Street Lit Corner - Novels of Street Lit/ Urban Genre

Bitch By Deja King - 4 Stars

Bitch, I might be!

So, I’m probably the last Street Lit fan to read Deja King’s Bitch Series but I’m probably glad I did so that I can read them all in order with out waiting months. So with that being said, I won’t get into too much depth about the details of the first installment, Bitch. I’m sure we all get the gist.

Bitch starts with the introduction to Precious Cummings, and the beginning years of her life. We learn that she’s a BK girl to the fullest and raised in the projects of the borough she reps. When handed an ultimatum at 15, Precious is compelled to mount up and make it happen for herself. Precious goes hard for her cash and her middle name should be Adonis. By using what she is blessed with, she begins to live a life that she never dreamed of. Built with a phlegmatic heart, she’s a stone cold killa and is unmoved by the slightest drop of blood at the account of her own hands.

Okay, Bitch is a total fiction book, the type of stuff that takes place is just never going to happen in real life but it made for a dope story! I read this book in less than 24 hours, at work, on my lunch, in bed, etc. I give Bitch 4 stars, and moving right along to part 2, Bitch Reloaded.

Have you read the Bitch Series? What book are you on? The 5th installment is due out on November 24th of this year. Let me know how you like it!

Stripping Asjiah by Sa'Rese - 3.5-4 Stars!

I read a lot, and street lit is my favorite. However, this novel was a different type of street lit/Urban tale. I’ve been pondering all day to put my words around how to describe this read. I’ve never heard of Sa’Rese or this novel in any of my book clubs, I happened to stumble on it via Good Reads. I am glad I did.

Stripping Asjiah is a story of a young girl’s life from age seven to eighteen; however the majority of the story takes place in Asjiah’s senior year in high school. As if your teen age years aren’t already an emotional roller coaster, add being raised by your Grandmother who absolutely despises you because you’re a female version of the man who killed her daughter. That’s life for Asjiah. The only person left in the world who loves her unconditionally is her brother Angel, the hoods Al Pacino.

Stripping Asjiah was a great read, very fast paced and easy to follow. Sa’rese’s writing style is very fresh, witty and filled with humor that this generation would understand. Very hip in her wording by using many slang related terms, made the story very fun to read. This novel had me literally laughing out loud when reading Asjiah’s journal passages and her train of thought, I loved it! I also liked the way she began and ended a situation very swiftly; she didn’t make it a long drawn out situation with pages and pages. She got to the point easily!

We are left with some unanswered questions, so I hope a part two will be out soon. I’m rooting for Money & Asjiah! I give Stripping Asjiah 3.5-4 stars. Great read, a little short but I’m anticipating a part 2.

Who is Sa'Rese? How do we contact her? Is this her only novel?

Big Juicy Lips picks up with the current life of Misty and Brick. The pair is in some type of weird delusional relationship that is so one-sided, you just want to stop and pray for Brick. Being inseparable since they were young, Misty and Brick go through crazy lengths to keep their current living conditions a float. Just as in Double Dippin’, callow Brick is ran and ruled by Misty, however it doesn’t stop him from going though insane extremes to make sure his little ornament is living well. Empty on the inside his only form of love comes from the same person that is oppressing him.

With Misty’s bright idea and a bread winning phallus at her mercy, she is able to strike big bank via internet prostitution. Only with a mind of a diluted pompous b!tch such as Misty’s, would anyone be able to allure men and women into unquestionable atrocious perverted sexual situations like the ones that take place in this book. Ever since the death of Shane, her one true love, she has been heavy on the hunt for a genuine replacement. Almost as if Shane's body was resurrected we meet Dane, a couple genetics short of being Shane’s twin. Head over heals after just one day of interaction, Misty has finally met her match made in hell. Two can play that game, and that’s exactly what happened to Misty.

I give BJL, a solid 3 – 3.5. Again, Allison delivers pages of erotica, simple shock value, and an average read in my opinion. I would say the best parts of the book were crammed into the last 50 pages. The biggest disappointment was no mention of previous characters such as Janelle and her pregnancy with twins, no mention of Kapri or the child that she and Shane shared. With Janelle being one of the main characters, I would have liked to read about her outcome. This book could have been a stand alone, and just like the first book we are still left with unanswered questions.

Have you read this series? What do you think of Allison's writing style? She has 11 novels, and these are the only two that I have read. Let me know what you think.

The Prada Plan by Ashley Antoinette - 5 Stars

The Devil Wears Prada
Although the name Ashley Antoinette may not ring a quick bell for some, if you throw JaQuavis in the mix, you will understand that the two have made up some of the best street lit fiction to hit the shelves. With Prada Plan we welcome Ashley’s solo debut.

At the tender age of 6 Disaya, better known as Yaya handily learns the quality of couture and the importance of having a plan in life, a Prada Plan. Disaster strikes Yaya’s world when both parents are eliminated, and is suddenly forced to forget an existence where she is the center jewel of their heart. Yaya is immediately defaulted to being a foster child, where she endures nightly molestation by her foster Mother’s son. Being raped of her innocence at 7, the only piece of hope and spirit she has left is the echoing of her Mother’s voice and her new companion, soon to be sister for life, Mona. Together they flee the house of misery and the story fast forwards to duos life at the age of 21. The pair is finally living some-what stable life a freedom, however Yaya has yet to attain her Prada Plan. While patience is a virtue, Yaya is not ashamed to admit that she’s merely a Rocawear chick and will go through great lengths to be recognized as a couture Mami. Following the same suit as her Mother and by being absolutely beautiful it’s no task for to Yaya to start selling herself to some of the most elite and highest paid individuals to receive top dollar. Once she is introduced to Leah, she begins engaging in same sex escapades and everything else in-between. A friendship/businesses relationship turns to into an obsession as Yaya attempts to put an end to Leah’s bizarre behavior and a life of hoeing after falling in love with Indie, the one person who can fulfill her plan. Leah’s addiction for Yaya if far from just physical its a dependency that is a psychological demon and she will go through any obstacle to hurt Yaya and everyone else in her life.

I gave Prada Plan 4 stars, while a couple situations in my opinion were unrealistic even in fiction form; the story and bombshell situations were enough to make me smile at the work of a mastermind in street lit. With pending answers, and the outcome of characters to be left unanswered I am desperately waiting for part 2. Pick of Prada Plan, you surely will not be disappointed.

Taking a break from 21st century urban fiction, I decided to rewind to 1971 and crack open Donald’s first novel, Dopefiend.

Dopefiend by Donald Goines - 5 stars!
Cookin' a slow death


Donald takes you through physiological minds from two perspectives, the drug dealer and the user. While the user is digging his exit with a slow death, the dealer believes he’s holding the winning hand in the game. Dopefiend is a very bleak description of drug usage that takes place in the 70’s in Detroit Michigan. It takes us through the transformation of several addicts and what begins and ends when you use heroin.

I enjoyed this novel from top to bottom; I liked how Donald would dedicate an entire chapter to a particular character giving us enough time to bond with what was happening during their downfall. His style of writing is excellent and very easy to follow. His vivid details made me feel like I was in the drug house helping Smokey find a vein, or running out of the local store with my floor model black and white TV screen. Should you pick up this street lit classic, you won’t be disappointed.

I give Dopefiend a solid 5 stars.

Whew! Okay after reading 3 average Urban Fiction books, The Cartel was exactly what I was yearning for! Ashley Antionette & JaQuavis Coleman delivered a true page turner with an impeccable story line, a hood tale that was flawless and incontrovertible to anyone who begs to differ.

This novel is a story about a very prestigious drug trade organization known as The Cartel; the notable leader of this lucrative alignment is Carter Diamond and is quickly executed in the beginning chapters. At the demise of Carter it leaves his wife and First Lady Taryn, children, & partners to hold up one of the most notable businesses in Miami. True to the fact that the more you rub a diamond, the more it shines; we are whisked into an action packed, jaw dropping adventure of a family that demonstrates death before dishonor. The Diamonds flaunt loyalty and an undying love for each other, while managing to protect what their father ultimately died for. The Cartel combines devotion, betrayal, deceit, greed & down right grimy behavior mixed with a true love story that will have you begging for more.

I whole heartedly give The Cartel 5 stars and absolutely cannot wait for part 2!

Part 2 is due to be released on October 27th, 2009.