James W. Lewis (2)

This book had me cracking up! While it was extremely funny, it did have a lot of romantic ideas sprinkled into the mix, which made me like it even more. After reading this book, I definitely have to check out some of the author's other titles. It was very easy to get into, and I just wanted to keep reading without stopping until I found myself at the end. Michelle was one of those characters who had me laughing out loud throughout the entire book. I love it when a book actually allows me to imagine them as the author (hopefully) intended me to.… (más)

I must admit I was somewhat apprehensive about reading this book due to the subject matter and genre. I gave in because I need to sprinkle in books that are out of the box throughout my reviews. I also wanted to read how an African-American male author would approach the subject of interracial dating. Lewis really brought a good balance to the subject of interracial dating with the characters of Sellout.

Sellout is told from the perspective of three narrators. Terrell Jackson a handsome African-American optometrist that has taken to dating white women because his ex, Tasha, was prone to jealous "fits." Terrell is kind of cocky but not arrogant. His reasoning for cutting off black women from his dating pool made me roll my eyes. Deep down he never really detached from black women he simply had not met the right one. Terrell found the black woman of his dreams in the most unlikely situation. Tammy McDonald has just walked out of a draining relationship and moved to a new city hoping to start fresh. Her white co-worker, Dale, starts her to thinking about "something new" with his persistence of asking her out.Of all the narrators, I enjoyed Tammy the most because she had such a stable voice and the author did not portray her as the angry black woman or desperate. After going out with Dale, Tammy still could not bring herself to turn her back on black men due to a few failed relationships. Tammy really worked through her hurt rationally and in the end she found her Black Prince. Tammy's best friend Sheryl was just the opposite of her. Sheryl's brother Dedrick dates Penelope and she is very vocal with her dislike towards interracial relationships. There is a shocking revelation later in the narrative that helps us understand Sheryl's anger. Our last narrator, Penelope "Nel" Miller is a white woman raised in rural MS with a racist father and brother but she has a new found taste for black men. In my opinion, Penelope's character was flat and over fantasized. Her background story had more depth than her interracial dating story with Dedrick. Their part of the story was more erotic than anything. The character that will stick with me the most from this book is Penelope's mom. She is a woman who has endured years of verbal abuse with grace. I would like to know where Lewis pulled her from.

There were parts of this story where you could immediately tell the author was male. It was at these parts that I rolled my eyes the hardest. I especially wanted to skip the part when Dedrick nicknamed his "member" when he was with Penelope. Overall Sellout gives great insight into the emotional turmoil of interracial dating even though it's a work of fiction. Lewis really gives the reader two huge jolts with his ending.

Source: author provided copy for review… (más)

OMG

Michelle Larsen has not been so lucky in love. It hasn't been for lack of trying. She just seems to keep meeting rejects. That is until she meets Daryl Jackson. He's what Michelle has been looking for and the feelings seem to be mutual. But he's too good to be true, right?

"A Hard Man Is Good to Find" is a very quick, fun, entertaining and easy read. However, what works for the novel also works against the novel - the narration. Told through the voice of main character Michelle in a conversational tone, her conversation and attitude at times were exaggerated in an attempt to be funny. It made the narration seemed forced, not true/authentic and/or a man trying too hard to talk and think like a woman. Had the author pulled back some, it would have made for a more even and believable read. "A Hard Man Is Good to Find" is a much lighter read than his debut novel "Sellout," but both are recommendable reads. James W. Lewis is definitely an author to add to your shelf.

Reviewed by: Toni
3.5 stars… (más)