The Day Eazy-E Died

JEH - Man oh man you make a sistah think. You know how I came about reading your books and I'm waiting on the 5th one. You keep up the great work, we need this voice to be heard, what ever the outcome. I am in love with the characters and feel for them. If B-Boys Blues and next time around weren't handed to me I might have missed a blessing. I can't remember which books of the series I voted on they all get 5's. This one was harder to read but I couldn't put it down. Peace and Jood Love! Be Blessed

Yo, could it get any JOODER than this??? I didn't know what to expect with this book -- when I heard about the title I was like...SAY WHAT??? But JEH, he knows how to keep us guessin' and keep us talkin'. Some of the convos folks have in the book about AIDS, racism, raisin' kids, even makin' that cash money I've heard or had with my peoples. I was cryin' so hard by the time I got to the last few chapters I had to get me some Kleenex. And given how brutha Rah is so detached from the specter of AIDS, even a non-homie like me could see why JEH took the course he did (too many of my "gay/queer brothers" would have a problem with it, since it doesn't address the issue from our perspective). So, the ending ain't pat -- it fits the flow and mood of the story. Don't fault the author just because you couldn't hang and weren't willing to take the journey with a brutha like Rah. We as Black folks got some serious class issues (ya never hear the same kind of complaints about B-Boy and If Only that folks be tryin' to trip with on 2nd Time and Eazy-E, so we know it's a boughetto thang, right?) Don't even sweat it, JEH -- the real bruthaz who know real lit written for them gotcha back. Just don't have us waitin' so long again for the next installment, aight?

The fourth installment in the lives of Rahiem and Mitchell centers around the issue that became a reality for our couple and everyone else around them-The AIDS virus. With Rahiem replaying his free lifestyle in his head before he met Mitchell, he began to realize that not everyone is invulnerable and that this is a disease that knows no boundaries. This is a serious point of contention when he learns from his closet friend that one of his past lovers is dying. Here is a novel that gets into the head of the character and starts asking questions where there aren't any clear-cut answers, basically 'how' and 'why'? The relationship with the dynamic duo still remains as strong as ever, and their love continues to keep their world moving, which is what anybody with a heart would want. Another successful novel, Mr. Hardy!

This novel was one of my better reads of 2001. In it Hardy tells the continuing tale of a young supermodel who is moved to take an AIDS test after finding out that one of his favorite rappers, Easy E has the dreaded disease. We are taken through two weeks in Raheim Rivers life, from the time he takes the test, till he gets his results. We are able to peep the nervousness one may go thru as they wait for what could be a death sentence, or a second chance at life, and in the process, given a beautiful look into the life of a positive, bright, talented gay black male, and his lover. One of the most enjoying things I found in this novel was the beautiful interaction between Raheim and his 6 year old son, and the good relationship he has with his son's mother, without the baby drama problem. All in all, the positivity in this book is what made it enjoyable. I must say though, that the build up to finding out whether or not Raheim was HIV positive or negative, and the climax, when the reader does find out, was like lighting a firecracker, waiting for an explosion of some sort, whether it be with the emotions that he would go through as he gets his results, or his reaction when he does, was somewhat lacking. I was left with yes, my question of pos or neg answered, but I didn't feel a climax emotionally from it. Although I'm rating this book a 5, I believe if I could, I would take .5 from that and rate it 4.5 because of that lukewarm ending, but all in all, this was a great novel. I look forward to reading Hardy's next one.JDaniels/The Nubian Chronicles--

It's been four years since the release of If Only For One Nite. Was the four years I had to wait for another book worth it? You bet it was! Once again, JEH pulls it off. It can't be easy writing a book with an AIDS theme that's funny but he came up with the right mix of biting social commentary and hysterical humor (those scenes with the racist clerk and in the barbershop are classics!). And, as with every B-Boy book, there's something to cry about (I won't spoil it for folks). We sure do need a story like this right now, with those frightening AIDS figures floating around. I'm glad JEH decided to show a brutha like Raheim getting the test done (too many thugz think it can't happen to them). More than anything, you can feel the love Raheim has for Mitchell; he's grown a lot since B-Boy Blues. And with all this talk about the "down-low," it's so jood to have a depiction of SGL bruthaz in a committed relationship. And I wanna know who that gay rapper in the story is! It's a short but sweet read, one that will leave you thinking hard about your own past loves and lovers and if you yourself should get tested. And given some of the revelations (I literally fell out of bed on one of them!), I'm pretty sure this won't be the last we hear of Pooquie & Little Bit (at least I hope not). Thanks, JEH, for giving the bruthaz yet another story we claim as our own.