Reviews

Midnight: A Gangster Love Story by Sister Souljah

m4k_f33's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A book I always come back to. It’s powerfully written from an accurate POV. I love the unexpected plot, the adventures and growth from Midnight. Highly recommend if you’re a fan of escapism!

the_chocolate_print's review against another edition

5.0

One of my all time favorite characters.

mami5418's review against another edition

5.0

I hope there is going to be a part two becuase she left you hanging with nothing. Come on Sister Souljah. Keep writing Midnights life. GREAT BOOK

_shankindlebooks's review against another edition

5.0

Very good read.

I would recommend this book. The story line was great. The respect to different culture was greatly appreciated. Can’t wait to read the book

knit3314's review against another edition

5.0

I just finished this book. I have been reading it non stop a little each day. Everytime I put it down it was because I had to but I didn't want to. I wanted more of Midnight and his story. I found myself thinking at a much deeper level about topics the author weaves into the plot. I also kept forgetting that Midnight was only 14. I was so enthralled with this story and each of the characters. This is the first book I've read by Souljah and I'm so glad I've found her talented writing. I have pre-ordered the sequel to this book, just seconds after I finished it. I need more of this story, this family, this author. I'll be checking out her other books already published while I wait on more Midnight.

shanaetheflyest's review

1.0

I felt duped when I bought "Midnight." Sister Soulja is a damn conartist. She advertised "Midnight" as a sequel to her great novel, "The Coldest Winter Ever," but I'm telling you it is NOT A SEQUEL! If anything "Midnight" is a prequel to Midnight's life. Sister Soulja used the entire novel to degrade African Americans and question their Christianity. Heads up Sister Soulja: Not everyone is a Muslim or lover of Islam. Sister Soulja is a pseudo-intellectual hypocrite who uses the capitalist regime she so greatly "dislikes" just to get money. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK! I REPEAT, DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK - save yourself the frustration & upset at the prospect that Sister Soulja could write another "The Coldest Winter Ever."

mlwright's review against another edition

5.0

I really enjoy reading this book. I absolutely think that Sister Souljah is a really gifted writer, from the very beginning she already got my undivided attention with her words. I thought also thought the author's cross-culture knowledge was so good. She does not only take you to the hood in Brooklyn but she also takes you to Sudan, the Muslim faith, and to Japan.

I thought the story between Midnight and Akemi was really good. I think it is one of the most unconventional love story I have read so far. Midnight made me understand a whole different culture outside of the American norms I know. He makes me question faith and culture at the sametime. Midnight is def a character that you fall in love with and wish that you had a boyfriend so dedicated and real.

I also believe Midnight teaches you about real life and what we should value.

teenicholereads3's review against another edition

3.0

I read this book in my early twenties and liked it then. I decided to read it again ( for context I’m 39) and my opinion of the book completely changed. Midnight comes off as very arrogant and knowing everything at only the tender age of 14. The book doesn’t really go into why they suddenly had to leave Sudan and why the father wasn’t with them. Which strikes me as odd, considering the way Midnight puts his father ( and mom) on a pedestal. He always talks down about the “Black Americans” around him, especially the woman, but inherently he kills two men just like the Black men that he talks down on. And I don’t get why he thinks he’s so mature to take on a wife. Again, reading it definitely gave me a different perspective from reading it when I was younger. I’m on the fence about reading the second book… I don’t like unfinished stories, so I’m curious to see how Sister Souljah continues his story.

tajia's review against another edition

2.0

I wanted to like this book, I really did, but I couldn’t. But I’ll start with the high notes: the erring itself is good. I really enjoyed the visuals of the neighborhoods, hearing Midnights thoughts, and how you could float right into his world. I even like the contrasting of Islam in America and somewhere else, and may do my own research into that because it’s just fascinating to think anout. But even all of that couldn’t save the book for me. I understand that Midnight could be an unreliable narrator; as a writer, as a teacher, I understand the technique. But after reading reviews of the other books and seeing this is a CONSTANT thing, I don’t think I’ll be continuing it. How he portrays not just women, but Black women specifically is horrid. The fact Bangs is raped by an Uncle and he STILL finds her “unhonorable” sealed the nail on the coffin for me. Even at 14 I understood rape and the mental effects it has, I could only assume that for as mature as midnight is he could too. Then how he portrayed Asian women as this perfect archetype who could do no wrong—-a Black woman is sarcastic and it’s a testament to how despicable they are, but an Asian woman does it and suddenly it’s so cute to see how mad they are? A black woman shows skin and it’s horrible but an Asian woman does it and it’s adorable? Yeah, no thank you for me. It was honestly too much, and I couldn’t get passed it, especially reading interviews from the author and...it didn’t get better. This might be a serious and an author I can’t get behind.

bookwhore_03's review

emotional mysterious relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0