Rating: 
Summary: Kudos for originality... has a few flaws otherwise
Review: The Maintenance Man is a wild, fast read with refreshing originality. It attempts to describe the modern world of professional black America - and from a black man's perspective - a perspective that is underrepresented in the literary world.Unfortunately, instead of providing a fresh perspective, it tends to dwell on some of the ugly stereotypes: materialism, promiscuity, deadbeat Dads, a clannish "black professionals are BLACK professionals" attitude, etc. Perhaps the intended audience cares whether each character drives a Porche or a Range Rover and what brand of cologne each one wears, but I found that it started to wear thin. Also, it was a bit silly how the author mentioned various radio and TV shows in an obvious nod to any media outlet that has supported him in the past. Last nit: the editor needs to learn the difference between "then" and "than". :) That said, the fast pace and outrageous behaviour are guaranteed to keep the pages turning... not to mention, this is the first novel I've read that used "stone cold busted" in a sentence :).
Rating: 
Summary: Raw & Realistic
Review: I enjoyed this book. In fact, I read it in 24 hours. It was very entertaining reading. The plot moved along nicely and there was tons of dialogue. Sometimes, I think that some authors get too caught up in describing this or that. Baisden had a good balance of description and dialogue. I thought the fact that he told what music was playing was very important. You also have to understand the mentality of someone Baisden's and Malcolm's age. They come from a time period where music is just as important as anything else in the scene. It was a brilliant way to show what the mood was like--sedate, happy, irritated, etc. I thought this book showed a lot about the male psyche. I would recommend this book to any one.
Rating:
Summary: Highly entertaining, and mildly informative........
Review: I read "Never Satisfied" several years ago, and I walked away with the same impression as I did with Maintenance Man- in that I was highly entertained, and mildly informed. The concept of an older man flying from state to state sexually satisfying attractive, wealthy women is all new to me. I have a hard time believing that it isn't true, even though the author did not provide a great deal of detail outside of Malcom's clothes or method of transportation (outside of his bedroom skills). I didn't find the characters offensive, just realistic. There are a lot of people out that use sex to attract jobs, wealth, and material possessions. I enjoyed the friendship between Malcolm and his best friend Simon, especially with all of the back stabbing and deception that usually occurs. Reading about two men who support each other in both accomplishments and hardships, is not commonplace. I would have liked to explore Ariel's character a bit more, and to find out why such a beautiful, educated woman kept going to such lengths to find a man- but I assume the author wanted to show even with material success we all want to be loved an appreciated for who we are, and not what we have. Mr. Baisden did a great job of showing no matter what, when our emotions are involved we can easily fall into the role of being the player or the playee if we are not honest to ourselves about what we want from our mates......
Rating:
Summary: An entertaining, spicy read
Review: This is my first book by this author. In sum I'd say it's a fast, entertaining read. I was shocked at some of the "goings-on" in the book, but that added to its spice. I read it, while the whole time thinking, "hmmm...so this is how a man thinks." From that perspective, it was interesting as well. While the characters weren't very well-developed, I didn't think that took away from the story because it was a relatively short book. So, what we were given seemed to fit the story. I was shocked a few times when the characters did or said something that I wouldn't do or didn't expect. But it wasn't that it was unbelievable behavior, it was just that they were things I wouldn't do. Hey, call me conservative! I did have one small pet peeve with the book -- it seemed as if all of the characters were constantly listening to some type of music that the author felt the need to bring up. I mean, you walk into a room, he mentioned the music playing; you get into a car, he mentioned the music playing; a woman is cooking, and she's singing to the music playing! After awhile, that became a bit much. But aside from that small gripe, the book was amusing, entertaining, and spicy. Because of the lack of character development, I didn't get sucked into the characters lives, but then again...I didn't want to. I just wanted a quick, good read and I got that.
Rating:
Summary: Simply entertaining
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. No, it was by no means a classic, but it wasn't meant to be. Its just an entertaining story that you can read on a night when you realize that tv is just old. I believe that the characters could have been more developed and it had the potential to be an even greater novel. And though this book isn't a classic like so many of the critical reviewers compared, I would actually like to see a movie version with further development of the characters and maybe even the storyline. Not necessarily because I thought it was great, but because it is so original and nobody in the story is a saint. As far as its depiction of women, it isn't as insulting as many might believe. In actuality, you'll find that the women are the ones with the power. The ladies are also true to life in that they suffer from their own insecurities and loneliness even though they have all this money and success. If you are judging based on whether it is the next Signet classic than don't buy this book. If you are looking for an entertaining book that will keep your attention throughout without twisting your mind up in knots than by all means buy it or check it out. By the way, I can't tell you how much I loved the Simon and Cynthia storyline.
Rating:
Summary: Came through after all the hipe
Review: I had to check this book out after hearing Michael Baisden on the radio in Atlanta. This book was very entertaining, fun, easy to read, and excellent for black relationship conversations. You will have tons to talk about with your friends about the characters in this book. The ending was a little predicable to me, but I enjoyed the ride to the end. Most of the reviewers are right on with there comments. That this is a fun book to read but not the very best out there. I am sure Michael Baisden next book will be even better as he grows as a writer.
Rating:
Summary: Shows growth in author's writing
Review: This work shows a definite improvement in the author's writing skill in both style and development. As far as technique goes Michael Baisden exhibits some real growth with this piece of work. I read the reviews for the hardcover edition of The Maintenance Man and it appears that there were changes or improvements. Possibly, Scribner made some editing suggestions and they were implemented. In the first novel I read by this author (Men Cry in the Dark), I was very disappointed. I was still very disappointed in the portrayal of the female characters in this book. The women were still shallow and one dimensional. Even the supposed positive character Toni was easily swayed to leave her fiance for a gigolo. The male characters were even more disappointing. As a black female, I know that all men are not like Simon and Malcolm or even Teddy and the Reverend James. I still couldn'y help feeling disappointed that a black man would portray all the men in his book as poor excuses for members of the human race. Chris, too, was a simple minded man (and I use this term very loosely) who thinks with his sexual organ. However, like one reviewer of the hardcover edition of the book stated, this book is to be considered entertainment. I don't believe Mr. Baisden is setting out to write The Great American Novel, I believe he is merely intending to entertain. Mr. Baisden's book are a great catalyst for relationship conversation. Perhaps the books are intended just for that purpose.... to get folks talking about the state of relationships? As much as his technical style of writing has improved, maybe next Mr. Baisden will consider writing at least one positive character (male or female) in his next novel.
Rating:
Summary: Eye Opening
Review: I had heard so much about this book and saw the hardback cover so many times but until I heard Michael Baisden on V-103 in Atlanta this past week, I never thought twice about purchasing the book. I have to admit that when I read the back cover of this book, I thought to myself, a book about playing but by book's end, I saw things in a whole different light. Sure he talked about cars, sex, entertainment, the glamorous life, and high profile people but looking beyond the words on paper to the depth of the book and you'll see that this book is about life. This books talks about relationships and how we as people always try to get more and are never satisfied.
Rating: 
Summary: Fool me once , shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Review: Whew, I thought I'd never finish this book. I have been waiting a while to say this!! This book has no depth, continues to display society's view that it's okay for a man to be a "playa" while a woman is a "ho" for being "played", and shows what a sleaze the author is because he "played" us with this book, as well as his other two. This stated by the main character himself when he says something like: Women of the new millineum know how to work their bodies and calls them "white collar hoes". But do we forget that this same character gets PAID ($2000 a shot) to have SEX with women, ahem? Please, do not let this "man" get over on you by buying this book, if you are just itching to read it for yourself, borrow it from that "playee" that bought it.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent!
Review: This novel was one of the best novels I have read in a while. It gives a person an insight of the "player's game" from a male point of view. It was refreshing! Michael Baisden is an excellent writer! The story kept me entertained from beginning to end. It made me laugh, it made me cry. Five stars and a cookie! I have recommended it to all my avid reader friends!
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