Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion

If you would like to lead the discussion this month for Razorblade Tears, please let me know.

ColumbusReads wrote: "If you would like to lead the discussion this month for Razorblade Tears, please let me know."

Looks like you have a volunteer in member Shayne. Re: message 27 in the March member book poll nominations thread. I'll let y'all take it from here...

BTW...I've started and am enjoying it..a change of pace.

William wrote: "ColumbusReads wrote: "If you would like to lead the discussion this month for Razorblade Tears, please let me know."

Looks like you have a volunteer in member Shayne. Re: message 27 in the March m..."

Oh thanks, William. I missed that.

William wrote: "BTW...I've started and am enjoying it..a change of pace."

If you don’t enjoy this book I’m sending some aging ex-cons by the names of Ike and Buddy Lee your way.

ColumbusReads wrote: "William wrote: "BTW...I've started and am enjoying it..a change of pace."

If you don’t enjoy this book I’m sending some aging ex-cons by the names of Ike and Buddy Lee your way."

Quite the resourceful pair for sure!

Razorblade Tears is our March discussion book and I’ll be upfront and tell you what I told William; If you don’t like this book then expect a visit from Ike and Buddy Lee real soon. You’ll have some explaining to do.

No, seriously, who out there has read this book!? I read it twice - a physical copy and audio. I’ve listened to less than 5 audio books in my life, but if they were all this good I would listen to them more. Adam Lazarre-White does the narration and he is pitch perfect. A gem!

I started it yesterday and it was love at first page! The writing, the dialogue ... it's sooo good!

Hi everyone, I am leading the discussion for this month for Razorblade Tears. Really looking forward to this as it has amazing reviews online. Unfortunately, my book hasn't arrived yet (ordered last week and due to arrive tomorrow) so I'll post a reading schedule over the next few days. I'll post up a synopsis and some links to reviews later on this evening (I'm in the UK) and hopefully that can get the discussion started.

Thanks Shayne! Looking forward to this.

Has anyone read any of his other novels or short stories? I have his book Blacktop Wasteland but haven’t gotten to it yet. I will though.

Just started it and 4 (very short) chapters in I am
*staggered* by the high quality of the writing. Definitely looking forward to this!

This has such interesting characters and story, and the dialogue and interaction seemed real. I read this right after enjoying “A Hell of a Story.”

I finished the audiobook this week. Wow.

This book is amazing! He has become one of my favorites. His other book Blacktop Wasteland is also amazing. He his ability to thoroughly develop his characters is truly a gift!!!

Hello all, i’m gonna set up a reading schedule for now and hopefully Shayne will be able to take over later.

There are 44 chapters in the book. How about we discuss as follows:

Chap 1-15 thru 3/10
1-25 thru 3/17

Entire book open 3/18

This book takes off from the very first chapter and never lets up.

Paragraph 1: Ike tried to remember a time when men with badges coming to his door early in the morning brought anything other than heartache and misery, but try as he might nothing came to mind.

Detective’s LaPlata and Robbins proceeded to ask, “ do you have a son named Isaiah Randolph?” Ike, knowing his life would never be the same.

Initially i thought his reaction was just that of a grieving dad. Later on i wondered how much of it was guilt for how he treated his gay son.

I’m 40% in now and my mouth is constantly agape while I read. I hope a Hollywood comes calling and makes a movie of it.

Any potential casting ideas for Ike and Buddy Lee?

Maybe Idris Elba for Ike? Not sure who could play Buddy Lee…

I imagined Todd Lowe as Buddy Lee ...

I imagine Idris Elba and Woody Harrelson.

You may have to send some ex-cons my way 😂
I really didn’t like this book, but I really wanted to like it.
I wasn’t a fan of the dialogue, the author’s writing style and descriptions, and I wasn’t a fan of the plot buildup. I found that it was too quickly paced for the action that it contained.
I heard such good things about the book and I was a fan of the overall idea of the plot and it sounded very exciting, but everything else took that away for me sadly.

I may have read the book too soon. Now rather than specifics I have a movie-like recollection of the events and plot.

I'm wondering if anyone has parsed the source of both Ike's and Buddy lee's rabid homophobia? Neither came around to loving their sons until after their vicious murders. (That seemed a little improbable to me. More likely they would have said they deserved it and attributed it to their lifestyle.)
While Richmond, Va. is not a deep South hotbed of religious fundamentalism it was still the capital of the confederacy and is culturally aligned with conservative Christian dogma. What shaped these fathers to be who they were? Ike's prison time? Buddy Lee's flirtations with motorcycle gangs and trailer trash? I always think that when folks are over the top fanatical about something most likely they are despising that which they see in themselves. And Ike and Buddy did have a bit of a romance wouldn't you say?

ColumbusReads wrote: "Razorblade Tears is our March discussion book and I’ll be upfront and tell you what I told William; If you don’t like this book then expect a visit from Ike and Buddy Lee real soon. You’ll have som..."

I have both the audio and eBook versions. I hope I will like this book since I have to face ex-cons named Buddy Lee and Ike, "don't eat the cake Anna Mae." I just started and will see where it goes.

ColumbusReads wrote: "Has anyone read any of his other novels or short stories? I have his book Blacktop Wasteland but haven’t gotten to it yet. I will though."

No this is the first time reading this author. I think I selected this for the book read too. I hope to like it.

I listened to Blacktop Wasteland when it first came out. It was a five-star read for many of the same reasons I loved Razorblade Tears…great writing, propulsive action and wonderful, and complex characters you kept rooting for no matter what.

William wrote: "I may have read the book too soon. Now rather than specifics I have a movie-like recollection of the events and plot.

I'm wondering if anyone has parsed the source of both Ike's and Buddy lee's r..."

I can't say that I am a fan of the author's penchant for excessively describing the extreme violence, it feels sadistic and dark. I have not read any of his work before but my personal view is that most, if not all, homophobia derives from religious fundamentalism/dogma.

I believe both Buddy Lee and Ike are suffering from huge guilt trips (Ike even more so from the opening 15 chapters). It's a difficult one because does a cause amount to justification / understanding / acceptance? I personally don't think it can or should.

Both men feel ostracised and as though their conception of masculinity is being attacked (how or why only heaven knows) hence their need for unnecessary levels of violence. From reading the opening 15 chapters, I wonder the author's message in fictionalising such extreme violence and telling the narrative of Ike and Derek's stories through the lens of two homophobes (albeit seemingly reformed). This doesn't feel right but it is this discomfort which makes me intrigued to know more about Ike and Derek.

I also wonder where the author is leading us: we have two gay men in an interracial relationship who have been killed (race and sexuality being the taboo here) juxtaposing the lives of their fathers in the search for their son's killers (race and class being the taboo in their case).

Gitte - Bookworm's Closet wrote: "I imagined Todd Lowe as Buddy Lee ..."

For some reason I imagine Bernie Mac and Hugh Jackman

Shayne wrote: "Gitte - Bookworm's Closet wrote: "I imagined Todd Lowe as Buddy Lee ..."

For some reason I imagine Bernie Mac and Hugh Jackman"

I like that combo

The story is excellent, but the dialogue drove me nuts. It didn't feel real.

I’m about 100 pages in and what a story. 👏🏾

I chuckled at a fictional novel that speaks on another one: these fathers are not detectives, or even an Easy Rawlins ( which this fictional character comes from Walter Mosley's "Devil in a Blue Dress", continues as an ongoing series that I greatly enjoyed when I read it.)

Do you think the fathers' are going too far for their sons who they did not approve of their same sex marriage or lifestyle?

Det. LaPlata even tried to warn Buddy Lee of such, and people always try to say, "do you have kids" as if it changes the dynamics or justifies their irrational actions. Do you agree with La Plata's reasoning, or rooting for the fathers' finding their son's murders no matter who gets hurt or killed?

*I am nearly at 25 chapters this week. I had a lot of catching up to do in less than a week.

Alisha wrote: "The story is excellent, but the dialogue drove me nuts. It didn't feel real."

Why did the dialogue drive you nuts?

Adrienna wrote: "Do you think the fathers' are going too far for their sons who they did not approve of their same sex marriage or lifestyle?

Det. LaPlata even tried to warn Buddy Lee of such, and people always tr..."

Yes, their attempts smack of desperation and guilt but I have no idea how their endeavours will pan out?

I can't help but think there's another agenda for their efforts other than their guilt which both clearly express. I feel that both of their backgrounds (involvement with gangs and being in prison) are also part of the reasons why they're going so far to find the murderers. From where I'm at so far, it seems too little too late.

I'm with you Shayne on that. The guilt trip and spending time in prison/jail does something to you when you cannot be there for your family and/or those you love.

I also chuckled when it called Det. LaPlata an "egg roll"; yet he is to be of Asian descent, but not Chinese (according to Ike). Sometimes I wonder how Ike puts up with Buddy's racial-targeted comments, yet makes it seems like he is joking or sarcastic.

Shayne, no I do not think the father’s are going too far to avenge the murders of their sons. This book is loaded with intersectional themes. When racism, sexual orientation, classism, judicial system, addictions, and trauma collide you will always find individuals who will make sometimes irrational (to some) decisions in an effort to navigate through trauma. Additionally, the father’s are not only dealing with how they treated their sons, or their parental missteps, but they are dealing with many ghost from their past and their inability to have substantive relationships, and likely they never had to think about “what would happened if someone…” Considering both of their experiences with law enforcement, or the penal system, it’s clear (at least to me) that their plight has quite a lot to do with their experience with the law and knowing that police would likely, not spend time trying to figure out who murdered their sons. One, the one son was black both both sons identified as gay or queer (sorry i don’t remember exactly how they identified and I’m not trying to be disrespectful) and the setting did not welcome diverse lifestyles. It’s the raw emotions that is driving them. Raw emotions sometimes overrule logic.




fuel was

DRenea wrote: "Shayne, no I do not think the father’s are going too far to avenge the murders of their sons. This book is loaded with intersectional themes. When racism, sexual orientation, classism, judicial sys..."

DRenea, as a writer, I personally write about combatting homophobia. In my first novella: "Jasmine Breeze," the main characters conceal their sexual orientations. Too many families condemn their children for being gay. These books reflect art imitating life. Countless suicides and bullying occur because people want to love his or her same gender or even change their sexual identities. Now, we have legislation punishing the LGBTQ community for free expression. Everyone has the right to be free and no one has the right to judge anyone for his or her sexual orientation. Conquering homophobia is one of the reasons why I write. I also want to eliminate racism and religious oppression. Sadly, religious oppression is the main culprit for causing such chaos in homosexual communities. God created everything and God is love.

Marla, that sounds amazing. I believe I may have offered to review, but if not I will put your book on my list of tbr. Keep writing, allowing love to brighter this world.

Thank you, DRenea. You are so inspirational! You did and I am waiting for you to send me your address, so I can mail you a hard copy of my novella for review.

On the real, I have family members living lies and not being their authentic selves because of their fear of coming OUT! This subject is personal, but it is also a universal problem. I am very passionate about this topic, please excuse my emotional rants. LOL! Be blessed!

Alisha wrote: "The story is excellent, but the dialogue drove me nuts. It didn't feel real."

I agree, the dialogue was too preachy for my liking. But it's a great fast-paced action story. This definitely feels like a story that belongs on the big screen. I'm happy for the writer. You don't see many action films written by black men.

Agreed. I think it’s gonna make a heckuva movie!

Thank you Shayne for moderating and everyone who contributed to the March discussion. It seems like the reaction to Razorblade was mediocre to positive for the most part. I could quibble with some things about it but I really enjoyed this book. It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read in this genre. At some point and hopefully this year I’ll get to his Blacktop Wasteland. Has anyone read that one? Any final thoughts on the book? What did uou think about the ending? Will you read more from this author?

I hope to read his other book

S. A. Cosby won several awards at the International Thriller Awards convention. Best Hardcover and also audiobook. I read both the physical copy and listened to the audio narration by Adam Lazarre-White as well. He is amazing and this was one of the very few times I actually listened to an audio book. Congrats to Mr. Cosby & Mr. Lazarre-White!

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-an...

@ColumbusReads, you had asked about Cosby’s first novel, Blacktop Wasteland. I listened to the audio and loved it shortly after the book out. Although car chases are not normally my thing, Cosby pulled me into his story and kept me riveted. I’m happy and not at all surprised to see the awards you just posted and will be keeping an eye out for S.A. Cosby’s next book.

I read BLACKTOP WASTELAND. I didn’t think it was as compelling as RAZORBLADE TEARS but I think they both will make incredible movies.

I am looking forward to seeing what his next book is about!

S. A. Cosby wins again! This time he takes home the Dashiell Hammett Award given annually to “the book of the year that best represents the conception of literary excellence in crime writing,” for his novel, Razorblade Tears. Kudos!

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-an...