Customer Reviews

Sins of the Father

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

 

 

This book was missing an important link. You did not get to hear the father's point of view because he was a silent character, he was dead when you started the book.

The book was about 4 of his sons and how not being in 3 of their lives affected all of them, but you never get to hear the father, whose name is Street's side of the story. You hear about two the boys who are now men, mother Nadine who held a torch for him for over twenty years even though the deadbeat left her, had another son, married another woman and had a son with her. She had it for him so bad after all those years that she was seeking theraphy, now that is pathetic!!!!!

The story had some twist but nothing that really holds you. If you are interested in novels about deadbeast dads, like I am because my sons have one of their own, you might take an interest in reading this one, but don't think you're going to get a story with a whole lot of drama where the father gets his in the end. I will say that this book does not have its typical happy ending.

Later!!!!

"Poppa was a rolling stone" best characterizes Samuel "Street" Jamieson, the father portrayed in Sins of the Father. During the course of his lifetime he fathers four sons by three different women and when he and his wife die tragically, those attending his funeral have many different perceptions. Words such as "caring, devoted father" don't ring true for his three oldest children --Terrence, Malik and Bernard. They mourned his passing years before his death, when he unceremoniously walked out of their lives. His youngest son Sammie feels differently since he is the only one to benefit, even for a short time, from a father in his life.Sammie was forced into a different lifestyle when he was orphaned at such a young age. He moves from spacious and comfortable dwellings into the projects with his father's only surviving relative, a crack head sister. Plagued with troubles of her own, she only sees dollar signs when taking in her nephew. Surprisingly, young Sammie continues to thrive and show promise in his new school. The teachers and principal take notice of his achievements and want to assure his continued academic success. He finds refuge in an after-school program where he can seek safety and shelter, talk out issues and nurture his passion - basketball, sometimes even with Bernard Christian, an up and coming NBA draft hopeful. This is the highlight of Sammie's dismal life. Through his interaction at the center everybody comes to love this mild mannered, smart but lonely kid.The plot thickens and the "sins of the father" can no longer be hidden. The emotions of the older sons and the younger son collide dramatically. There is plenty of physical as well as emotional action. Enough passion to keep the reader turning pages to find out which path Sammie's life will take. Character development was paramount in this story. I think each character was sufficiently developed to engage the reader. You felt something for each character mentioned and although there were many, each added successfully to the story. The dialogue flowed to make reading a breeze and you come away from the reading experience with a different perspective on how children develop with and without father figures. I'm not sure the original intent of the writing of Sins of the Father was to walk away with a moral, but one is clearly present, and to me I find its inclusion a bonus.

Sins of the Father,
Felicia Madlock


APOOO: 4.0

What can be said of a man that fathers four sons and abandoned three while doting on the fourth. If left up to the three sons who suffered his neglect, not much at all.

The story opens with Malik and Terrance reluctantly standing with their grieving mother at the funeral of their biological father whom for all of their lives left them without emotional support. Not even the fact that his third son, Bernard, was about to go pro could dislodge him from the rock his sons felt he lived beneath. His abandonment was too much to grow beyond, leaving his two eldest sons all too happy to close this chapter of their lives as they watch on bitterly during their father's interment. Believing they had left that part of their lives at the cemetery, they return to their lives only later to realize that their tranquility would soon be intruded upon by the fourth son who was the receiver of all their father's love and adoration. Can they see beyond their own bitterness to accept the circumstances that their younger brother, orphaned is in need of their help?

True to Urban Books, this story possesses drama throughout; the subplots are interesting and carry the story well. But also true to novels in this category; its purpose is solely to entertain, lacking in profoundness and depth which I find important in any read. However, Felicia Madlock writes with the authority of a born storyteller, possessing a warm and lyrical style. Anyone picking up her work will do so without any regrets.

Marian E.
APOOO BookClub

Samuel "Street"Jamieson has led a double life. From the beginning, he has been hated by his sons Terrance, Malik and Bernard. Although Bernard had a different mother, they all shared the same bond: abandonment. As fate would have it, "Street" Jamieson and his wife are killed in a car crash. Although the boys were happy about it, someone else is grieving not only the loss of his mother, but also the loss of a father who has been by his side from the beginning.

Sammie Jamieson is thrown into a world of devastation after the loss of his parents. Having nowhere else to go, he is forced to live with his aunt, who is a known drug addict. Ironically, he is introduced to the overseer of the Boys and Girls Club: Terrance. As the two become closer, Sammie is overwhelmed by Terrance's admission of hatred for his father, not realizing that the two men were one and the same.

This story was very confusing and detached at first. It moved very slow but picked up speed toward the ending, where it got really good. There were some questions that lingered, which gives the reader reason to wonder why certain situations even came up. A realistic story, SINS OF THE FATHER is one that many people can relate to, but needs a little bit of work. (RAW Rating: 2.5)

Reviewed by T. Belinda Williams
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

"Sins of the Father" is a very good read! I thoroughly enjoyed it! Ms. Madlock speaks of the different views of four brothers and their reactions to their father's relationship with each of them.

Terrance and Malik were abandoned by their father and have nothing but resentment for him, Bernard basically is beyond any real feelings being that he had a father figure in his life, while young Sammie was being raised by a loving father until his demise. I commend Ms. Madlock for showing that there are two sides to every story! Join the three Jamison boys as they encompass you in their lives and the drama that they face on a daily basis!

Great job Ms. Madlock! Keep shining!

Some people may not agree with this review because I see many did not like this book. But once again I have to be honest this book drew me in from the first page and I could not put it down until I knew what was going to happen to Sammie. See the story goes like this Sammie's mom and dad get killed in a car crash when the story begins, he then gets shuffled to his dopefiend aunt's house. His aunt turns about to be a selfish money hungry wench who makes Sammie's life a living hell. This novel is filled with drama and much suspense it makes you want to be a speed reader just to find out the ending. Oh and what an ending it was!!!! I feel like if you buy this book you will not be losing out.

What happens when a once perfect life is trampled and reveals an ugly truth that could destroy everythin? That is what Sammie Jr. has to grapple with when all he knows is taken away from him and what replaces it is a different side of the coin that no child wants to discover about their parents.

Felicia Madlock has given the world a great read that tackles the sometimes sensitive topic of what living a double life does to those around you---and what sometimes has to happen in order to put things back on the right track.

Love this as a book club selection and as a great read for anyone who thinks they know everything there is to know about thos they love.

This book was a whole lot better than Back on the Block! It had a great yet emmotional storyline and it held my attention! great job on this one!

This book had me on the ferge of tears many times. When you look at the love Sammie, had to the hate that Malik and Terrance had, for the same man it's powerful. Malik and Terrance had a good life without there father (Street) and so did Bernard. However, Sammie was the one who was hurt the most in the story. And I'm not going to talk about Nadine (I really don't know what to say). Was it love? Did she really love Howard?
It's a good book please read it for yourself.

I thought "Sins of a Father" was well written and quite interesting. The book dealt with infidelity, fatal attraction, love, abandonment, drug abuse, sports, etc.

It was a clear example of how men who grow up without a father (even if their mother is a positive role model) tend to despise their father, yet they follow in their footsteps by misleading women or ditching their offspring.