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4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 Urban Fiction doesn't have to be bad Dec 03, 2008
By mateo52
"invisible man"
Unfortunately, this book is a prime example of the worst of the genre. So bad that I feel the need to offer an open apology to the authors of any books I have ever rated at one star. My basic philosophy is every author has a vision that may gain enhanced clarity as the reader progresses through the text therefore it is unfair to arrive at an evaluation of any work without completing it. Never before has that premise been as thoroughly challenged.
The story is focused on one inner city youth struggling to survive under undeniably harsh conditions. When his mother is faced with impending death from a curable medical condition that ravages indigents of developing nations but tends to be ignored by western society he finds himself compelled to act to obtain the funds to cover her medical costs, by any means necessary. The author, Zangba Thomson, attempted to create a backdrop of class and cultural distinctions, ethnic differentiation and economic inequities. Unfortunately his writing skills are tragically inadequate to meet his ambitious objectives. In numerable passages he attempted to infuse social commentary on issues such as universal health care, abuse of authority by public servants, failures of public education and host of other concerns. His intent, while admirable, was obscured by ineffectual presentation.
The book was released under the imprimatur of Booksurge Publishing, an affiliate of Amazon and benefits from a professional review completed by Kirkus Discovery Review, evidently on a fee for service arrangement. While I cannot be certain the text was subjected to editorial review, I am convinced lucid peer review would have assisted. Mr. Thomson's manuscript was reminiscent of an average middle school student's theme paper, peppered with inconsistent phrasing, disjointed language and several examples of thought abandonment. He may have desired to emulate street savvy jargon but what was reflected is unrealistic , emblematic of inadequate research and highlighted the perils of merely cursory familiarity with grammatical structure.
I cannot recommend this book on any level.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 SECOND TIMES A CHARM Jul 23, 2009
By Professor D. Yousse
Going directly to the head of his class, Thomson needed two tries to get Three Black Boys right.
The Authorized Version, vividly superior by far than the previous edition, took me above and beyond my expectation. A little more effort and creativity on Thomson's part produced enough magic to satisfy me as a reader.
I recommend this book to everyone.
Professor D. Yousse
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Six Degrees of Separation Feb 14, 2009
By Priscilla C. Johnson
"bookmaniac"
Zangba Thomson, Three Black Boys, is the story of three friend growing up in Velt, a tough, inner city neighborhood. Everyone wants to get out but with no money, they have little hope. Until, Barnes, who appears to be the leader develops a plan to rob the neighborhood market for money. Though their intentions for the robbery appear to be good, the results are costly for all.
Thomson does a good job connecting all of the character to each other both directly and indirectly. This story was written very dark and intense. Eventhough it was a quick read, I found it difficult to read with many of the tense (past verse present) errors that were a distracting. This book is recommended for urban fans.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Writing 101 Dec 29, 2008
By Judy K. Polhemus
"Book Collector"
Let me get to the bottom line immediately: "Three Black Boys" is an excellent story but suffers from flawed writing.
As a librarian, when I saw that Kirkus Discoveries reviewed this first novel by Zangba Thomson, I was impressed until I researched Kirkus Discoveries. It is a pay-for-review service for writers who need a boost in their publicity campaign. It is not an endorsement by Kirkus Reviews, a separate endorsing entity.
Alerte, Carter, and Associates, Thomson's official publicity firm, says this about the novel: It is "an edgy novel that is as intense as it is pointed and dark. Introducing a unique brand of imagination, this fringes on the cuff of journal realism. This vivid, savvy, and altogether street-smart debut marks a bold new voice in literary fiction." (Correction: Alerte lifted this passage from the Kirkus Discoveries review on the back of the novel.)
No matter how creative reviews are for his book, unless that book can deliver, it won't sell. As much as I wanted to appreciate and like "Three Black Boys," I was disappointed by the writing. As an English teacher of 30 years whose fiercest work went into teaching writing, I can safely say that this book, in its present condition, should never have seen print. An editor saw to it that sentence structure was sound, that no blatant grammatical errors were made, but the quality of writing, the style, suffers from gross overdose of cliches and limp vocabulary. Saying that brains hit the walls and snot was in her nose is not "bold" and "edgy" writing.
If Mr. Thomson had someone to point out various books about writing, he could have avoided some of the hackneyed phrases that simply choke his prose. For example, William Strunk, Jr. in The Elements of Style: 50th Anniversary Edition, Chapter V, Rule 18, "Use figures of speech sparingly" and Rule 5, "Revise and rewrite."
Note:
1. "The news of this victory spread quickly among the who's who in the legal drug game. Sponsors were now crawling out of every hole on the face of the earth to finance it" (p. 59).
2. "Flaco is very nervous. He leaves the front door open slightly. He walks over to the cash register, trembling. This is not his cup of tea" (p. 73).
3. "A few perpetrators had come close to penetrating the Red Zone Security defense, but no cigar" (89).
4. "Mr. Bryant was known for squeezing the life out of his victims when he gave them hugs. She had always adored him, from day one. He was the crown jewel in her life. She could talk to him about anything. He was like her best friend, and also her mentor at the same time" (91).
5. "She kind of felt obligated to help the poor little lady find some comfort in a cruel world."
6. "Salome gets up and gives her daddy a tight hug. Now he is the one gasping for air.
All along she had her doubts. She thought he was going to say no. She never expected him to cave in and say yes in the first round. She had spent all night preparing herself to go the distance" (93).
7. "Mr. Bryant knew that he could write off the entire amount the next time he filed his taxes. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars was only chump change to him" (93).
Did you note the switch from present to past tense and back? That happens throughout the novel. Did you note the lack of sentence variety? The prose reads so sing-song. In an earlier section Thomson provides a narrative of the Viktor the successful Ukrainian grocer in their 'hood, the Velt. In one paragraph his son is ready to enter college and yet he is a little boy, a toddler.
In the quoted passages above, Salome is a medical doctor playing little girl to her daddy who owns a very successful security system company. Thomson pulls all his stories together--to his credit-- in that the son of the woman who needs a transplant is going to rob Viktor, who is set the next day to purchase a security system from Salome's father. Salome is treating the woman whose son...
It's a great story, but would be better if Thomson did exactly what his publicist describes:
1. Create edgy prose by making it pointed and intense and dark.
2. Take away its "cuff of journal realism," which I take to mean it is more like journal writing--unplanned, unrevised, first draft stuff, and REWRITE!
3. Read books about writing. Read great writers. Learn from masters, then revise, rewrite. There's a great story here but it needs a better frame of words to tell it.
The Lively Art of Writing (Mentor)
A Creative Writing Handbook for African Writers and Students
Writing a Novel and Getting Published for Dummies
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing a Novel
And for the sheer poetry of the prose:
The Call Of The Wild (Scholastic Classics)
Cry, the Beloved Country (Oprah's Book Club)
Native Son
An Exceptional Story Feb 01, 2010
By Bruce Trape
Reminiscent of a Donald Goines' novel because it is written in standard English and urban slang but spans beyond the "quote/unquote" genre of street literature.
The body of work represents a stop sign that is put up after a certain death has occurred and would make any young knucklehead think twice before making a bad decision.
A short read that will leave a burning effect like drinking a shot of liquor with no chaser.
See all 17 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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