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Summary: The thin line between good and evil.
Review: DARK is the story about young Thai Williams and the price he will pay within himself when a reckless act of violence changes everything he knows about the world and his place in it. Sometimes preachy, it still brings a sense of purpose of what we perceive to be the norm in today's society, especially with young african-american males, and what we might do to change it, starting with learning for ourselves the consequences of our actions. The murder Thai commits will send him outside the neighborhood he knows to unfamilar territory in North Carolina, where an eclectic group of strangers will show him that in each man lies good and bad, and how you live will determine your destiny. Change comes when you are ready or not, and for young Thai, his point of change will determine how he will handle not only his run from the law, but what could be the rest of his life. A very introspective piece to be read when you are in that state of deep mind.
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Summary: I loved Dark
Review: Dark is the story of Thai, who before he realizes what he did, l kills the guy who his girlfriend cheats on him with. Though I don't usually root for the killer in a book, I couldn't help but feel for Thai. He ends up running from town to hide out with his friend E in Charlotte. Thai quickly realizes the errors of his mistake by killing the guy, and regrets it big time. What i like about the book was that even though it had the one killing included, it didn't take place throughout the book in like other thug type books, and drugs wasen't sold on every other page. I really liked reading about a different look at the hardcore life, where the main characther actually regrets killing.
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Summary: Could have been better
Review: I think this book was a little too typical it could have been a lot better . Such as the people that affected THai's(the main character)life. I also think the author could have gotten a little more deeper on certain subjects in the story ,that could have given it more flavor. Overall the book was well written just needed more depth.
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Summary: ...well written!
Review: Kenji Jasper has a very well written book. The read has no problem deciphering what is being expressed in the situations or through the characters in the book.
This book encompasses its title...dark. It is dark. Character Thai Williams is faced with the reality of his existence, environment and his actions over the course of a week. Our club had a very spirited discussion on Thai's situation in life. Although none of the members knew of a Thai Williams, we did recognize that power of persuasion, the inability to see past the present and or dream.
This is "in your face" reality literature that is not for every age group, yet demonstrates excellent writing from Gen-X. Bravo, Kenji! -LC
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Summary: Thought-Provoking But Simplistic
Review: Kenji Jasper's "Dark" is meant to be a story of redemption. Opening in Washington, DC, its plot centers around a black man named Thai who kills another man in the heat of the moment. Shocked by what he's done and terrified of the consequences, he flees to North Carolina, where his best friend takes him in. During his week in Charlotte, Thai meets various men and women who help him realize that by not facing what he has done, he is slowly killing himself. Ultimately, Thai returns home to take responsibility for his actions. Jasper is clearly a talented writer. His protagonist is wonderfully developed, and most of the other major characters are also well-done. The author's writing is crisp and precise: once or twice it seemed like poetry. The style, however, seemed far too elementary for the story being told. This book is written on a fifth-grade reading level. While that makes for a fast read, it also occasionally detracts from the story's emotional intensity. Overall, this novel is not perfect, but it is a good, fast read. And it will make you think.
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Summary: READ Kenji Jasper's DARK
Review: Kenji Jasper's Dark is an excellent representation of an urban black man. Thai Williams must deal with a single parent home, losing a baby, a cheating girlfriend, peer pressure, and the negative influences of friends. If someone understands black men and the daily struggle that they must endure lving in urban communities then he or she will love Dark, just like I do. If you just disregard the novel as a typical " gangsta, hood book" then you will be missing out on what is destined to be a classic. READ KENJI JASPER'S DARK!!!!!!
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Summary: READ DARK!!
Review: Kneji Jasper's Dark is a great book. It is an excellent portrayal of an urban black man dealing with the evils of the urban community. Thai Williams deals with a sinlge parent home (where he has no idea what had happened to his mother), losing a baby, a cheating girlfriend, negative influences from friends, and the fight to not appear weak. It is all of these issues that make Dark an excellent example of urban realism. READ DARK!!!!!
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Summary: Good characters, good story
Review: Please support this young writer by buying this book. He's done an excellent job at character development and plot execution. I read this book in about 5 hours. I couldn't put it down. Made me feel like I was reading a male version of THE COLDEST WINTER EVER and I couldn't put that book down either. It was a very realistic story and good to see that just because you are in the dark doesn't mean you always have to stay there. We all fall down ...
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Summary: better off getting it at the library
Review: The problem with this book is that it introduces a lot of interesting ideas and doesn't explore them all the way. Romance, violence, friendship, family, and relocation, you name it, this book has it. But after a while, it doesn't even matter. The characters are predictable, and as much as you can relate to them, you don't really care what happens to them.
The book wasn't a real page turner, but it held my interest until the end. After the last page, I shrugged and moved onto the next book. At first it seems as if the character just is too young to fully articulate what's going on, but after reading another Kenji Jasper novel, it dawned on me that its actually the author. I don't know if gets bored with a particular plot line, or gets eager and just move on the next. I don't know. One thing I will say is that almost all of the characters had a story worth telling, just told by someone else. I was excited to get the book and found the topic interesting, but was ultimately let down.
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Summary: THIS BOOK WAS OK
Review: THIS BOOK WAS OK, I GUESS, I FINISHED THE BOOK THINKING ALRIGHTY THEN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD. THE BOOK WAS AVERAGE. IT REALLY WAS NOT THAT GOOD. THAI WAS CORNEY. CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY.
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