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Tuff
As fast-paced and hard-edged as the Harlem streets it portrays, Tuff shows off all of the amazing skill that Paul Beatty showed off in his first novel, The White Boy Shuffle.
Weighing in at 320 pounds, Winston “Tuffy” Foshay, is an East Harlem denizen who breaks jaws and shoots dogs and dreams of millions from his idea Cap’n Crunch: The Movie, starring Danny DeVito. His bes...more
Weighing in at 320 pounds, Winston “Tuffy” Foshay, is an East Harlem denizen who breaks jaws and shoots dogs and dreams of millions from his idea Cap’n Crunch: The Movie, starring Danny DeVito. His bes...more
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
August 21st 2001
by Anchor
(first published 1998)
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This one starts off with a literal bang. Our title character (“Tuff” is Winston Foshay’s tag name) regains consciousness after fainting in fear during a drug-den-invasion execution of his partners in narcotics crime. This combination of grim and comic characterizes the language and the events of Paul Beatty’s satirical look at East Harlem. Tuff is a twenty-two year old fat guy, married with baby son, living a dissolute street life that has landed him in jail from time to time. Wife Yolanda is n...more
In reading this book I debated with myself whether Paul Beatty was writing a witty portrayal of "Tuff" as an unsung urban genius or trying to show himself off as an unsung urban genius. I decided on the latter. The book was very funny- i'll give it that. But to me- the book wore on as it went on. I had to force myself to finish it. Maybe I am not as intellectual as Beatty but I just didn't buy how he used foreign and intellectual references to add to the characterization of Tuff. For example, I...more
Ghetto satire at its best. Paul Beatty is such a witty and retrospective writer without being annoyingly preachy. He manages to put some humour into almost every page without the book being corny. I love all the characters and their quirks. They all seem like people I know.
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11665637
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11665637
Frickin' hilarious. Laugh out loud funny. I loved this book, his writing is so witty. Love the characters, their dialogue. About to read Slumberland next.
I had high hopes for this, but it lacks the humor and sense of redemption White Boy Shuffle has. It was actually rather depressing.
As another review (Elizabeth) said, the writing was great; the story was not.
Hilarious--really hilarious--but ultimately a bit of a disappointment. The plot didn't measure up to the writing, and there were a number of scenes that seemed to be just randomly pasted in. I'm guessing Beatty has a few things in common with his protagonist--scads of potential but not that much discipline.
That said, it was a worthwhile read simply because it took me deep into a world unlike my own and made me laugh.
That said, it was a worthwhile read simply because it took me deep into a world unlike my own and made me laugh.
more gold by paul beatty
if this was the first paul beatty book i read, this review would perhaps, read differently. however, compared to the two previous things i have read of his, this just didn't compare. it didn't flow with the graceful stream of consciousness that i expected. while the story and the underlying story were great, the writing didn't grab me - i wasn't mesmerized - i was not pulled in like fly to glue ... it just wasn't as beautiful and mind blowing as i expected.
not as strong as "the white boy shuffle," but still an enjoyable read. in a way, there was so much going on that it seemed beatty didn't know what to do at the end so there's hardly any resolution or completion. love the writing style, the brash slang mixed with big ten-cent words, spanish, and japanese (this book had me all over the dictionary). i'd recommend it if you're into beatty, or if you're wanting a good, well-written romp through new york city.
May 15, 2013
Dave Baker
added it
Loved it.
I loved this consistently funny book full of outrageous dialogue and flawed characters. As a 300+ pound drug dealing thug, Winston "Tuffy" Foshay is an unlikely hero. Yet, in the end, his self-assurance, loyalty, and honesty win the reader and ultimately, much of his 'hood.
Aug 07, 2008
Jennifer
added it
this is such a good urban satire, Paul has all the chops. his poetry is over my head, i am pretty bright but there's definitly a ceiling on my perception level, so I was glad that he wrote a novel in a genre I understand better. Wise funny sad true.
First, I did not like the story, not in the least. Ghetto satire, fiction, etc. whatever does not appeal to me. However, I read this book because a couple of my friends really liked it. The writing was exceptional. The story was not.
It's hilarious. I'm sure I missed some stuff, but after having read White Boy Shuffle some of the Greek references were awesome. I loved the depiction of the best friend, a guy with a disability. Something quite novel.
fine, but forgettable. i remember one thing: the declaration that any contest that allows you to wear a watch (i.e., golf) should not be considered a sport. this was a very, very minor part of the novel.
Parts of this book were incredibly entertaining or touching, but overall the novel hit patches that were slow. I liked the concept of the book but wasn't crazy about the execution.
not as hard-hitting as the white boy shuffle but still a great read, at the very least for beatty's portrait of east harlem. hilarious too.
An endearing lead character and funny throughout but ultimately didn't grab me or affect me all that much.
one of my favorite of all time - overweight brother runs for city council in Harlem
Great follow up to "Shuffle."
excellent so far
I love Paul Beatty
Best Book ive ever read.
May 11, 2013
Laurel
marked it as to-read
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Feb 12, 2011 08:06pm