Customer Reviews

Sellout

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have often said to myself when I see a black man with a white woman...Why? This is a question I believe we all as black women have ask ourselves. Now that I have a 19 year old son I think about this more, he is a college student and dates white and black women. Me as a mother would love for him to marry a black woman...but his happiness is all that really matters..I quess.

Well James W. Lewis did a wonderful job with this book... So after dealing with the tired/no good brothers who have cheated and hurt us time and time again enough to make a sister date a white man? Is she a Sellout if she does? And what about our black men who get tired of the black woman drama with her guards up, jealous, and not trusting is that enough to make him date only white women? Does that make him a Sellout? What about the white woman who only dates black men? Sellout? And lets not forget about the white man who thinks and acts like a black man and loves black women? Is he a Sellout?

But this book is so much more...I read it in a day because I could not put it down. It takes a turn that I did not expect and actually has you on edge. I dont want to give anything away because its a must read. I'm glad that I read this book because it hits home in so many ways...I tell my son all the time when dating white women "just because she likes you doesnt mean her father does".

This book actually made me think more about the word Sellout...does it actually mean racist? Can we actually be prejudice against our own? What a great job James W. Lewis...I wish you much success and I will always be a fan!

Sellout, the debut novel by James W. Lewis, introduces readers to four individuals who discover issues that come with dating outside of their race. Tammy McDonald is a well-to-do loan officer who cannot find the right man. When she meets Dale Bristol, it seems her luck just might turn around. Terrell Jackson is a prominent black optometrist that has gotten fed up with his girlfriend's crazy rantings and accusations. He decides it is time he crossed over to the other side. Will he stay or will a chance encounter change his mind?

Penelope Miller is falling in love with the guy of her dreams, but she has one problem, he is of another race. Will her family be able to accept it? Dedrick has developed feelings for the perfect woman and everything is going well in their relationship. He decides to surprise her but soon realizes that he is the one being surprised. Dedrick will then have to make a speedy decision on whether his woman is worth all that comes with her. These individuals have more in common than they believe and when the tide turns, readers will not believe what happens.

Sellout is a book that takes interracial dating to another level. It has unexpected twists that readers will not see coming and suspense that is out of this world. The author's creative way of linking these individuals and couples made for an exciting book. Sellout is very entertaining and will keep readers on the edge of their seats. I definitely recommend this book to others.

This book was provided by the author for review purposes.

Teresa Beasley

APOOO BookClub

I didn't love this story, but I didn't hate it either. I could see why Terrell and Tammy felt the way that they did about dating within their race, but it was surely an ironic twist of fate that they were together in the end. I guess what I didn't like about the book was the overabundance of the race issue. The constant use of the N word, racist remarks about Mexicans, and white people as well. I just wish it would have focused more on the relationships, and not just black men serial dating white women. After a while the constant degradation just became annoying to me.

While the story had a good premise and the second half of the book kept me engaged, the writing was mediocre. I'm not sure if this specific to the Kindle edition or if the print edition has similar issues, the book was laced with typos, one part even had the author's contact information randomly interjected into the prose. I also felt like I was being hit over the head with the race issues, and while unfortunately they do still exist, I felt it could have been presented better. While I found myself frequently rolling my eyes, the book held my attention long enough for me to finish.

If I have to struggle to read a book, that usually means I find it uninteresting or it is the same old story but with the author's personal twist. Okay, fine! James Lewis is a talented writer and I'm glad he took the reader to other vistas which distinguishes hims from other Urban writers. I'm always looking for originality and this story was somewhat original with likeable characters.

I think it's time we as AA writers think outside the box and take our readers to other places besides the neighborhood, our backyards or apartment complexes, where we can be swept away and enchanted by a story that's never ending in our heart and minds. But, if someone is struggling with the issue of interracial dating, than they could find this book something they can relate to or that they find useful.

Nevertheless, I won't remember this book a week from now. But then again, it's not everyone's dream to write the Great American Novel, but why not?

Sellout was well written, exquisitley told, but in so many ways still the same old story! I know we're supposed to write what we know but it's called fiction for a reason. I enjoy reading stories that start from the inside out rather than from the outside in. That's how the OTHERS do it. If your story doesn't "travel" to unusual places then you have nothing unique to say. Penelope's story I think was the best told by the author. I was there in Honky Tonk Land!

Over all, Sellout is a good book and worth your hard earned dollars. I would recommend it as a good read and give it 4 stars.

Brenda L. Foster

Treasure Books N' More

A Treasure Books N' More Review!

Author James W. Lewis won the 2011 Best New Author Award at the 2011 National Black Book Festival. As national coordinator of the event, I had an opportunity to present him with the award and meet him. I purchased his book, "Sellout," to be supportive, but didn't realize how good it would be.

It is not often that a book can elicit so many emotions in me as I read, but this one does. Anger, amusement, fascination, shock -- all of these emotions come forth on the path to completing this book. It's a book about relationships, especially interracial ones. But it's also about relationships between friends and family and how they react in unusual circumstances. The book is very well written, well-edited and the characters are well developed.

I won't review the plot because the author's synopsis does that. Suffice it to say that I would highly recommend it, especially for book clubs. It's a solid, thought-provoking read for book club discussions.

James W. Lewis uses alternating first-person narrative to tell the stories of three very different people struggling with interracial dating and all that comes with it.

Tammy McDonald is fed up with men - black men. On a relationship losing streak she wonders if maybe it's time to switch things up. After all, black men, in droves, have been jumping ship by dating women other than black women. Well, two can play that game, and Tammy decides it's time to see if the grass is really greener on the other side.

Once you go black, you never go back, a statement Penelope Miller has found to be true. Despite her racist upbringing, she feels differently and is secretly involved with a black coworker. But what's done in the dark always comes to light, and not everyone is as willing to accept Penelope's choice of boyfriend.

Terrell Jackson has been there and done that with black women and has the t-shirt to show for it. Tired of the attitude that comes with dating a black woman, he is looking for an easier road to travel. Seeing the success his best friend Dedrick has been having with white women, Terrell decides to turn his back on black women.

Lewis speaks to the obvious but too often unaddressed. He cuts straight to the truth, hitting on all cylinders. I appreciate the fact that the author did not stay surface but went deeper to expose and establish the ultimate reasons each character chose to make the decisions made, something many in these real life situations don't know, don't recognize or won't acknowledge. Imbued with emotion and reality, "Sellout" is a novel well worth reading. I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's been difficult as of late to come up with an answer when asked what good books are out. "Sellout" definitely qualifies as a good book and I easily recommend it.

James W. Lewis has caught my attention and I look forward to his next endeavor.

Reviewed by: Toni

4.5 stars

Sellout is a book about black men and women when they are just fed up with the drama of dating other black me and women! Finally tired of all the B.S. they move on to white men and women! Meet Tammy, she has had a string of bad relationships with black men and now she is just sick wand tired of being sickand tired! Then shemeeys a nice WHITE man named Dale and decides to give him a chance! Meet Terrell, tired of all the drama with his girlfriend Tasha he starts dating "snow bunnies " like his friend Dedrick! Then their is Pennelope, raised in the south with a racist father and brother but has a secret thing for black men! This book will make you laugh and really think about the next time you look down on somebody for being a mixed couple! Thee is a lot of racist remarks that will upset you no matter if you are black or white! All in all this is a very good book!

Tammy is an African American Loan Officer who realizes that a successful black man is hard to find because of the growing number of black men dating white women. She's contemplating dating white men, but is afraid of being called a sellout. Terrell an African American Optometrist has always been faithful to his girlfriend, but he finally becomes tired of her nasty attitude and lack of appreciation for him, so he finds himself dating white women. Penelope a Caucasian Analyst for the Navy secretly lusted after black men but knew she could never be with one because of her racist family. A one night stand with a black man made her decide to finally act on her interest.

I enjoyed the book as it was an easy read. The characters were well developed, however, I found myself more interested in Penelope's character than the other two. I would have liked to read more on the other characters. More of Penelope's background was revealed and her story was more action filled and interesting. I love the way the author was able to write so well from the eyes of Penelope whose character is so far from him. I would recommend this book to readers because it is entertaining and at time I found myself laughing out loud.

Reviewed by: Sidnee B.

Soulful Reviews

Rating: 3.5

Something new?

Tyrell and Dedrick are two high powered brothers: handsome, successful and single. They also have something else in common...their preference for dating "snowbunnies." Tammy is beautiful but can't seem to catch a break when it comes to dating. She's never been interested in crossing the color line but now she is beginning to rethink things. Penelope is gorgeous yet, she harbors a secret preference that could cause her deeply racist family to disown her.

Lewis' novel Sellout is a quick, entertaining read. It is also a novel about the ugliness that dating people of a different color can create. I am pleased that Lewis has introduced a topic that many of us have talked about...why some men (and women) choose to date outside of their race. It brings to light the stereotypes we have in our community. It also shows how true love can conquer any type of negativity.

The only thing that kept this book from being a 5 star read is that I felt the story ended rather abruptly. However, I do not feel the need for a sequel because I was left with more answers than questions when I finished.

This was the first Lewis book I have read and I will definitely be reading more.