B-Boy Blues: A Seriously Sexy, Fiercely Funny, Black-On-Black Love Story

Rating:
Summary: Thanks For Telling It Like It Is
Review: This novel is a masterpiece! I am 61, and never thought I'd see the day when I would read a novel that picked up where writers like Wallace Thurman and James Baldwin left off (the love story between Pooquie and Little Bit reminds me so much of the characters Arthur and Crunch in Baldwin's "Just Above My Head"). To be such a young(er) man, Mr. Hardy writes with the voice of an old soul, spinning a tale that is entertaining, enlightening, and, most of all, delicious (yes, black men loving other black men is a beautiful thing and why shouldn't that intimacy, however graphic or offensive it may be to some, be depicted?). Also, I wish people would stop comparing Mr. Hardy and E. Lynn Harris (like the reviewer below). Not only are they different writers, they are different people; the only thing they have in common is being black and gay, and it is clear by the stories they tell that they see these identities differently, also. Saying you like one better than the other shows just how limited your literary scope and perspective is. And how can you appreciate what either writer does if you are busy trying to measure what they do against each other? It makes no sense.Thanks, Mr. Hardy, for showing us like we are and telling it like it is; I'm a fan for life.

Rating:
Summary: VERY DISTURBING!!!!
Review: This book was (sexually) too graphic for me. It left nothing to the imagination. I couldn't even finish the last couple of pages as Rahiem and Mitchell made-up. I'm not homophobic, but the vivid pictures of two hard bodies rolling, grabbing and thrusting were really disgusting. Don't get me wrong; I loved E. Lynn Harris' books and probably because they weren't so vivid and they let you paint your own pictures in your own mind and they (pictures) didn't stay with you and they were just better books and I also agree with another customer whom said they became ill every time they read the word "jood". Although I am curious to read Rahiem's point of view. I just don't know if I'm curious enough to buy it. My girlfriend said she'd probably pick it up and I'll wait to read hers. My next book money is going towards the last two Lynn Harris books that I've missed. Sorry, Mr. Hardy.

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Summary: This book is "jood", Gay blacks should read this.
Review: If you are a gay male looking for a relationship, you need to read this. This book will open expand your perspective regarding a soulmate. It is extremely funny and has a "preppy" aspect also a "gangster" aspect. You will enjoy the jokes and nuances in the story. It will cause you to cry tears of joy and sorrow. Although you may have some difficulty with the "gangster slang".

Rating:
Summary: Exciting, complex, Thoroughly enjoyable/Readable
Review: I read this book when it first came out and I was amazed at how complex the relationship between Rahiem and Mitchell became. Moreover, I was equally as surprised at how most of the situations they discussed (argued)and the dialogue resembled things that go on in heterosexual relationships. This book was funny and sad for a number of reasons but I highly recommend it, especially if you want an in depth look at homosexual relationships.

Rating:
Summary: B Boy Blues--Off the HOOK!!!!
Review: Another wonderful work! The style, flavor and realistic attitudes given by Hardy, depict and display a few of the true attitudes of real Black SGL men, in the real world. It kept me on the edge waiting and wondering what would ever become of "Pookie" and "Little Bit"--AKA "Daddy". I enjoyed this book too much. It will get you hooked and then keep ya HOOKED waiting for more. Will "Little Bit" ever get over his B-Boy Blues? Will "Pookie" ever give it up----You'll never know till you read the book.....Peace and Blessings always

Rating:
Summary: IT'S DAY-AM JOOD!!!
Review: It's taken me three years to finally read this book and all i can say is...WOW! Hardy is one jood storyteller: I am not at all familiar with the world he presents, but felt as if I were right there reading the book. I could feel Mitchell's pain when Raheim hurt him. I recognized the sense of family Mitchell has with his best friends, Babyface, B.D. and Gene. And, yeah, I felt myself reaching a climax when Mitchell and Raheim got busy! Never before have I been so entertained and enlightened after reading a book. Hardy is truly a revolutionary, a force to be reckoned with. I can't wait to sink my teeth into the other two novels. JOOD JOB!

Rating:
Summary: NO JOOD
Review: This was the absolute worst book I have ever read. It was incredibly juvenile and I simply became ill every time I read the word "jood." It was not very realistic, I was sick of reading how they kissed "down" and the way Raheim reacts to Mitchell in one scene is downright disturbing! Would it have been done this way if this were a story about heterosexuals? There's more to a relationship than sex and kissing "down." I think if I were a little younger, perhaps 15 or so I would have enjoyed this book, however, since I am 23 years old-I have to say I will NOT be purchasing books 2 and 3.

Rating:
Summary: The best book i've read in years!!!
Review: I have read B-Boy Blues three times and everytime i read it, i discover something new. The book was recommended to me by my ex, the only good thing that came out our relationship, I loved the book, even though i thought the first chapter was slow, it picked up in chapter 2. i read the book in two days, it was just that "JOOD" I recommend the book to people i suspect is in the life as a tool to help them come to grips with their sexuality, and also to help them better understand me and others like myself. i gave the book to one of my good freinds, because i suspect him, and he fit the description of a b-boy, he's from one of the roughest parts of New Orleans. I would truely recommend this book to ANYONE. i have also read 2nd Time Around, the sequel, which is told in raheim's point of view, and If Only for One Night, but niether were as good as B-Boy.

Rating:
Summary: Hard hitting
Review: Hardy really makes you open your eyes in the book b-boy blues. He tells the book very "openly" from the view of a gay man. He speaks through the main characters so well that at times i am thinking that this relationship is between a man and a women not a man and a man. Hardy makes us understand the gay relationship and makes us feel that is like any other heterosexual relationship. All of us no matter what sexual preferences experience the hate, hurt, saddness, fun, truimph and love of relationships. This is a fantastic book and a recommendation to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: The book was to far fetch for me!
Review: I must play Devil's Advocate. I know with me leaving my E-Mail address, people are going to be blowing it up. But I can not see how a man is going to let another man come into his home, run it and disrespect him like he paid rent. I cant see it. No matter how hard pressed you are, or how well you claim he was good in the bed. I must give the author his props for hitting on the sterotypes, and placing a clear prespective of the racial tension among African-Americans and Caucasians. Wearing the mans clothes around the house. Come on Now! That was to queenish, and subservient White Girlish. I am a 32 year old African-American Male, and I have been in the life for a while, and I came across a lot of brothers that had their certain shields up, in order to prevent someone from peeping their card. But no matter how Banjee, Big, Built, Beautiful, and all the other "B's" that you can come up with. They came with respect and gave respect.