Before I Let Go
Published August 27, 2004
Normally I don't read contemporary literature because it leaves nothing to the imagination, in my opinion at least. How many times can you hear about my baby daddy not paying bills, men cheating, women cheating and finding love and contentment somewhere in the middle? Obviously one million and one time is the record.
Darren Coleman sprinkles the male triflin' factor all through his novel. I assume in attempts to give some insight to the male psyche. Whatever the reason, the novel was a good read. Why? Because I flew through it. I wanted to believe that at the end waiting on me would be growth but Darren left me hanging. Hanging hard. By the end of the novel I am more agitated than when I started. There is no closure only more questions and frustration at men who can't make decisions. Do I feel that way about all men? No, but Darren's novel left nothing to improve such a train of thought.
The book follows three Black young professionals, Cory, the-born-to-be-a success type fellow. Brendan, the good-guy-who-just-wants-to-make-it type fellow. And Nate, the lead-you-to-kill-a-muthafucka type fellow. They all have some type of moral principle they abide by, but of course that moral principle is based on a foundation that caters to them getting laid.
For example, Cory, the professional often refers to family and being a role model but it is always in the context of how it makes him look to others, mainly women. Brendan is just all around confused, he's a sweet guy, but he is lonely and misguided. The women in his life seem to use him and lie to him, the only one who didn't was of course Renee the one whose heart he broke in the end. Nate is the dog in every sense of the term. And that's all I can say about that.
If a good book is measured by how fast you read it, then this was a good book. The depth was lacking but that's only for my personal taste. I know loads of people who would love this book because who doesn't love drama?
- Before I Let Go
- Published: August 27, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Books
- Writer: Dew
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