Customer Reviews

Wifebeater

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Wifebeater is a term no woman wants to hear. It conjures up vivid pictures of women who succumbed to physical and verbal abuse at the hands of very callous mates. When I picked up my copy of WIFEBEATER by Mister Mann Frisby, my first reaction was, "here we go, another fictional dialogue on the demise of the institution of marriage at the hands of domestic abuse, but with an urban drama twist." Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. And furthermore, wifebeater meant nowhere near what I thought it did. And don't ask, I'm not telling. You gotta read the book.

Sticks, a single, out-of-work dad has two concerns: take care of his daughter and keep custody of her. Wondering how he will be able to keep his apartment, feed the two of them and get Brie an education, it is little wonder what he'll do when the chance of a lifetime presents itself. Among his daughter's tape collection, they accidentally find a videotape of a superstar rapper in the act of a heinous crime. Calling on his boaws (crew), they decide together that his only course of action is to blackmail the rapper and get some serious paper. What Sticks doesn't count on is the tenacity of this rapper or the possibility that someone very close to him could sell him out. Will he get paid and live to spend it? Will he put the clues together before it's too late? Will the paper be worth it?

Fast-paced, gutsy, gritty, down-to-earth, action-packed, jaw dropping, page-turner are all terms that I can use to describe WIFEBEATER. Using South Philly as a backdrop for this urban thriller, Frisby has shaped an impressive tale that captured me in the first paragraph and held me captive until the last word. The plots were not only mesmerizing, but also deep, as you were propelled through the maze of Sticks' feelings and ghetto instincts with each new twist he was confronted with. The author did a great job with character development, as each was unforgettable. The culture of South Philly was embedded in every page with his use of the colorful and distinctive vernacular of those who live in the inner city streets. I even managed to pick up a couple of terms to impress my more hip-hop friends. Though I read from an uncorrected proof, I feel the finished product will be one to capture the attention of many readers.

Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

I picked this novel up on my way out of town because the buzz surrounding it was great. I started reading it on the plane and finished it the next morning. It was off the chain. Mister Mann Frisby is a talented brother and I hope he gets his rightful attention. He certainly deserves it. His character development is on point, his storyline was comprised of a lot of elements that people try to sweep under the rug in society, i.e. some women being sorry parents and having a lax attitude about whom they lie down with and make babies. I loved the main character Sticks and I enjoyed his ingenuity of not revealing his real name until the last third of the book. I was going crazy not knowing it but I think that was the author's point.

Sticks is a single father who lucks out, or at least thinks he does, when he discovers that a Teletubbies tape has a whole lot more on it than children's entertainment. In an age where so many entertainers and athletes are getting caught in sex scandals, this is a timely book. The arrogance of those who assume they can do whatever they want and not have to pay for their actions amazes me so this was a "real book." Sticks had to deal with a lot of drama, greed, and betrayal and even though he was far from perfect, I felt compassion for him because he was a man attempting to do the right thing the best way he knew how. I would highly recommend this book to anyone desiring a rollercoaster of a read.

The title of this book threw me for a loop time and time again because I didn't want to read a book about another man beating his wife. Finally after hearing I was reading too much into the title, I decided to pick it up and I'm so thankful I did. Mister Mann Frisby wrote his ass off with this book. There is not one chapter that doesn't have something going on. This is an exceptional book and a must read.

Harold L. Turley II
www.haroldlturley2.com
Author of Love's Game (Oct 04) & Confessions of a Lonely Soul (Nov 05)

This book is just full of the hotness. I read Mister's first book, "Blinking Red Light", so I knew that I wouldn't be diappointed the 2nd time around. It had me on the edge from the very beginning. I loved the twists and turns that the book takes and how he just keeps you guessing. I think i even yelled out, "Oh no they didn't!" while I was reading it. Mister truly has a gift of taking you on a thrill ride and bringing the whole story together.

Wifebeater is a great suspenseful novel that Mister Mann Frisby has given life to. As I was reading the book, I felt like I was right there within the scene. I felt that way with his first book Blinking Red Light and I expected nothing less. And I was not disappointed. I love that Mister works really hard when describing scenes. It is hard for me to say any more information without destroying the suspense of the book, but trust me........ this book is off the hook. If you are from Philly he represents like no other.

Wife Beater is a great book! Mister keeps you enthralled in the book with his vivid characters, realistic situations, and the great Philly references. Mister has creatively added mystery and thrills to hip hop fiction. Buy the book, read the book, and support a great author!

I LOVED the book Wifebeater by Mister Mann Frisby. The book combines action, greed, lust, humor and a good ole' touch of Philly flavor. I was impressed at the level of mystery and detail that the author was able to intricately weave into place. I am not surprised, as his last book titled, Blinking Red Light, was written the same way! I highly recommend this book to all who are looking for a fast paced humorous book...For fear of giving away all the details of the story-I will end with this-Watch your friends..you never know who you can trust! ENJOY!

This is my favorite book by MMF. He wrote an exciting book about a single father named, Sticks, who loves his 2 year old daughter, Brie beyond expression. So much in fact, that he mistakenly puts his life on the line in an attempt to improve their lives financially.

Once the mistake is made, this book takes you on a serious ride that will keep you hyped and guessing to the end.

This book was a very good book, very original and based in Philadelphia. it kept me on pens and needles the entire reading. I highly recommend it. I mean why do we always think we can come up the easy way? Meet an unemployed African American single father's plight trying to raise his 2 year old daughter on a diminishing 20K lawsuit payout and no job. How blackmail really wasn't a friend of his. But then, neither was his ace koom bud that he grew up with. Sometimes when a large sum of money comes into play, even your best row-dawg don't know you anymore. Read it. I highly recommend it. Very entertaining.

I picked up Blinking Red Light from the Library and I loved it I learned that he had Wifebeater in stores and I immediatley went out and bought it I read it and loved it as much as Blinking Red light after that I vowed that I would buy every single Book that he put out.

Wifebeater takes you on a wild ride and you think your going in one direction but you get pulled into another one.
I strongly suggest that you pick this book up if you want to go on a adventure through the streets of Philly!

I can't wait to get my hands on your next masterpiece!!!!!!!!