Reviews

Black Gangster by Donald Goines

tip_be_knowin's review

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

mymercurialnature's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

4.0

articulatemadness's review

3.0

Black Gangster isn't Goines' strongest efforts as you can definitely tell his heroin addiction was interrupting his focus. It feels recycled, like the pages on the floor from Whoreson and White Man's Justice, Black Man's Grief for the side characters and plot points. Our main protagonist, Prince, is in and out of jail and keeps scheming to make moves when he gets out to be a kingpin of sorts. So he gets out, and then it turns into the precursor for Me and My Girlfriend, with Ruby being that ride or die that's down for whatever. The dialogue is very pressing, as the white characters in law enforcement talk like they belong on a bootleg Barney Miller show than in a Goines book. Then again, Prince and Ruby taking out everybody from the hood on the corner to the politicians they feel are in their way is just as hokey in a sense. And in true Goines fashion, no one gets out alive.

I'd say read it if you've read the classic Goines tales. Don't read this one first - put it towards the bottom of the heap.

devonashby's review

adventurous dark emotional funny tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0