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Driven
When an unseen tragedy occurs, Nasir's life begins to unravel and skeletons are soon jumping out of the closet. Nasir is young, haunted by his past and torn between street life and fatherhood. And with a new girl on the scene things are getting complicated.
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 29, 2017
Great Read
January 31, 2009
I'm at a loss as to what to say here. I did like the book although there was a small amount of time not too far in that I got bored. I was actually starting to think it might be a challenge to finish it when things started looking up.
One thing that annoyed the hell out of me was that Williams felt she had to define all the street slang and I'm not sure why. Everyone that I know/have seen who reads a book like this already know what 'being on E', 'bling', 'catching a case', 'creepin', and the rest mean. I guess she wanted to make sure though.
Anyway, the books main character was Nasir (which by the way is pronounced Na-seer) although at first the story follows Marv and Loretta who later become Nasir's parents. Marv is the typical street hustler, just with a little more values than the average drug dealer. His first priority is to take care of his family, even when he's pimping woman and cheating on Loretta every chance he gets.
Nasir's parents have to deal with some very dire circumstances when he's still only a few months old which are also the beginning of some problems that will stay with Nasir through his childhood and young adult life.
Nasir grows up and starts following his fathers footsteps and has to deal with the drama that it brings. The drama threatens a decent relationship he finally has with a decent woman who doesn't want any parts of any baby momma drama.
The drama is on par with your average street lit story but Williams did through a decent sized twist in there that some may have caught on to but that took me through to the end. I didn't figure it out until the very last page....and that was only because Williams out it out there herself.
She most definitely left things open for the sequel, At The Court's Mercy, which I'll have to read sometime soon, before I forget what all happened to Nasir.
This wouldn't be the frist book I'd recommend to someone if they wanted good urban fiction, it wouldn't even be in the top 25 but it is a decent read and worthwhile enough.
One thing that annoyed the hell out of me was that Williams felt she had to define all the street slang and I'm not sure why. Everyone that I know/have seen who reads a book like this already know what 'being on E', 'bling', 'catching a case', 'creepin', and the rest mean. I guess she wanted to make sure though.
Anyway, the books main character was Nasir (which by the way is pronounced Na-seer) although at first the story follows Marv and Loretta who later become Nasir's parents. Marv is the typical street hustler, just with a little more values than the average drug dealer. His first priority is to take care of his family, even when he's pimping woman and cheating on Loretta every chance he gets.
Nasir's parents have to deal with some very dire circumstances when he's still only a few months old which are also the beginning of some problems that will stay with Nasir through his childhood and young adult life.
Nasir grows up and starts following his fathers footsteps and has to deal with the drama that it brings. The drama threatens a decent relationship he finally has with a decent woman who doesn't want any parts of any baby momma drama.
The drama is on par with your average street lit story but Williams did through a decent sized twist in there that some may have caught on to but that took me through to the end. I didn't figure it out until the very last page....and that was only because Williams out it out there herself.
She most definitely left things open for the sequel, At The Court's Mercy, which I'll have to read sometime soon, before I forget what all happened to Nasir.
This wouldn't be the frist book I'd recommend to someone if they wanted good urban fiction, it wouldn't even be in the top 25 but it is a decent read and worthwhile enough.
January 8, 2009
When seeds are planted
So many AFRICAN AMERICANS have the misfortune of growing up without POSITIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE ROLE MODELS! People this is plaguing our youths futures...IT DOES TAKE A VILLAGE
So many people on the outside looking in judging others based on chromosomes...Isn't it funny how life is a cycle that consistently repeats itself? Only knowledge can break that spell....
"ONLY THE SHELL OF A MAN, PRETENDING TO BE A MAN!"
Here we meet Nasir, the product of a Hustler/Pimp and his main girl who's got some hustle inside of her as well!
DRIVEN to have a little something Nasir is into small stuff you know HUSTLING CD's DVD's just trying to help Mama Flossy, and keep himself in some fly gear, and take his girl to the Mo-MO! BUT dang all his money spent...
So now he's tired of being broke....there's nothing or no one to keep him from doing it SO....Nasir throws his hat in the game! MONEY is no longer an issue! FINALLY he can floss like he wants!
Money, Cars, Women...(((HOODRICH))) isn`t that usually how the game goes? After all Nasir is a PIMP by blood! That is until our PARK PIMP meets a real LADY and he FINALLY knows what it is to be in LOVE!
Now Nasir has it all! Or so he thought. Typical drama from the chickens claiming to all be filled with his precious seeds. Nasir isn't fond of them and doesn't seem to be looking back. But is it ever that simple? Not when the odds are YOU ARE THE FATHER! Having being tortured with the loss of his own father Nasir does right by his seed, and in away that jeopardizes his relationship.
Nasir has decided that it's time to make moves that'll change his lifestyle. But, can he continue to reroute his destructive path for the sake of his seed with so many people protesting his progress? WHO KNOWS....since this is only the beginning....
HAVE I SAID IT ENOUGH? I hate not ending a book when I close it! BUT KaShamba has you anticipating "AT THE COURTS MERCY" hopefully it'll drop in 2005 so we can continue our journey of Marvin Nasir Bundy II.
KaShamba, Stay ABLAZE.....
So many AFRICAN AMERICANS have the misfortune of growing up without POSITIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE ROLE MODELS! People this is plaguing our youths futures...IT DOES TAKE A VILLAGE
So many people on the outside looking in judging others based on chromosomes...Isn't it funny how life is a cycle that consistently repeats itself? Only knowledge can break that spell....
"ONLY THE SHELL OF A MAN, PRETENDING TO BE A MAN!"
Here we meet Nasir, the product of a Hustler/Pimp and his main girl who's got some hustle inside of her as well!
DRIVEN to have a little something Nasir is into small stuff you know HUSTLING CD's DVD's just trying to help Mama Flossy, and keep himself in some fly gear, and take his girl to the Mo-MO! BUT dang all his money spent...
So now he's tired of being broke....there's nothing or no one to keep him from doing it SO....Nasir throws his hat in the game! MONEY is no longer an issue! FINALLY he can floss like he wants!
Money, Cars, Women...(((HOODRICH))) isn`t that usually how the game goes? After all Nasir is a PIMP by blood! That is until our PARK PIMP meets a real LADY and he FINALLY knows what it is to be in LOVE!
Now Nasir has it all! Or so he thought. Typical drama from the chickens claiming to all be filled with his precious seeds. Nasir isn't fond of them and doesn't seem to be looking back. But is it ever that simple? Not when the odds are YOU ARE THE FATHER! Having being tortured with the loss of his own father Nasir does right by his seed, and in away that jeopardizes his relationship.
Nasir has decided that it's time to make moves that'll change his lifestyle. But, can he continue to reroute his destructive path for the sake of his seed with so many people protesting his progress? WHO KNOWS....since this is only the beginning....
HAVE I SAID IT ENOUGH? I hate not ending a book when I close it! BUT KaShamba has you anticipating "AT THE COURTS MERCY" hopefully it'll drop in 2005 so we can continue our journey of Marvin Nasir Bundy II.
KaShamba, Stay ABLAZE.....
January 1, 2009
Who's Driving Now?
Driven is the story of a young man who is unfortunately the product of his environment. The saying, "A son pays for his father's sins" is an accurate depiction.
What can you do when your father dies and your mother goes to jail?
You try and survive. That's Nasir's plan, but with so many people bringing him drama it becomes impossible to do.
Driven is a well told story leaving the reader anxious for the rest.
Driven is the story of a young man who is unfortunately the product of his environment. The saying, "A son pays for his father's sins" is an accurate depiction.
What can you do when your father dies and your mother goes to jail?
You try and survive. That's Nasir's plan, but with so many people bringing him drama it becomes impossible to do.
Driven is a well told story leaving the reader anxious for the rest.
May 22, 2008
i loved this book. It had me guessing through the whole thing. At the ending I just couldnt baelieve it. It was great
September 9, 2008
Nothing good can happen when a man has more than one girl
December 3, 2008
In my opinion, this was slow compared to other books I have read.
February 10, 2010
this was a good book.........though i found my self predicting it the whole way through it. this book is almost a must read
Read
December 24, 2007Great book!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews