Thanks

Just wanted to say thanks for the support. I reached over 100 hits my first month blogging. Let's triple that. So tell a friend. -EG

The One That Got Away

The One That Got Away

By: C. Kelly Robinson

My overall critique of C. Kelly Robinson’s The One That Got Away is that it is a well written, real to life, stair-stepping 7 out of 10. The storyline, which is straight to the title follows a mid-thirty educated playboy reformed, Tony Gooden, chase after his college sweetheart, Serena. Did I mention Serena has two children (one that is a teenage case of puberty, emotions, and low self-esteem foolery) and a husband. Wait! The husband would be a rock in Tony’s way but he too has a few too many unfaithful issues that are all too typical for a man that was an athlete in college and moved on to the professional league.

I claim it’s true to title because Robinson provides each character with a realistic lifestyle, each educated and employed with an array of friends that truly know each other and can keep each other in check. My ultimate rating scored lower because Robinson who has the ability to put every character in your actual friendship/family circle, doesn’t keep me interested at least at the beginning. With only 272 pages, Robinson created a story with what I call stair-stepping drama. It wasn’t back to back or too much to seem unreal. There was also limited foreshadowing. However, by the middle of the book, the drama did come to life. For instance, a co-worker falls for another co-worker, an illegitimate child surfaces, family secrets show up, and a husband seeks revenge with the most unsuspected person. Robinson, I would say that…. (men watch this), you created strong male characters that support each other, take care of their families, and admit to their shortcomings in life and with women.

Yes, it is a bit of a love story with a soothing ending. C. Kelly Robinson, I applaud this work and look forward to reading more of your books. By the way, comment if you read this book or if you could move to another city to chase after the one that got away (oops that part of the book). Is there even “a one”?

As Always Keep the Pages Turnin’ -Eg

Oh, You Fancy, Huh: My Class Dilemma

Oh, You Fancy, Huh?: My Class Dilemma

By : Erika L. Green

 

Today, I need your help but not really. Lol I was reading an article today where the author said a guy asked her if she would move to a particular state. She replied (in her head) she would like to move back there, New York, but to the place it is now not the place she stated in when she was eating Ramen Noodles. He replies, “you too fancy”. Now those words made me think of a song (I heard played on the radio a zillion times as I traveled this past week) where the chorus says “nails done, hair done, everything done”, which implies this particular girl is FANCY!  I couldn’t tell you who the artist was but both the song and the article made me think of economic class issues.

In college, I remember watching an Oprah Show where she walked around Chicago asking people what class did they think they were in. I immediately told my girlfriend watching with me I know I’m middle class. I mean I had the two parent home, I went to public school but I never wanted for anything, pretty much everything in my closet hand name brands on it, I mean I even was a debutante (which had to coincide with middle to upper class). But to my dismay, I phoned The Green’s who responded with pure laughter. They replied we are probably lower class and at best upper lower… maybe working middle class. I watched the rest of the show and was a bit upset. I know what low class means, I thought. In the article I read, Ms. Andrews quoted bad language in connection to the lower class. I just thought that was for people from the hood. Fortunately, Oprah explained it to me. It all made sense after the show. I even set back and thought about how Sallie Mae had to contribute so much to my college fund. So are you too fancy? Do you even know what is your economic class? Well, I’ve included the definitions of the classes below and the links of the article and even the lyrics to the song. Be my guest to review both, and comment on your insight about class issues. I would love to hear it.

Class Breakdown:

Lower class: “working class”- term used to describe those employed in lower tier jobs (as measured by skill, education and lower incomes, often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below average incomes.)

Middle Class:  “professional managerial class”- Under Marxist theory, this is the ruling class or bourgeoisie; have reasonable amounts of discretionary income; salaried mental workers who do not own the means of production and whose major function in social division of labor is the reproduction of capitalist culture and capitalist class relations.” i.e. teachers, social workers, engineers, and nurses.

Upper Middle Class: higher status members of the middle class. Max Weber says it consists of well educated professionals with graduate degrees and comfortable incomes.

Source : Wikipedia

Article: Single Minded: Class Acts By: Helena Andrews

http://www.theroot.com/views/single-minded-class-acts?page=0,1

Song: Fancy By: Drake

http://www.directlyrics.com/drake-fancy-lyrics.html

P.S. I have read Helena Andrew’s book Bitch Is the New Black. I suggest if you like exposes about people’s lives in a bunch of mini stories , you should read it. It’s a comical view of her life growing up and getting through single hood, sort of. I give it a C rating. You be the judge.

 

As always keep the Pages Turnin’- EG.

Televise the Revolution: A Prison Strike is Going on Now

Televise the Revolution: A Prison Strike is Going on Now

Yes, you heard me correctly. The inmates in Georgia prisons have gone on strike in what is being reported as the largest prison strike in American History. I know you didn’t know about it. Apparently, the media has taken a break to report  Mariah’s twins or WiKileaks foolery but the reality is inmates in Georgia prisons have united for a good cause. The cause is to gain attention to some of the inadequacies in their prison system. My question to you is could there really be inadequacies in prison. The purpose of a prison system is for punishment. Therefore, inmates according to the public (my opinion of the public) should receive at best standard living conditions: food, housing, and clothing. What about the rehabilitation aspect of this process? Well, I believe that’s the crux of the inmates’ arguments.  They’re demanding wages for their work (citing the 13^th Amendment-Slavery), educational opportunities beyond a GED, as well as vocational and self-improvement opportunities- to name a few.  According to the article, “wardens started triple bunking prisoners in response to budge cuts- squeezing three prisoners into cells intended for one.”  I think they don’t have a bad argument. If some inmates will be returned to society, then I believe they should be provided a plethora of opportunities while in prison. I am not at any point advocating that they receive down mattresses and plasma televisions but they are humans. Humans that are being given an opportunity to reflect on their misfortunes and possibly change themselves. The most ironic part of this strike is the unity being shown by the inmates. One of their leaders stated “We have the Crips, we have the Bloods, we have the Muslims, we have the head Mexicans, and we have the Aryans all with a peaceful understanding, all on common ground.” Truly beautiful! But before I sing Kumbaya, My Lord, I urge with all sincerity and respect that individuals would gain such unity prior to entering the prison walls.

Now, here’s the link:

http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/41235/the-largest-prison-strike-in-american-history-goes-ignored-by-us-media/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+hackernewsyc+%28Hacker+News+YC%29&utm_content=Yahoo!+Mail

and let me know what you think (Post some comments). And as always keep the pages turnin’ –EG

Note: The article cited above is The Largest Prison Strike in American History Goes Ignored by the US Media by Joe Weber.