Customer Reviews

White Lines

5 star:		(136)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In WHITE LINES, Jada Ford's life is turned upside down due to her mother's indifference towards the cruelty her boyfriends inflict on her children. One of Jada's mother's boyfriends is an alcoholic whose verbal, physical and attempted sexual abuse is the impetus for Jada's sister attempting suicide. Mr. Charlie, Edna's next boyfriend, seems nicer, but his ultimate goal is more malicious, as he feeds Jada's addiction to crack and turns her into a crack whore before she is 21 years of age.

When Jada regains control of her life and her sobriety, she meets Marquis Graham known on the streets as "Born". Born's early years are similar to Jada's, without the addiction. All he knows is the streets. His father was a notorious original gangster, who is now an invalid due to a stroke caused by his addiction to crack, which has torn their once close relationship apart. Born and Jada are immediately drawn to each other and begin a fairy tale relationship. However, fairy tales don't last forever; Jada's action at a party drastically alters her life.

WHITE LINES is a blunt, evocative, explosive urban epic by Tracy Brown. I was very impressed by the manner in which Brown developed the characters. Instead of being angry at Jada, I understood her pain based on the thoroughness in which the character was developed. While Born is not your average Prince Charming, in WHITE LINES, he suited the purpose. The strength of this novel lies in believable characters living amazing lives. At 516 pages, the book seemed a bit excessive, but once I began reading, I was not able to put it down. WHITE LINES is definitely one of the best books of 2007.

Reviewed by Katrina
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Essence best selling author Tracy Brown is unquestionably at the top of her game. While other authors have difficulty penning 150 page books that resemble pamphlets Tracy Brown has composed a near 500 page masterpiece. The sheer size of White Lines may be daunting to inexperienced readers, however by just browsing the foreword they'll become entranced by Tracy's heartfelt confession. Her confession is an admission of guilt that doesn't just apply to authors but to musicians and film makers as well. That admission is the all too common glorification of the drug game that's found throughout each art form.

In countless books, records and movies this glorification of the drug game is portrayed while the damage to our communities is down played. White Lines details the crack era in it's entire capacity from the perspective of it's heartfelt characters Jada, Born, Ingrid, Dorian and Sunny. Don't get it twisted in no way does White Lines read like an after-school special or a "Just Say No To Drugs" campaign. Tracy Brown utilizes her impeccable way with words to pen a tale that actually transcends urban lit.

Tracy Brown more than proved her talent with her previous novels Criminal Minded, Black and Dime Piece. But with White Lines not only does she use her skill to entertain but she also educates the reader to an invaluable lesson, that the game has love for no one.

White Lines written by Tracy Brown is the Book of the Year. This ghetto love story leaves nothing to the imagination, with its fair share of drugs, money, abuse and unconditional love. The story line is so real and believable that I found myself screaming at the characters, feeling their pain, and cheering them on when things started looking up.

The story opens with the tale of two lives that are struggling to find their place in society. Jada is your everyday girl, growing up in Brooklyn and trying to fit in. Her life is turned around when she is exposed to drugs, sex, lies and mayhem. Will Jada be able to save herself or will she be known as another statistic?

Born is the son of a well-known street hustler and wants to own the world. But, when he is faced with the mean streets of Staten Islands top competitors in the drug game, can he stand the pressure or will he fall victim to the very same streets in which he is hustling?

The streets are watching and when this couple runs into each other it will be anyoneâ(tm)s guess who will be left standing. Will Jada prove to be like all the other girls just looking for stardom and some quick cash, or could she really turn her life around and fall in love with this thug? Will Born let his guard down and love someone other than himself, without feeling that everyone is against him?

Unconditional love is what the tale of White Lines provides us; this book is for anyone who has ever faced their fears and dreams, hopes and desires, to love and be loved. This book will make you laugh and cry at the same time, wishing for the best and mad at the outcome of certain situations. I cannot explain the overwhelming feeling I got as I sat up to finish the last 50 pages. I was rooting for the couple that was domed before they even got a fair chance. To be 500 pages it was a quick read, well-written and worth every page.

Reviewed by Cheryl H
APOOO BookClub

Tracy Brown is the heavy weight champion of URBAN FICTION. She is the Queen & King of Urban Fiction. Ms. Brown has changed the game with her latest and greatest novel. Born, Jada, Sunny, and Dorian were absolutely great characters. As a reader I was able to grow with them as they lived and loved. The storyline was truly like no other. I read WHITE LINES in five hours. I wish there was more...The ending with the MINDY(Queen of Media)twist was really cute. Ms. Tracy Brown you truly represent what writing is all about. You wrote a great story for the readers and inspired other writers and authors to attempt to simply get on your level...U UPGRADED the game!!! After reading a novel like yours I can't even imagine giving another book anything over three stars. You set the bar very high!!!

This book was so good from beginning to end.Jada turns to drugs to numb the pain she feels from her mother's abusive boyfriend and her mother would never stand up for Jada or her sister Ava.Ava goes off to a group home after trying to commit suicide.Meanwhile Jada and her friend Shante started smoking weed laced with crack and Jada was hooked instantly.She goes as far as selling her body for a fix.She winds up in jail and she's clean and she meets Born who is a big time drug dealer whose father was a crackhead.His father was the man before he got hooked on it.Him and Jada hook up and she explains her past to him and at first he's hestitant about Jada but eventually he give her a chance and life was real good for the two until Born hooked up with another big timer name Dorian.Dorian and Born became fast friends as well as Jada and Sunny,Dorian's girl.They partied hard and was living it up.So while Dorian and Born were out making moves Sunny and Jada started snorting cocaine.Sunny would steal from Dorian.Sunny and Dorian had there share of problems but eventually she stopped and Dorian helped her.Jada on the other hand was spiraling out of control and she thought she could control it.She started stealing from Born and he felt like a fool and broke it off with Jada.Jada just went down hill but she struggles to get herself together.
The book was a fast read and I loved the characters in the book especially Ingrid,Born's mom.She was a cool mom that had her son's back no matter what.You will not be disappointed with this book.

THIS WAS A VERY GOOD BOOK. IT HAD ME TEARY-EYED MANY TIMES.....JADA IS A GIRL WHO NEEDS LOVE. HER MOTHER, EDNA'S' BOYFRIEND, J.D. IS BEATING ON EDNA,HER AND HER SIS AVA. HE'S BEEN CHECKING AVA OUT AND WHEN THEY CONFRONT THEIR MOTHER SHE DOESN'T BELIEVE THEM. AVA TRY'S TO KLL HERSELF AND HAS TO MOVE IN A GROUP HOME, THERE SHE GETS HELP AND EVENTUALLY FORGIVES HER MOTEHR, AND PROSPERS THROUGH LIFE

JADA TURNS TO THE STREEST FOR HER LOVE. A SO CALLED FRIEND, SHANTA GETS HER HOOKE ON LACED WEED(WITH CRACK), EVENTUALLY JADA'S A FIEND, SHE'S PUT OUT OF HER MOTHER'S HOME, BECAUSE EDNA CATCHES JADA IN THE ACT WITH MR. CHARLIE, A SO-CALLED BOYFRIEND. HE TAKES JADA IN, GIVING HER CRACK AND SEXING HER AS HE PLEASES, BUT HE HAS HIS MOTIVES. SOON JADA IS SELLING HER BODY FOR A FIX EVERYDAY. EVENTUALLY SHE BREAKS FREE AND MEETS BORN

BORN'S A YOUNG MAN WHO ADORES HIS FATHER, UNTIL HE'S ADDICTED TO CRACK. BORN ALSO ADORE'S HIS MOTHER, A HARD WORKING WOMAN. LEO, BORN'S FATHER WAS A HERO IN THE HOOD, WHEN HE FEEL OFF, BORN DID HIS THANG WITH HIS FRIENDS, UNTIL HE REALIZED ITS MORE MONEY ON HIS OWN. BORN STARTS BEING THE 'MAN' IN HIS HOOD, SOON HE MEETS JADA AND GIVES LOVE A TRY. THEIR LOVE IS WAY DEEP. ALL HE WANTS IS FOR HER TO STAY CLEAN....

TRAVEL THROUGHT TIME WITH JADA AND BORN AS YOU SEE HOW OPPOSITES ATTRACT, WHAT LOVE IS, HOW PAINFUL IT IS, HOW A FAMILY CAN BE A DOWNFALL, AND DRUGS THAT TAKES A TOLE ON THE BODY.

THIS IS THE BEST BOOK BY TRACY BROWN, I LOVE ALL OF HER BOOKS. THIS WAS THE FIRST BOOK I CRIED ON.

In my opinion "White Lines" is undeniably and utterly SUBERB! I finally completed it and I was devastated that it had to end.

Tracy blew my mind away. There were times when I was in fact speechless while reading "White Lines". It's remarkably written, humorous, tumultuous and poignant. It has its share of shocking twists and drama as well.

The love affair between Born and Jada is like no other in Literature (notice I didn't state Urban Literature). The adversities they overcame were spellbinding.

For those of you who haven't read it, you're going to be in for a journey of a lifetime.

Tracy Brown, you have yourself a bonafide classic on your hands. I haven't been this touched (while reading a book) since Alice Walker's "The Color Purple".

You have every right to be proud of "White Lines". It's an amazing story of love, life and FINALLY happiness.

I predict this will be the hottest book of the year!

Jada, a beautiful young woman with potential, has problems at home. So she's susceptible and falls prey to the deadliest of predators - crack.

Born, a handsome young man, is the son of a hood legend. So going into the family business is only logical.

Jada and Born's paths cross and the chemistry is immediate and undeniable and so begins the journey of love for these two young lovers. Little do they know, that journey will be marred with temptations, vices, loss, and pain. Will the two overcome it all for their happy ever after?

I'm a day late, or more like a few years late. I read SNAPPED and was very disappointed, yet I heard so much about this author. I didn't understand what I was obviously missing. I was pushed, prodded and urged to give this book a try, that this was her best book...and so I did. Had I read this book back in 2007, I might have been really impressed and riding on the bandwagon with so many other fans of her work. But it's 2011 and I've read so many books that have delved into this subject matter, some of which were told better. With WHITE LINES, Tracy Brown digs deep into the world of addiction and her effort is admirable. However, at 497 pages, WHITE LINES finds itself on repeat more often than not. Published by St. Martin's Press, I was taken aback to find so much repetition here. Riding shotgun to repetition was contradiction. Characters' actions and thoughts were often contradicted by previous actions and thoughts. One minute Jada is doing drugs but maintaining her appearance and keeping up with school. But before you can flip the page, Jada's appearance has fallen off and she's never in school. Which is it? Again, I was taken aback. How did these issues slip past the developmental editors?

I love me a thick book, the thicker the better, but I don't understand the length of this book. This book could have easily been 100 pages less. Easily. There were spots were the story dragged.

I enjoyed WHITE LINES in that it kept my interest. Tracy had a story to tell and she told it. It was well written...almost. I can see how others love this book and I probably may have too had I read it a few years ago. It's not a bad or average read by any means, but it's one among many. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for an urban love story or a story dealing with the effects of addiction.

*stepping on my soap box* I was bothered by the fact that the women labeled and stressed as being beautiful in this novel were not just black. Beauty here meant a bi-racial female. What message are we sending to our youth? I know what message I'm promoting - My black is beautiful and black girls rock! Join me, won't you?!?

3.75 stars

I read this book and it was absolutely Great!!!! It had many ups and downs and i felt like i was on a rollercoaster with Jada, Born, ava, Sunny, and Dorian. LOL, i even cried a couple of times. this is a must read

Not since The Coldest Winter Ever has the literary world seen such a raw and emotional urban tale. A brilliant read, Tracy Brown has done it again as she gives us a blow by blow recap of how the glamorized drug game really destroyed the Black community and so many families in the early 90's. In White Lines she tries to make sense of the madness that still imprisons so many of us today. If you are a fan of Brown's writing you won't be disappointed, in fact you will be pleasantly surprised as you experience her growth as an author.