Midnight: A Gangster Love Story

by Sister Souljah

book data

183 ratings, 3.52 average rating, 81 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		32%
4		23%
3		16%
2		17%
1		9%

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published

October 14th 2008 by Atria

binding

Hardcover, 498 pages

isbn

1416545182 (isbn13: 9781416545187)

description

Sister Souljah, the hip-hop generation's number one author and most compelling storyteller, delivers a powerful story about love and loyalty, strength...more

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Midnight	1	6	05/26/2009 05:30PM
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12/29/08

Ebony rated it:

Read in December, 2008

I spent most of Midnight: A Gangster Love Story like, really? This character didn’t seem to do the things the Midnight character in Winter did. I kept waiting for things to go awry like in the other book, but there’s a huge gap in the stories. There’s no real drama; we need quasi-happy endings once in a while. I suppose there’s more intrigue that way, but both books read like commercials with all of the details about the material things. I wanted to get to the end so I’d know how th...more I spent most of Midnight: A Gangster Love Story like, really? This character didn’t seem to do the things the Midnight character in Winter did. I kept waiting for things to go awry like in the other book, but there’s a huge gap in the stories. There’s no real drama; we need quasi-happy endings once in a while. I suppose there’s more intrigue that way, but both books read like commercials with all of the details about the material things. I wanted to get to the end so I’d know how the stories matched but they never did. The other “really” came from the fact that a 14 year old kid behaves so manlike. I just didn’t buy it. I know the argument was because he wasn’t an American, but Midnight was a tough character to swallow whole. Plus, the pictures ruined everything. I wanted to imagine him in my head not see Souljah’s printed version. That kid on the cover looks nothing like either character I imagined when reading either book. The third “really” is Souljah’s self-righteousness. She can’t help herself from preaching. She talked so badly about African Americans and black women that I had to cringe. Did she become born a Muslim one day and I forgot to read about it on allhiphop.com? I was not comfortable with the way her characters privileged almost every other woman of color over black women. It was tough. Plus she argued that black women abort their babies and black men battle over territory that isn’t theirs as if that’s all we do. Americans are stupid and confused but African Muslims have all the answers. BTW I wondered why Souljah chose the Sudan as her backdrop and said nothing about its current state? Besides the lawyer, there isn’t one redeeming black female character in the whole story. Her main character loves his women but treats them as precious objects that he has to protect. They don’t get to protect themselves. They rarely get to speak and hell, he and the love of his life don’t even speak the same language other than sex which conveniently solves everything. The women are very childlike in the story. Not that I don’t act and want to be childlike sometimes but I’m saying the baby women obsession got to be played out after a while. It’s cool that Midnight’s women are creative and business minded even if they are dependent on him and the morals about purity and discipline and attention are good, but all in all, I think the scales tip on the self righteous side especially without a larger picture of postindustrial conditions and gender politics. There’s very little that challenges Souljah’s characters that’s outside of their control. The book is actually quite Larry Elder-like with the exception of her celebration of illegal and murderous activities to protect oneself and ones women. It’s an odd contradiction inherent to the hip hop generation and its products but I would have hoped that a woman like Souljah would have explained the larger more tenuous situation a bit more sophisticatedly than saying Americans have no discipline and morals.(less)

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12/10/08

British rated it:

Read in December, 2008

Ugh i just wrote a long review but oh well ha ha. I LOVED this book it was so good it gave me a chance to get to know nd understand another culture. I learned things that i would have to be there in person to learn. Their Believes were beautiful although there were somethings i did not agree with but i did agree with most of it. I loved the view on intimacy before sex. I feel the same way toward it but from reading this book it makes me want to hold on to mine even tighter then before, Although ...more

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9 comments

01/26/09

Demetria rated it:

bookshelves: fiction

Read in February, 2009

Sister Souljah is a talented writer and the idea of writing a novel based on a character (Midnight)from her best-seller "The Coldest Winter Ever" sounds like a great idea. However, there are a few things that prevent this novel from being great. One thing is that it's just too long. There are lots of really great books that are hundreds and hundreds of pages long, but what makes this book different is that the ending is incredibly unsatisfying. A book of this length should have taken r...more

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11/18/08

Anina Ertel rated it:

Read in November, 2008

I enjoyed this but had a hard time getting into it in the beginning, it was a little slow to me. Then it got better. But not as exciting of a read as Coldest Winter Ever and not really as relevant to Coldest Winter Ever as it was advertised to be, I guess. It's not a sequel, it's more of a somewhat related pre-quel that took a really long time to be writeen. So you know, I expected it to be really really awesome.

It's a situation of dissapointment not dissimilar to that new Guns N...more

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03/24/09

J.hill rated it:

Read in March, 2009

recommended to J.hill by: Mom Dukes
recommends it for: Anyone Male looking for a positive message about what being a Man is all about

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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01/20/09

Monica rated it:

This is Sister Souljah's book, who is about one of the characters in the Coldest Winter Ever, Midnight. Considering, a common denominator in both books, I thought in someway the books would cross paths, disappointingly that never happened. This book is much more laid back and closely resembles a biography as it traces the roots and upbringing of the character. He's age 7 and he's age 14, through an entire 500 pages. I didn't see the point. Overall their alot of great things in the book, as far a...more

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01/17/09

Adrienna rated it:

Read in January, 2009

Sistah Souljah starts off speaking about Midnight's family--Umma (mom) and dad sending his family off to U.S. from Africa (what ever happened to Midnight's father afterwards). Midnight's manhood arose at the age of fourteen, after discovering the hard-knock life in NY and few rumbles at the early age of seven.

In this book, normally do not see photos or images of people while reading the content especially in a fiction book. It brings the story more to life, feels more lifelike, and ...more

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02/02/09

Neil rated it:

Read in February, 2009

I read this because I wanted to understand urban fiction just a little better. As it turns out, this book is very hard on the audience for urban fiction, so I doubt it will do much but disappoint the people who have chosen The Coldest Winter Ever as an iconic book. But it's still an interesting book in many ways.

Written from the perspective of a 14-year-old Sudanese immigrant to the US, this is the story of a young Islamic man trying to navigate American, particularly African-America...more I read this because I wanted to understand urban fiction just a little better. As it turns out, this book is very hard on the audience for urban fiction, so I doubt it will do much but disappoint the people who have chosen The Coldest Winter Ever as an iconic book. But it's still an interesting book in many ways.

Written from the perspective of a 14-year-old Sudanese immigrant to the US, this is the story of a young Islamic man trying to navigate American, particularly African-American, culture while keeping his mother and sister safe. For political reasons not explained in detail, they've been forced to come to America to stay safe and Midnight must take on the role of man of the family very early, which in his culture is a very important role indeed.

In terms of realism, this is just plain silly: Midnight is, among other things, devoutly religious, a ninja-in-training, a successful businessman, a basketball star, a reader, a strong chess player, and a magnet for women of all ages. He achieves all of this because of his father's powerful influence, despite the fact that he never sees his father after age 7. He has a good mother who also influences him, but she can't speak any English and is completely sheltered from the real world by her son. Yet somehow Midnight is brilliant and never makes a misstep despite the fact that he is home-schooled from age 7 by a mother who is a complete fish out of water. He falls in love with a 16-year-old Japanese artist, in America for her show at the MOMA. She also loves him and they spend the book courting, despite the fact that she also doesn't speak any English. She also seems to want nothing more than to be sheltered and put on a pedestal by a boy with whom she can barely communicate. Even in simple terms of the number of tasks that Midnight can fit into a day, this book is fantasy writ large. Midnight is the truest kind of Mary Sue. He just can't do any wrong.

I found many aspects of the book troubling too. The book is almost universally critical of African-American culture, while completely glorifying Islamic Sudanese culture. Even worse, the women in the novel are written as if they could desire nothing more than be hidden away from the world and allowed to be creative goddesses, making babies and art but locked away from human interactions. Neither of the two main female characters seems troubled by the fact that they cannot communicate with anyone in the culture where they live. Only Naja, Midnight's little sister seems to bridle against his control, and even her revolts are minor. What would happen if Midnight was killed, or if he wasn't perfect and made major mistakes? One more disturbing aspect of the book is the casual way in which Midnight kills two men. Granted, they are not nice men (and despite the subtitle, Midnight is not a gangster), but in both cases Midnight kills them because of threats, not because they actually do anything of substance. Finally, don't even get me started on the idea that a 14 year old and a 16 year old could make a successful marriage. If you want to analyze this book deeply as realism, I don't think you can like it, let alone love it.

Yet despite all of that, I'm giving the book four stars. Here's why: First, this is a romance, a work of the fantastic set in a variation of the real world. Within the fantastic version of the world that it creates, it's internally consistent. This is a story told from the perspective of a character, and from his worldview, what happens here (despite it's improbability in real-world terms) is believable. More important, Sister Souljah tells an interesting story that kept my attention throughout, even at moments when I was shaking my head at the possibility of a young man like Midnight or the political subtexts underlying the romance.

This is a wonky, middle-aged white man's review of a book that is none of those things. But I was surprised to find myself, against all likelihoods, caught up in this story. (less)

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2 comments

12/10/08

Karentha rated it:

This was a terrible disappointment, do not buy this book, borrow it from someone and when your done advise them to take it back! This book is good if your interested in young, interracial, muslim love but other than that there was no real "Gangsta Love Story" like the title says!

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3 comments

11/20/08

Gina rated it:

Read in December, 2008

Man, finished this book, did not like the ending at all. Midnight comes to live in New York with his mom, Umma and sister Naja. Falls in love with a Japanese girl who doesn't even speak English. After falling in love with her and marrying her, her father takes her back home to Japan. That's how it ended. So dang mad at that! I would hope that there is a continuation.

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01/29/09

Carolyn rated it:

Read in March, 2009

I loveD this book. The wisdom of "Midnight" is on point. Sistah is on point with her manchild view of the world that he lives in. I would have loved if she brought the story to his involvement with "Winter's" father. Hmmmmm, maybe she'll write a part 2. If so, I'm looking forward to it. To all my fellow readers, enjoy!

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3 comments

12/17/08

Aja rated it:

Read in January, 2009

It is 3:10 in the morning and I just finished reading the book. I have a lot of unanswered questions! There has to be a sequel to this one. Does he get his wife back (at the age of 14)? Is he still 14 at the end of the book? What happened to his Father? Or did I miss it? Are they going to move into the house? Is Umma and her Sudanese friends going to open up their school? Ameer seems like a hot head is he and Midnight going to get into it? Is Midnight going to hook up with Bangs and make her a s...more

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04/02/09

4Alexis rated it:

Read in April, 2009

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Before even reading "Midnight: A Gangster Love Story", I just assumed that it would be based off of the character "Midnight" from "Coldest Winter Ever". Needless to stay, I was proven wrong. This book took me into a completely different world that I wasn't accoustemed to. Although I have mixed feelings about the rating of this book; overall I enjoyed it.

In the beginning of the book it took me into the world of Islam. I learned many thngs about their cult...more Before even reading "Midnight: A Gangster Love Story", I just assumed that it would be based off of the character "Midnight" from "Coldest Winter Ever". Needless to stay, I was proven wrong. This book took me into a completely different world that I wasn't accoustemed to. Although I have mixed feelings about the rating of this book; overall I enjoyed it.

In the beginning of the book it took me into the world of Islam. I learned many thngs about their culture that I wouldn't have learned, without the help of this book. It saddened me how Midnight was treaed when he first moved to the United States. He was made fun of and he had to fight to earn respect. I remember him saying how "back in his country he smiled at every man but here in America he couldn't let go or trust people here.

The thing I didn't like about the beginning was that it was a tad big confusing and seemed as if it was dragged along. I believe that Sister Souljah could've summed the beginning up more. Besides that I love the fact how Midnight's mother "Umma" became independent and started her own business. I really loved how Midnight respected his mother and truely cared for her. That's the type of bond that children should have with their parents.

My favorite thing about the book was the "forbidden love" that went on with Midnight and Akeemi. They both came from two different countries and cultures. Akemi an asian female who couldn't even speak english fell in love with a Muslim male. I found it so mind blowing that two people that spoke a different language could fall in love with each other. I would tell you how this love story ended but I want you to read this book and find out yourself!

In conclusion, "Midnight" by Sister Souljah was an excellent book. It had it's ups and downs but I really loved it. I would recommend this book to anybody, but especially to people who weren't born in the United States but have become citizens of this country. I believe it would be something that they could realte to on some levels.(less)

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01/04/09

Kate rated it:

Read in December, 2008

When I started working at my very first job out of college, everyone on the train--seriously, EVERYONE--was reading The Coldest Winter Ever. I finally picked up a copy and fell in love. It was trashy and fantastical in the best sense and was my introduction into what is euphemistically called "urban lit." And then Sister Souljah disappeared. Where did she go??? Still don't know the answer to that question, but 8 years later, she FINALLY published her follow up.
In a word, Midnigh...more

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10/27/08

Tameka Manns rated it:

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in November, 2008

recommends it for: Every One

Okay yall here is the thing. While I was reading this book I was upset because she didnt mention Winter or her family not even once in the book. Seeing that The coldest Winter Ever is and always will be one of the greatest books I have read. I was thrown off. But I continued reading the book. And no matter if I wanted to be mad that she didnt mention Winter or her family, I couldnt stay mad. This book was probley the most antisipated book ever. And it was also wonderful. The told this story and ...more

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03/23/09

4ciarah rated it:

Read in April, 2009

recommended to 4ciarah by: my mother
recommends it for: everyone who read "The Coldest Winter Ever" and any other Sister Souljah books

You can’t help but to love a book that has every thing you want to read. In “Midnight” I was able to relate and remember the occurrences in each book. My general idea of a great book is to captivate wonderful character, a versital settings and relatable relations. Though Midnight was different intellectually- I found my self reading it again.

The characteristics of people like Midnight, Umma and Akemi are interesting. Midnight is a type of person I never really heard of because ...more

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02/28/09

Blaise rated it:

bookshelves: fiction

Read in February, 2009

i read part of this book for work (we are doing mini genre studies) but i didn't finish it. it's an interesting perspective, the main character is from Sudan but moved to the projects in Brooklyn when he was seven. it provides an interesting perspective because he lives the "life" of a young african american kid in Brooklyn and the projects but he also has an outsiders perspective since he's Muslim, etc.
the one part of this book that drove me crazy, though, was the way the ma...more

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03/11/09

Irish rated it:

Read in August, 2008

I really couldn't wait for this one to hit the shelves. I was sorely dissappointed. She did a great job of developing the characters and getting you into who Midnight really was, however she never connected him to the previous book, "The coldest Winter Ever". I thought that was the whole point of developing the character. Then after reading what felt like a million pages just waiting for the connection...it dropped off without a real ending. You were left hanging, two-fold. Made ...more

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12/22/08

Jenn rated it:

Read in December, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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02/28/09

Katrina rated it:

Read in April, 2009

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

I have never disliked a book so much in my life. This book is problematic on a variety of levels. From a literary perspective, the poor editing and lack of a plot is sloppy. The characters are underdeveloped and generalized. Midnight, Akemi, Umma, and Naja are flawless. Everything they do is perfect. However, all of the other black women are hood, loud, and promiscuous, for no reason. I find it hard to believe that there wasn't a single decent black woman in all of Brooklyn. I'm not sure...more I have never disliked a book so much in my life. This book is problematic on a variety of levels. From a literary perspective, the poor editing and lack of a plot is sloppy. The characters are underdeveloped and generalized. Midnight, Akemi, Umma, and Naja are flawless. Everything they do is perfect. However, all of the other black women are hood, loud, and promiscuous, for no reason. I find it hard to believe that there wasn't a single decent black woman in all of Brooklyn. I'm not sure why Soulja doesn't have it in her to develop a strong black American female character, but I should introduce her to my circle of friends. From an activist perspective, this book is part of the problem in our communities. Soulja allows Midnight to murder people with no remorse, yet he is illustrated as what an admirable 14-year old looks like. Even with her poor explanations of why Midnight kills people, she acts as if murder is something easy and common. Is this the message we want to send your teenage audiences Soulja? Additionally, she writes very explicit and erotic passages about Midnight having sex, seemingly forgetting that he is 14. Again, without a clear purpose for the argument she is making through this story, I cannot pass this book along to my students and feel comfortable with them reading it. It's as bad as hip-hop music that encourages our youth to live a life of thuggery. It is socially irresponsible. I'm not sure why Soulja wanted Midnight to be 14, but I work with teenagers and while some of them do grow up fast, no 14-year old is like the character Midnight. And with the explicit sex scenes, its even more unforgiving that she insisted on making him 14. Reading child pornography is unsettling. Finally, the pictures were not only a distraction, but made the entire book a joke. Akemi was much more gorgeous in my head, and then I would see a picture of her and be disappointed by her beauty. The same goes for Midnight, who I loved in CWE, but the pictures in this book were not how I imagined Midnight at all. What was Soulja thinking with the pictures? What was Soulja thinking with this book??? And how is this character going to ultimately fall in love with Sister Soulja (remember the love letters Winter found in Soulja's room from Midnight)? Yea, explaining that one is going to be a stretch...(less)

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