Customer Reviews

Paper Chasers

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have never read a novel written in first person that so vividly portrays what was really going on in the drug infested streets of Queens back in 91. This book keeps it real without being riddled with profanity. Mark Anthony is trailblazing a new path with his writing style which will probably be often imitated but never quite duplicated.

Mark Anthony is a truly gifted and unique writter...Paper chaser AkA Urban masscare is a story that will draw you into the world of young males growing up in Queens and how they have that drive to get that money and do whatever it'll takes to succeed in the drug trade. I loved the way he wrote the book without any cursing...shows skills to do something different and you still feel the story. I'm truly waiting for his next book to drop.

The Summer of 1991, a perfect back drop for this tale of ordinary guys tired of being just ordinary. But just where does the chase of the all mighty dollar lead this crew of life-long friends from Queens?

Holz the main character comes form a two parent home, has graduated high-school, has a job and a good girlfriend. But he will still fall to peer pressure and risk it all for material gain.

I've read a lot of books about friends venturing into illegal activites looking for the come-up. But what differs in Mr. Anthony's tale is the reality of the outcome of such ventures. Is there a price to pay for the fast life? Come follow the Fourth Crew and find out.

Excellent novel describing a very memorable summer in NYC and an unforgettable crew.

This author makes the reader experience the story while reading the book. The excitement, the drama and the problems are so real! Mark Anthony communicates the art of telling a rich tale and bringing the characters to life. The writing is lighting quick, rough and unapologetic. This book is a essential for ALL book clubs! I truly enjoyed this book. When is the next???

I truly enjoyed reading Paper Chasers by Mark Anthony. The book which is set in Queens, New York during the summer of 1991 deals with the crack cocaine epidemic of that time. The characters were so real, the situations in the book were real and not just stereotypical, and the dictionary, I loved that!!!

I think Mark Anthony separates himself from many authors in the sense that his book isn't littered with profanity and he shows his talent in that he was able to express the thoughts of his characters by using creative dialogue that draws you in as a reader. He also separates himself from other authors in that he kept this book real on a spiritual tip. It was that spiritual message which was not overly preachey or anything like that that made me say, "Finally there is a book out there, or any form of entertainment for that matter that gives a solution to all of the drama that goes on in everyday life."

If you like authors such as Sister Souljah, and Shannon Holmes you will definitely enjoy Paper Chasers by Mark Anthony.

Mark Anthony I will definitely be checking for your next book.

This book was execellent, definitley a page turner...I read it in two days.

i really didnt care for this book. i wouldnt say that it was a page turner b/c to me it wasnt. a lot of things made me mad about this book. i would have to say it was the mentality of the boys in this book. thats why i say that. the sad thing is thats the reality of todays world. it doesnt stop b/c the book stopped. A LOT of boys think like that. unfortunately their thinking doesnt change as they become men

If you want a read that is well worth the cost of the book, Paper Chasers by Mark Anthony is the one for you. The book is set in Queens, New York during the summer of 1991 and it reveals the painful truth of the devestating impact of the crack epidemic at that time. Every character was realistic, every situation was believable, every plotline tied together. In short, this book was the bomb. Right down to the SLANG DICTIONARY...now that's gangsta!

Mark Anthony writes in a voice that is both lyrical and spiritual. It is this, that makes Mark stand out as a writer among his peers and a teacher among his generation. God bless you, Mark and keep up the good work.

Taking his cue from the harsh realities of the streets, author Mark Anthony has brought to life an incredible work of fiction that brings to the forefront the horrors of fast living and ill begotten money. In 1991 when the drug epidemic was at an all time high, many Americans, from all walks of life, found themselves in some way touched by the ever reaching evils that accompanied the use and selling of illicit drugs. However, no one seemed to be as hard hit by the trafficking, distribution and use of drugs, and the violence it spewed, than the youth of America's inner cities. Hordes of young men and women were ruined and corrupted by the fleeting power and money that drugs brought to the streets. The Fourth Crew of Queens, New York was such a group. Young, talented and intelligent, they were a group of African-American men who were seduced then betrayed by the false promises of street-life.

The Fourth Crew started out as a group of neighborhood friends whose bond was as strong as that of blood brothers. By no means innocent, they were however, just a group of friends who enjoyed life and were there for one another when the ills of Queens would rear its ugly head. Things changed for these young men in the summer of 1991. Fed up with being second class to the guys on the streets with money and girls, the Fourth Crew decided to become drug kingpins. Once and for all they were determined to get the things they wanted in life: money, street-credibility and women. In order to achieve such ambitious goals, the once seemingly harmless members of the Fourth Crew would have to transform themselves into hardened criminals. Soon the tight-knit group would find themselves torn apart by murder, prison and betrayal.

Told through the eyes of young Mark Holsey, the Fourth Crew member with a heart of gold, PAPER CHASERS is a page-turner that captivates from the first page. Mark Anthony takes you on a journey that is exciting and heartbreaking. Although street-life has been a popular theme in contemporary fiction, Mark Anthony's novel stands out from the rest. PAPER CHASERS is action-packed, sleek and intelligent. The novel delivers a true message about the ills of life on the streets, without being preachy or judgmental. The characters were non-stereotypical and believable. I found myself riveted and saddened by what eventually became of some of the characters. By novel's end I was captivated and touched by Mark Anthony's writing style and sense of story-telling .

Reviewed by L. Raven James
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I would like to say it was a very interesting novel based on the mentality of young men. I am just very upset to have purchased this book again. This novel was once called Urban Massacre which I read in 1998. Why was this novel published twice?