B-Boy Blues: A Seriously Sexy, Fiercely Funny, Black-On-Black Love Story

My sister gave me the book as a Xmas present last year. I've read it 5 times, and everytime it gets "jooder." Raheim reminds me of me (I'm a bald ebony brutha, got a son, and work as a mailman), and my shorty is a compact cutie just like Mitchell. We been together three years and our lives are just like the characters -- dealing with class issues, family, friends, death, violence, falling in love, and having some damn jood sex (ain't it funny how heteros can have all the sex they want in books and no one complains, but as soon as two bruthaz get their groove on, folks get uptight?). It's like JEH has been spyin' on us! The story is DA REAL THANG. The only fantasy, myth, and stereotype has been created by folks who don't know how to read a book in context and make ridiculous comments about an experience they know nothing about. Don't diss the author because u can't hang, aight? JEH, don't u worry: the real bruthaz who know what time it is got yo' back! Thanks for givin' us somethin' to call our own. U DA MAN!!!

I have read this book a dozen times and still laugh and cry my way through it. James Earl has a way with words that bring his characters to life. Not once have I become bored with any of the B-Boy books, in fact I have read each at least 3 times. Read the book for what it is, "A sexy, funny and loving book about two men in love with, and loving, each other".

This book was like nothing I had ever read. The sex was very intense. I could not put the book down.It was great.

This book rocked my world. I sat on the couch reading the last couple of pages with my mouth wide open. If I could only use one word to describe this book, it would have to be "real". Sure it is a work of fiction, but it presents a love story featuring people whose voices we don't get to hear very often. I have spoken with some people who say that violence and graphic depictions of sex "killed their buzz." This may be the case, but I think they missed the point of the book. From reading some of Mr. Hardy's other work, I get the impression that he is very direct and leaves little unsaid. With that in mind, it is not suprising that the book deals with the collision of sex, love, rage, emotional distress, and anger in an explicit matter. The depiction of sexual activity was not gratuitous or pornographic. The sex and violence were raw portrayals of how men comparmentalize their life frustrations then attempt to express and resolve those frustrations. When people (not just men) decide to lay it all out there and resolve issues with the one they love, sometimes it isn't pretty. In sum, Mitchell's and Raheim's violent collisions were unfortunate, but necessary to strip away the crap so they could build a relationship based on love, trust, and respect. The discussion of racism and the objectification of Black men among white gay men was interesting as well. I am happy that Mr. Hardy chose to tackle this subject straight on, but Mitchell's anger struck me as a bit much. Although I agree with some of Mitchell's observations, he sometimes struck me as a high-minded hothead who acts before considering the consequences of his actions. It was obvious that Mitchell was a man who was beyond tired of the shabby treatment he receives from members of the Black and the gay communities. His behavior and reaction to white people was understandable, though a bit unsettling at times. Overall, this was a great read that sheds light on one slice of Black, gay life in Harlem.

James Earl Hardy, you go boy!!! I really loved B-BOY BLUES. It deserves a 12+!! At times, it was absolutely hilarious and at other times, it heartbreaking and sad. I read the book in a day and a half! Although I'm neither male or gay, I found myself relating to Mitchell (a.k.a. Little Bit) and Rahiem (a.k.a. Pooquie). My first boyfriend reminded me so much of Pooquie because he always had a "hard" exterior around friends but showed me the real person that he was inside. I also really loved this book because I found myself forgetting that the characters were two men. In reality they were two people going through the same ups and downs, good times and bad times as anyone else in a relationship. It was a true love story that had me captivated from the time I picked the book up until I finished it. I would recommend this book to anyone to read. It was "ALL JOOD!!!" I can't wait to read all of James Earl Hardy's other books!! I know they'll be "ALL JOOD" too!!!!!!