knit3314's review
5.0
I listened to the author reading this memoir as an audiobook.
I highly recommend this memoir to anyone who has an interest in authentic, honest, and cultural storytelling. The story flows so well form short chapter to short chapter. The reader has a front row in every page. And it has a great ending.
I appreciated the view into a culture I’m not familiar with, personally. It took 2 days with the audiobook (and interruptions) but I’m sure it’s a 1-day read in print or ebook.
Also, if you liked the memoir “Heavy”by Kiese Laymon you will love this.
I highly recommend this memoir to anyone who has an interest in authentic, honest, and cultural storytelling. The story flows so well form short chapter to short chapter. The reader has a front row in every page. And it has a great ending.
I appreciated the view into a culture I’m not familiar with, personally. It took 2 days with the audiobook (and interruptions) but I’m sure it’s a 1-day read in print or ebook.
Also, if you liked the memoir “Heavy”by Kiese Laymon you will love this.
bisaacson52's review
4.0
I'm always impressed by a memoirist's ability distill their experience into relatable detail - describing the who/what/where/when while also evoking the feeling of the moment AND providing a plot that pulls the reader along. Watkins succeeds with all this - the specific, emotive, and narrative - his characters jump off the page and the story flies along.
Watkins relates his experiences as a crack dealer from the perspective of someone who got out, who managed to tease himself away from the allure of money and prestige and eventually earn two post-grad degrees. Most essential to this, Watkins lets see and feel his Baltimore, from his perspective. This book will stay with me for a long time.
Watkins relates his experiences as a crack dealer from the perspective of someone who got out, who managed to tease himself away from the allure of money and prestige and eventually earn two post-grad degrees. Most essential to this, Watkins lets see and feel his Baltimore, from his perspective. This book will stay with me for a long time.
curl_curious's review
4.0
The Lowdown: Dwight "Dee" Watkins tells a harrowing tale of his life as a drug dealer on the streets of East Baltimore in the aftermath of his brother "Bip's" death.
The Good:This book was gritty, visceral and real. Watkins minces no words as he describes the drug life, the murders, the flashy lifestyle, the strip clubs, the grinding poverty. The portrayal of East Baltimore is a sad reality and testament to the devastating effects of housing segregation, crack cocaine, economic depression, strict federal drug sentencing guidelines, failing schools and overall lack of resources that plague many predominately black and brown communities.
The Bad: While [b:The Cook Up: A Crack Rock Memoir|27416063|The Cook Up A Crack Rock Memoir|D. Watkins|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1456091202s/27416063.jpg|47465150] is marketed as a memoir to me, as a reader, it felt much more like a collection of short stories and vignettes. Most of the writing came across as a bit disjointed e.g. Watkins would be describing how he and his drug crew were hanging in the cut, drinking, smoking weed or breaking down bricks and then the next minute Watkins would be at the strip club or buying a new whip.
I was also disappointed the author didn't delve deeper into his life after the streets. He mentions briefly in the very last pages of the book that he wants to be a teacher in E. Baltimore and, to my surprise and delight, I find in his duskjacket bio that he went on to earn two master's degrees and is a professor at University of Baltimore! A few chapters on his transformation from drug dealer to college professor would have been compelling.
Also, my Kindle edition was fairly rife with errors. Small grammatical errors that any good editor worth his or her salt would've caught. Not sure if the print edition has the same problems.
You should read this if:
-You're a fan of The Wire, David Simon's [b:Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets|18956|Homicide A Year on the Killing Streets|David Simon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432402772s/18956.jpg|3187942] or [b:The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood|18957|The Corner A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood|David Simon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388202800s/18957.jpg|20297] (all of these are great, btw)
-You like when a memoir "keeps it one hunnit" and doesn't gloss over harsh realities
Don't even bother if:
-You can't handle Ebonics or what I like to call "urban patois" or heavy slang and find this type of stylistic writing distracting. I think one reviewer said something to the effect of she felt like she was in the room or on the corner with "these people." (eye roll...that was the whole point). So if you have to look up what "sherm," or "yak," mean in the Urban Dictionary and find this too taxing...don't bother.
Overall, a 3.5 star read. Disjointed in some places but a quick yet disturbing look into the reality of life in East Baltimore.
The Good:This book was gritty, visceral and real. Watkins minces no words as he describes the drug life, the murders, the flashy lifestyle, the strip clubs, the grinding poverty. The portrayal of East Baltimore is a sad reality and testament to the devastating effects of housing segregation, crack cocaine, economic depression, strict federal drug sentencing guidelines, failing schools and overall lack of resources that plague many predominately black and brown communities.
The Bad: While [b:The Cook Up: A Crack Rock Memoir|27416063|The Cook Up A Crack Rock Memoir|D. Watkins|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1456091202s/27416063.jpg|47465150] is marketed as a memoir to me, as a reader, it felt much more like a collection of short stories and vignettes. Most of the writing came across as a bit disjointed e.g. Watkins would be describing how he and his drug crew were hanging in the cut, drinking, smoking weed or breaking down bricks and then the next minute Watkins would be at the strip club or buying a new whip.
I was also disappointed the author didn't delve deeper into his life after the streets. He mentions briefly in the very last pages of the book that he wants to be a teacher in E. Baltimore and, to my surprise and delight, I find in his duskjacket bio that he went on to earn two master's degrees and is a professor at University of Baltimore! A few chapters on his transformation from drug dealer to college professor would have been compelling.
Also, my Kindle edition was fairly rife with errors. Small grammatical errors that any good editor worth his or her salt would've caught. Not sure if the print edition has the same problems.
You should read this if:
-You're a fan of The Wire, David Simon's [b:Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets|18956|Homicide A Year on the Killing Streets|David Simon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432402772s/18956.jpg|3187942] or [b:The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood|18957|The Corner A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood|David Simon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388202800s/18957.jpg|20297] (all of these are great, btw)
-You like when a memoir "keeps it one hunnit" and doesn't gloss over harsh realities
Don't even bother if:
-You can't handle Ebonics or what I like to call "urban patois" or heavy slang and find this type of stylistic writing distracting. I think one reviewer said something to the effect of she felt like she was in the room or on the corner with "these people." (eye roll...that was the whole point). So if you have to look up what "sherm," or "yak," mean in the Urban Dictionary and find this too taxing...don't bother.
Overall, a 3.5 star read. Disjointed in some places but a quick yet disturbing look into the reality of life in East Baltimore.
hellokeila's review
2.0
I want to give it 2.5 stars. It was a quick read, corner boy story that was more hood novella than the crack community documentary style I was expecting going in.
ejdecoster's review
4.0
3.5, rounded up to reflect his overall work. Also he signed my copies of his zines, so! Watkins has a strong narrative voice, a certain directness that makes his writing extremely engaging. From what I've read of his, I tend to think shorter forms are a strength for him.
If you're familiar with Watkins some of this content may seem familiar, but there's a certain rawness, maybe bluntness, to the telling that read to me like these are still events the author is still grappling with to some degree, and the reader is taken along with the writer.
There's a bit on p. 58 where Watkins describes fiends lining up to buy drugs as "... kids, happy kids, because we had their candy." It's a poignant and disturbing comparison that really felt like a mind grenade - it will be rattling around in my head for a while.
If you're familiar with Watkins some of this content may seem familiar, but there's a certain rawness, maybe bluntness, to the telling that read to me like these are still events the author is still grappling with to some degree, and the reader is taken along with the writer.
There's a bit on p. 58 where Watkins describes fiends lining up to buy drugs as "... kids, happy kids, because we had their candy." It's a poignant and disturbing comparison that really felt like a mind grenade - it will be rattling around in my head for a while.
briarsreviews's review
2.0
This novel was intriguing, but not my style.
I found this book hard to read, despite the book being well written. The way the author writes the dialogue in this novel has the words written as how they would sound - any accents are written in, which makes some of the lines incredibly hard to read. This dialogue put me off of the book, and made it super hard for me to read.
The plot itself is very moving - someone on a good path straying faraway. It beautifully displays a realistic struggle, which makes this book very moving. It's authentic and an overall great book - so I definitely suggest it to those who are interested in realistic dramas.
Overall, this book was not a book written to my standards, but it is still an incredible book. I would definitely suggest others read it, I just wouldn't read it again.
Two out of five stars due to the difficulty of reading the dialogue. Still an amazing novel though!
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I found this book hard to read, despite the book being well written. The way the author writes the dialogue in this novel has the words written as how they would sound - any accents are written in, which makes some of the lines incredibly hard to read. This dialogue put me off of the book, and made it super hard for me to read.
The plot itself is very moving - someone on a good path straying faraway. It beautifully displays a realistic struggle, which makes this book very moving. It's authentic and an overall great book - so I definitely suggest it to those who are interested in realistic dramas.
Overall, this book was not a book written to my standards, but it is still an incredible book. I would definitely suggest others read it, I just wouldn't read it again.
Two out of five stars due to the difficulty of reading the dialogue. Still an amazing novel though!
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
patrick_114's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. Sizzling. I very much enjoyed this one. I am always grateful for deep looks into lives & cultures different than mine. In this one, I really felt the author’s respect for the many people in his neighborhood and life.
Also, the power of listening to an elder like Mr. Pete.
Oh, and I won this in a Goodreads free giveaway thing. I have been fortunate with the books I have won in these contests. Including this one.
Also, the power of listening to an elder like Mr. Pete.
Oh, and I won this in a Goodreads free giveaway thing. I have been fortunate with the books I have won in these contests. Including this one.
bananaface's review
5.0
I can't do this book justice, but everyone should read it. D. Watkins is incredible.