. Many men have had to deal with the very issues that Adrian faced in Lazarus, and I thought Rashid was brilliant with the way in which he handled some very tough social issues.

I encourage everyone to get their copy of Lazarus today. It's a decision you won't regret.

Will Saunders

This book was an honest, refreshingly, real account of a conscious, seemingly self aware, man on campus who happens to be gay. Adrian isn't IN the closet, but he's not fully OUT either. He's popular, well liked, strong, and seemingly sure of who he is until he is confronted with an opportunity to become more. In pledging a Greek org, Adrian quickly has to come to grips with who he is on campus as a visible leader and off-campus with his mom, his sexuality, and the reality of how he is perceived by his line brothers, Dean, and Big brothers. He also wrestles with the feelings of family that he wants from a fraternity that many times conflict with the love he seeks from a relationship.

This book seriously made me pleasantly uncomfortable with the raw, refreshing honesty in the pledge scenes, the "Fight", and the passionate encounters with Savion, Adrian's boyfriend. It's a quick read, but not because of the length. This one was hard to put down. If you are Black, White, Latino, pledged a Greek org, aspiring to be Greek, attend(ed) a PWI, straight, gay, or just want a quality book, I highly recommend this one. You will not be able to put it down, and you will walk away wanting more (or to read it again).

This book is not your typical Black non-fiction candy-coated fluff piece. Strong dialogue, beautiful pieces of poetry, and raw emotion (anger, pain, love, fear) show how versatile and deep the author is.

Fortunately the author has provided for plenty of future material and character development of not only Adrian, but other characters such as Nina, Calen, Mohammed, Isaiah, Peter, Ciprian, and Savion. The author has continued the saga with Covenant and (soon to be released) Epiphany. Definitely put this book at the top of your "wish list" and enjoy! I personally can't wait to start the next book.

Just finished reading "Lazarus," and it was/is an astounding work of fiction. Adrian was funny as hell and very assertive. His relationship with Savion, "his Latin lover," was/is tumultuous, at best. Can't wait for the sequel: "Covenant."

As a heterosexual man and member of a Black Greek-letter Organization, I must say that Rashid Darden has touched upon the third rail topic within our organizations. However, he has approached the topic with sensitivity, style, and courage. His efforts must be applauded and supported. Not only has he taken a bold step with this book; he has also given us a great read and some insight into a topic that will eventually have to be discussed within these organizations. I encourage all to read it for themselves and not shy away from it due to the topic. Kudos Mr. Darden.

Gregory Parks, PhD - co-editor of African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision