4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I'm telling the TRUTH--this book was HOT, February 3, 2006
This review is from: Truth Be Told: Tales of Life, Love, and Drama (Paperback)
To me there's nothing sexier than seeing a Black man reading except maybe seeing a Black man who writes! I have a confession to make. I judged this book by the cover. It really stood out from everything. When I read it, I was so glad I made the purchase. I judged right! These stories show the male side of relationships. I thought I knew everything about men but even I learned something! LOL. This book shows some of the macho side of men but it also goes into the emotional, sensitive side that women don't get to see so much. Some of the stories were funny, a few were sexy, and a couple of them were amazing! All around I was very pleased. I love reading stories by Black male writers.
I commend Mr. Travis Hunter, Mr. Michael T. Owens, and all of the beautiful Black men who shared their work. I hope there will be a volume 2!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Liked Some, Didn't Care for Others, August 16, 2006
This review is from: Truth Be Told: Tales of Life, Love, and Drama (Paperback)
It's still a rarity to find African-American male fiction authors, so when I read one that I like, I latch on. Although disappointed that Travis Hunter, one of my favorite authors, had no story contributions in here, I looked forward to the other offers. One of the most onpoint entries in this book was from Kenji Jasper: "The last thing I want you to think is that there is one of those kinds of stories, one of those paperbacks you see on the street that're all sex and no substance." I totally felt him on that, because somewhere along the line, fiction became porn...and I have yet to meet anyone who reads the stories behind porn. I don't care who licked, sucked, pumped what! I just want to read a good plot, so I thought Jasper was right on point. Needless to say, Jasper did NOT disappoint.
DAWN: ...was an intelligent story about a young couple who decides on whether parenthood and the responsibilities afterward. No doubt my second favorite story in here.
DRIVING WHILE BLACK: ...was one of those man's fantasy stories with all lust and very little substance.
TIES THAT BIND: ...was an interesting story about an interracial relationship, family bonds, and a set-up. Although it wrapped up a little melodramatically, I liked the principle of it.
THE HARRISBURG TEASE: ...was an entertaining story about an artist and a customer, with undertones of a writer's lifestyle. I dug that story.
SINFENDELITY: ...was a little too stereotypical with an unbelieveable amount of slang, and I couldn't really get into it, so I didn't finish it.
LAST REMNANTS OF A GOOD SITUATION: ...was my favorite story about the difficulty of being "a good man." The quote at the end was dead-on.
BEAUTIFUL ONES: ...seemed to be about weed and sex, so I didn't even bother finishing that one.
FOR THAT QUIET TIME OF THE DAY: ...would've been a really good story if it wasn't so extra. Everybody was too extreme: extreme jerks, extreme betrayal, extreme easiness, extremely ghetto. If you like Jerry Springer and/or soap operas, then this is the ideal story for you. But too much drama turned me off to the story, although it had a good theme. I think if it had been toned down a little, I'd have really liked it.
THE OBJECT OF HIS OBSESSION: I wish I'd have been left in the dark a little in regards to the sex details. Refer back to my previous comment next to Jasper's story. I kept rolling my eyes at all the graphic details and hoping that the plot was worth reading. It wasn't for me, but I'm sure it is for those who enjoy these types of stories.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
The Truth Did Not Set Them Free, December 23, 2006
This review is from: Truth Be Told: Tales of Life, Love, and Drama (Paperback)
Truth be told, I'm glad I was given this book instead of purchasing it.
Truth Be Told: Tales of Life, Love and Drama is a collection of short stories by male authors. Despite the title, I did not find this collection to posses a common theme. Where was the love? Where was the drama? One story wasn't even told from the male perspective. With most anthologies, you end up with some really good stories and then a few that don't hold their own against the others. Not here. Overall, the stories lacked excitement, pizzazz, and intrigue. In fact, I found most of them to be flat out dull and boring. I continued reading in hopes that the next story would be better. I knew I would find salvation in the last story by Jonathan Luckett, the author I am most familiar with from this collaboration. I was wrong. His story was as disappointing as the rest. Nane Quartay's "The Beautiful Ones" was decent at best and the only glimpse of hope in this otherwise lackluster read. I normally finish an anthology looking to read the full length novels of the authors new to me. That was definitely not the case here.
I give this book two stars, generously, for effort.
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