Customer Reviews

Night Work : A Novel

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Night is a dark, sexy smooth operator and he knows it. He works the nigh shift, In the darkness of New York City he earns his living pleasuring rich white women and some men if the price is right, but no.. Night is not gay. He entertains in the form of a dancer, a model,personal trainer even Miles Davis - yes Miles Davis as per request from one of his clients he dons a Miles mask. He does whatever when the sun goes down but this dark, sexy pimp has a gift above the belt too, the brotha can sing and all he really wants is a record deal and Beth Ann, a beautiful supermodel, until he finds out that Beth Ann isn't so super and is deep in debt to some nasty drug dealers. Just when it looks like he might get his big shot at a record deal Beth Ann asks him for help and he helps her move a large amount of Ecstasy. If that is not bad enough, one of his clients is found murdered and all fingers seem to point his way. Through this narrative novel of Night you meet an Intelligent dreamer looking to find the light and come out the darkness he dwells in. A man who worries deeply about his little sister,struggles with issues from a strained relationship with his father. Night is charmer who wants to be at the top of the charts, he'd rather be singing" Between the Sheets" than crawling under them.
Nelson has created a smooth operator who finds himself all pimped out looking for his future, a smart, sexy mystery about the underground darkness of New York City through the eyes of Night....

Night Work by Nelson George gives us a glimpse into the life of Neal Daniel Taylor, a young man who feels "childhood is the root of evil," and that his "family died along with his Ma." At the age of sixteen, Neal overcomes one of his "demons" by self-acceptance. He begins to love himself and his color, being very dark skinned, he begins to call himself "Night." Night is a male prostitute who aspires to be the next big R&B recording artist; he wants to hear his voice in more than background music. In Night Work, you will meet Night's family: Nikki, his younger and sickly sister, who he views as his `opposite', and "Pops," his father, a former activist now postman. Night describes his father as a "difficult man." They have an estranged relationship, if they have one at all. Hopefully in his efforts to overcome all obstacles and lead a `better' life, the family will come to terms with each other. Nikki desires to see what's left of their family come together.

There are some surprise twists and turns of events. Unfortunately a couple of the events land Night down in the police station. Detective Tyrone Williams would like nothing more than to see Night behind bars, especially after Night's female pimp, Raffaella, fingers him as the man she sent to the home of a now DEAD client. Now, along with everything else, Night is the number one suspect in a MURDER case, which definitely won't be good for his business. Night's dubbed as a "Black American Gigolo," in the headlines. D of D's Security, Night's friend who has saved his life more than once, can hopefully do it again.

There is a history hinted at here between D and the Detective. D refers to Detective Williams as "Fly Ty". The tension between them is almost palpable BUT once Night asks the `million dollar question' D replies, "That's a long story, Night. We don't have enough daylight left to tell it and I wouldn't talk about it after dark. You feel me?" Well, neither Night nor I understand what that meant. Which left me wondering, "What's the deal?!" So, that's a loose end for me.

However, I would definitely recommend Night Work. It was a quick and easy read, capturing my attention from the very beginning and held it. You will get a glimpse into the life of a gigolo and a well-developed character. Night Work is more than Night's sexual escapades, dealing also with relationships between his family and friends. It's a suspenseful story of self-acceptance and HOPE with a little drama and a `whodunit'.

Felicia
R.E.A.L. Reviewers

Nelson George has written another page turner. This book was truly moving from beginning to end. I felt his emmotions throughout the book. I'm looking forward to his nrxt book. Great work!!

I was looking for something to read for my plane trip a few weeks ago, so I picked this up. I always gravitate to Nelson George novels, as well as fiction about 'subcultures'. So this book was most definitely a perfect fit. I knew the protagonist, Night, was full of bu-ull when justifying his job as getting back at "the man." But by the middle of the book, not only did I understand where he was coming from, I felt he encompassed the valid feelings most Black men (esp. dark-skinned) have about being objectfied and always suspect.

This is a GREAT novel. I read in 2 days. It is about a black handsome dude who makes his living as a gigolo to rich white women in NY. George breaks down how the children of the militant 60's generation have grown apathetic to politics and have grown up willing to get dirty for the dollar, it talks about his exploits in the sexual underground world in NY where "vampires" (freaky white rich people) pay the poor to do the most sick things from S&M to group sex where the husbands watch black men take thier wives.

the only thing I wished he did was have a chapter explaining how he researched for this book. I am so CURIOUS because I thought it was real. I wonder if he opened the Village Voice and called up some escorts for real life stories.

I also wish he would have not made this a book about NY underworld, and chose LA since that is the mecca of porn because a lot more danger and dirt is there and could have made for more drama in the book. BUT I LOVE IT. Read it in 2days!

I appreciate how for once he chose to not be political correct and act like only black people deal drugs. The ISRAELI drug dealers are real, and as a kid in the innercity I know. This book is great kind of novel like coldest winter ever because its part fiction, part history of todays generation, and part gossip expose about the lives of the rich and their sick behavior behind close doors. It was like a reading a history of music non fiction book, post 60's black power book, and a entertainment tabliod magazine all rolled up in one.

It also taught me about interesting tips on beautiful people, male or female and how disturbed and vulnerable they are in this world. He had so many pithy comments, mostly from characters that popped up.

Finally what I loved most is that I was FORCED to finish this book in 2 days. The way he wrote it was kind of like pulp fiction, it skips from one time period to another. I did not have the luxury of pausing and waiting to read it next week or when I had time. I swear Nelson George just wrote the first REALITY TV novel.

It was real, it was exciting, it was informative. Thanks Nelson and PLEASE write a novel on the black pornography scene. If you have heard of jake steed, or woodburn they are VAMPIRES destorying poor gullible black women's lives with false promises of wealth in porn. Investigate it and write about it like you did in this book. You are the people's journalist, and the revolutions great novelist. HOLLA.

I really enjoyed this book. It gave us a look into NYC night life that outsiders rarely see...some of it down-right seedy!! From the beginning, Night was someone we could empathize with. Nelson tells us of a young dark-skinned youngster being disparaged as he grew up. He didn't become someone that was Cool until being "Dark-skinned was in", (eg. Michael Jordan, Wesley Snipes, etc.)

I like how Night's character developed. You learned clearly what lead him to be a male escort. As time went on Night's take home pay increased as his clientele became more "upscale". However, through out all of this, one can feel that Night still had genuinely good intentions.

Night's true dream was in the music business. But his sister was his number one concerned. There was nothing he would not do for her. His night life, however, almost gets in the way of his family life when dealing with the wrong people gets the NYPD looking for him.

This book is a page turner. It's suspenceful and exciting. I look forward to reading more of Nelson George's books.

Dark as the midnight, smooth as milk chocolate and sexy is the gigolo named Night. In Nelson George's Night Work, he takes the reader into Night's world. A mysterious world that includes a model indebted to a Israeli drug ring, a S&M murder and colorful characters such as the Nigerian Adebonojo, Raffaella, his female pimp and security expert D.

Night's goal is to be a R&B singer. On the way to realizing his dream he is side-tracked by side jobs which include being an exotic dancer and then he gets into the business of "pleasuring" wealthy clients. One night while out in a nightclub he meets the supermodel Beth Ann. She gives him a cold shoulder until it is apparent she needs him as much as he wants her. Unbeknownst to him, dealing with Beth Ann could have a detrimental effect on his life. His paying job could also have a detrimental effect on his freedom.

Nelson George has the ability to provide wild and witty erotic twists to his stories. In this novel, Night's escapades into the underworld are delved into as well as his estranged relationship with his father. The journey into the world of the sexual deviant and the underworld bosses of New York streets provides a kick and adventure to this novel. If you never read a book by Nelson George I suggest you pick this one up. If you have read his books, you will not be disappointed in this quick, but exciting read.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub

I doubt if I fit the profile of the target audience of his book, which seems to be written for young, hip and/or black audiences. It certainly comes from a black perspective. I'm an older conservative white guy, so why would I like this novel?

Well, for one, it was a real page-turner, a book which grabs your attention early and keeps it. The lack of profanity impressed me. The writer could express himself, in the form of narration with the lead character of "Night," a male prostitute, in an edgy but yet non-offensive manner. That narration reminded me of a good film noir of the '40s or '50s, but updated.

This is unimportant, but I thought it was kind of cool that each chapter was typed in a different font. I've never seen that before.

I found this a unique read, and loaned this book to two friends, who are similar to me. Neither one liked it. Well, too bad. I enjoyed it.

From $upermodels to the $uper rich... So many women, so little time. What's a brotha to do! Imagine being at the top of your game and in high demand. You think that being paid for $exual pleasure is easy, a life of luxury, don't believe anything you've been told until you hear about Night's work. Over the top! Kaisha Moss, JMRC Reviewer

This is the first novel I read from this author. I read this page turner quickly. The author told a good hip story. I imagined "Night" to look like Tyson Beckford!! I thought the subplot and the main plot were brought together,a bit hastily, but well done. I expected more ironies involving BethAnn and the africian dude he befriended. Night had the type of persona that is common in today's hip-hop culture. I would read another Nelson George book!!!!!!!!!!!!!