Customer Reviews

For What I Hate I Do

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book from the author at an event in DC. While I was not interested in reading your sterotypical "gay black male" book, the book was pleasantly suprising. I started the book and had a very difficult time putting it down. Good job Mr. Moore on a job well done. Thank you for allowing us to have an invitation into your life.

OK. I hate to be a naysayer :-), but the book gets two stars because of its technical execution. It gets four stars for its honest look at self-destructive behavior. As a first (and self-published novel - good for him), Mr. Moore is to be congratulated for sharing a part of his life with us. Let's set aside the writing; the often careless editing; the jarring shifts in tone and points-of-view; a timeline that's not always logical; and scenes created or manipulated to move the story. But, let's move past all that because, clearly, that is not the point here.

It's rare I would use such a word, but harrowing is how I would describe the last third of this fact-based novel. Self-destructive behavior has never been so ugly and so obvious. In many ways, it is not a pretty novel. The sex scenes, while somewhat graphic, were not gratuitous for the sake of shock value. They were what they were. They provided insight into his personality and motivations - he wasn't a nice person, had low self-esteem and he used men (and woman) for his own ego trip. And he justifies his errant behavior - "it's their fault I'm doing this." My experience and exposure to crack addicts is nil, but the scene where he's having sex and he's feeding the other guy crack was just ugly and sad. I cringed just reading it.

Other than the issue of DL men, I would not compare Mr. Moore with E. Lynn Harris. Mr. Harris's novels are filled with stately homes, lush interiors, and understated elegance; his stock and trade is the bourgeois crowd. Mr. Moore's settings are almost the exact opposite, and he slightly opens the door to world of a crack addict. I read INVISIBLE LIFE and I vaguely recall a character that had an addiction and then became HIV-positive, but Mr. Harris handled that sequence swiftly and without much nuance or color. In his book, Mr. Moore doesn't hide the ugliness; it's awash in dark and muddy colors: blacks, grays, and browns; a depressing array of characters and locales with very few splashes of color and not much hope. This is a character study of low self-esteem and addictive behavior that spiraled completely out of control. I found myself shaking my head and wondering: how did this individual become so damaged? Did his formative years predispose him to this? The novel opens at the start of his sophomore or junior year in high school and (I'm guessing) it concludes in his mid- to late 30's.

I think saddest thing in this incredible tale was his inability to be content or happy or to "just be" as a gay man. That is the pivotal issue of the story. I think his life would have been vastly different had he recognized and accepted who he was during his early development. Denial is a great place to be, but ultimately, one pays a price. Would he still have had the addictive behaviors if he had accepted himself as a gay man? I'll leave that to Mr. Moore and professional therapists as I am not in a position to offer an opinion. But, accepting who you are goes a long toward honest self-assessment, happiness, and fulfillment. What's the genesis of such behavior and how does one regain control? And, does one really ever recover? In Mr. Moore's case, I sincerely hope so. I'm looking forward to the next book.

Prior to reading the book, I had read several reviews about it and had already formulated an idea of what to expect. By little did I know it was better that I could've imagined. It vividly described the problems and addictions of a promising athlete, but it was done in such in a way that made me understand his attempt to correct his problems , as opposed to faulting him. The book provided me with a instrospective at myself,although my problems are different from the character in the book,it did make me realize that I, like many others, hate a lot of what I do and struggle to correct it.

M W Moore....WOW! I love the book but the person is phenomenal! He has a great heart and he wants to share his story with us all! If he is in your city try to catch him if not enjoy the book. This book is not a sleeper but it is the first of three!

Standing at a domineering six feet, two inches, Miguel Morris is a chocolate covered treat. Once a NCAA track star, Miguel now manages a restaurant and models in his spare time. Married to Latisha, a Jamaican Chinese bombshell, Morris seems to have the perfect life. But not unlike most things, Miguel is too good to be true, as this one time Olympic hopeful is a homosexual crack addict, leading a double life on the low. For What I Hate I Do is author M.W. Moore's first installment in the trilogy inspired by his real life struggles.

1. What did you like best about this book?
I loved how developed the characters are. Readers will feel as though they are walking alongside Miguel through his peaks and valleys.

2. What did you dislike about this book?
Although the sex scenes add to the rawness and authenticity of the book, the explicitness may be too much for some.

3. How can the author improve this book?
The book is fine the way it is, although it may have more appeal if some of the sex scenes were toned down.

THIS BOOK WAS A GREAT READ FROM BEGINNING TO END! I HAVE READ PLENTY OF BOOKS BUT THIS ONE HELD MY ATTENTION FROM THE TIME I STARTED READING UP UNTIL THE TIME I FINISHED! MR MOORE I TRULY HOPE YOUR NEXT BOOK IS ON ITS WAY, BECAUSE WE NEED MORE GREAT AUTHORS LIKE YOU!

"For What I Hate I Do" was real, honest, raw and emotional. It held nothing back. Whether it's our career, relationships, or just day-to-day living, most of us, at one point or the other, know what it feels like to want to get on our feet again, live the way God wants us to, but something just keep getting in the way. I guess that's why I found myself so invested in Miguel, rooting for him to get his life together, cheering for him when it seemed he was on the right track, and then frustrated when he kept making the same mistakes. Can't wait to see what road of life Miguel will finally stay on.

I couldn't put the book down. The book was deep and moving. I felt like I knew the characters in this book and that I had gone through situations like Miquel. The book grabed me emotionally and didn't let go. Overall, the book had a good flow. There were some minor spots where I wished for expansion on a character's emotion to get more understanding of their thoughts and/or feelings, but these spots were rare. I'm looking forward to picking up the next book. Kudos to the author, M.W. Moore and the editor for a great piece of workmanship.

Honestly, from the time I held this book in my hands, I was intrigued. The cover caught my attention so quickly, I knew it was going to stay by my side until the last word; come to find out, it was well worth it.
WTG Mr. Moore, personally, acknowledging your success, with all you've gone through and accomplished, I physically see that with GOD, determination and support, anything is possible and my aspirations are not too far away.
Thanks for the ride M.W., I'm anxiously awaiting the next.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this journey of real souls. This book for me was more than just a read, it truly was a journey. A journey into the lives of real souls who have to deal with life as it exist. The true test is how we react to our situations and become better human beings. This books shows us how to counquer our demons and embrace the beauty of life even after it means going to hell and back. Mr. Moore, I appreciate you writing this book and I can't wait for the next edition.