Rating: 
Summary: POWERFULL!!
Review: Berry is a master at story-telling. This story is spiritual, funny, and mystical. I was captured from the beginning and could not put it down until it was over. You will fall inlove with Freedom, Ava, and Dora.If you've read, "Redemption Song", then you must read this story. It is a continuation of what I hope is more to come.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely AWESOME!
Review: First connected to Bertice's writing through a great friend, I tasted Redemption Song. Shortly thereafter, I picked up Hip Hop and could not put either piece down!!!! Within seconds, I was captivated by the storyline, drama, mystery and definitely the connectivity to everyday experiences in the African American culture. Anyone touching Bertice's material will laugh out loud, cry out loud, and talk back to the characters, regardless of you're surroundings!!! (I read my first "piece of Bertice" in an airport and on an airplane and I guarantee you...I had a few folks wondering what was in my hand!)
Rating: 
Summary: Alright...
Review: GOOD POINTS: The book did what the author intended for it to do: creep the readers out a lil'bit. I was going to sleep but peeking at the edge of my bed a couple times. I had to laugh it off though. This book gave us great vivid images, believable characters (to a certain extent), excellent storylines on the dead (especially the guy taken in slavery and the heartbroken woman), and overall a wonderful idea for a book. WEAK POINTS: I have always been a fan of a first-person novel because in third-person omniscient stories, we sometimes get too wrapped up in the characters' views to pay attention to dialogue and reactions. Some authors have mastered the art of telling a third-person story without getting too involved in each character's emotions. Bertice Berry has not. This book did 75% telling and 25% showing. A minor example would be the part in the book when she explains that the producer would do anything to get the contract and didn't appreciate Freedom being late. She could've easily SHOWED him acting out this emotion by checking his watch with a disgruntled face or in dialogue. After awhile, it seemed like the author was explaining the story to us like we were children to dumb to figure it out. That was a major turn-off. The preaching at the end didn't help matters.
I also didn't understand how Charles could go from being so bourgeoise to tearing up greens all in the same day...that just didn't seem realistic to me. Overall, I'm glad I bought it because the overall plot was outstanding, but the technique was annoying.
Rating: 
Summary: Tha Haunting of Hip Hop
Review: I have not read anything of Bertice Berry's before. I have only seen her talk show once a long time ago. This book has made me a fan. From the beginning to the end of this book my attention was captured. I have always been interested in our connection to our ancestor and how we never leave each other but are a continuation. This book weaves a story that is close to home and beleivable. From the names of the characters (Freedom, Ava, Dora, Ruth, Charles, Johnny, etc..) to the way she expresses that we as a people are all connected by God. This book is a must read for young and old.
Rating:
Summary: Her work keeps getting better and better
Review: I read Redemption Song by Ms. Berry and thoroughly enjoyed it. I found myself, however, longing for more more more! More details, more filling out of the story. Yet, it still touched me deeply. In Hip Hop, I got more of the satisfaction that I craved. I liked the short chapters, because Ms. Berry gets to the point and gives you lots of cliffhangers. Ava kept me rolling. I loved Dora, have known people like Charles. Would have liked Freedom to be a little more fleshed out, but got the gist of him. Many excellent points made and I have shared the book with those I know who are involved with the hip-hop industry. I would have given 5 stars, but again, more details-how did the characters dress, more about how they look, what did their homes look like? I like to be able to "see" the whole story. Keep up the great work and thank you for speaking to a very much needed topic!
Rating:
Summary: A Spiritualist's Feast
Review: I read this book in one day. Berrry's narrative style is smooth and compelling. She manages to get her point across without preaching. A fantastic mix of spiritualism and hip-hop. All African American bibliophiles should have a copy of this in their libraries. This will be on my required reading list in the fall.
Rating:
Summary: Impressive Work!!!
Review: In the "Haunting of Hip Hop", Berry creates a prolific story filled with mystery, drama and intrigue. Harry "Freedom" Hudson is a successful twenty-something producer of Rap and Hip Hop. Ava Vercher is Freedom's thirty-something lawyer, who is a hard hitting, anti-establishment, independent attorney who handles all of Freedom's affairs, including the purchase of a house on Tubman Terrace in New York, that Freedom is inexplicably drawn to, and is rumored to be haunted. The story unfolds when Ava and her childhood friend, Charles Campbell, an attorney who happens to represent the owner of the house, confront "The Gathering" of spirit memories who have put a call out to Freedom so that their stories could be told.
I loved Berry's writing style, as well as her plot and character development. The story, however, lacked a little substance. For example, Freedom's story and purpose were not completely developed. Also, it was not clear to me who the central character was, Freedom, Ava or Ngozi (the spirit of the captured African slave who desired to pass on the "beat" from the ancestors). I believe that Berry sacrificed "bite" for "breveity" and should have greatly expanded this very intriging tale. The "Haunting of Hip Hop", was still enjoyable and had a message that was clear and direct.
Rating:
Summary: A constructive criticism of Hip Hop
Review: The Haunting of Hip Hop bye Berice Berry was a very insightful outlook on modern day pop culture. By creating the character of Freedom, a rapper who wanted to use his music constructively but needed to produce what was popular first, is a very common theme. The uniqueness of the novel was that every other chapter refered back to the older times of slavery when the drum, and the beat of music was used to bring different captives together by using a universal language. By connecting the two storylines realistically, and making Freedom realize the true effects of his music. Bertice Berry brought up a very interesting view on the negativity produced from rap and the affects on todays youth. The Haunting of Hip Hop was a very interesting and entertaining novel.
Rating:
Summary: A Positive Message....
Review: The Haunting of Hip Hop is a quick and captivating read. I finished it within a few hours and really enjoyed it. Again, in the same style of Redemption Song, Berry, intertwines the past and present masterfully. The essence of the story is that of the spirits of the past manifesting themselves out of the need tell their stories to the living in an effort ease the pain, bring peace, and resolve issues that plagued their lives. There are many lessons taught in this story, however, the focus is on the spirit, Ngozi, an African slave, and his desire to bring back the love, passion, and true unifying purpose that the drums of African once did in his beloved homeland. He feels that the drums/beats have been misused and corrupted and he must connect with super producer, Harry "Freedom" Hudson before its too late. There were some surprising twists in the plot as each of the supporting cast experiences their own awakenings. I was disappointed in some of the conclusions, but it was a great work nonetheless...highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: If I Could Give This Book 4.5 stars, I Would!
Review: The Haunting of Hip Hop is a small but powerful little fictional book that reads like non-fiction. Harry "Freedom" Hudson has the Midas touch and creates hip-hop success with every collaboration and production. One day he decides that he must have a certain house in an old Harlem neighborhood...although the house is old and run-down it seems to be calling his name. There are rumors that the house is haunted, however, Freedom isn't fazed and he requests that his lawyer, Ava Vercher, do research to purchase the house. Ava has heard about the house being haunted as well, so she decides to enlist the help of her childhood friend, Charles to go and check out the house. When Ava and Charles enter the house, they are unprepared for the group that meets them. Lo and behold, the house is truly haunted and ...these "spirit memories" include Ngozi, an African drummer whose life was brutally interrupted by slavery; Bella, a singer murdered by her white gangster lover; and Johnny, a boy who was killed by his father. Ngozi wants to pass down his beat--which contains the love that has gone out of rap music--to Freedom, while Bella just wants revenge. However, all of the spirits are waiting for Freedom to arrive so that they can take him under their wings. The Haunting of Hip Hop was a fascinated and intriguing read. I sat down with this book on a rainy afternoon and became so engrossed by it that I was finished in a few hours. I enjoyed the symbolism of the drum and the tie to rap music. I liked how there was an ancestral tie to the present, and how the materialism and exploitive spirit of Rap was being haunted by the past. However, I was a little disappointed that after Freedom entered the house the pace of the story slowed down and sort of fizzled out. Additionally, I didn't like how Freedom's character transpired. Overall, Haunting of Hip Hop is a fascinating and powerful little book from Bertice Berry. I recommend this book as well as Redemption Song for your reading pleasure.
|
