Tayari's Blog: Nikki Turner Presents...

Comment #1, by Jackie

At first, I didn't take "urban fiction" seriously because, after all, who wanted to read that mess? Then I noticed that I was the one out of step because there was indeed an audience for this style of writing. I finally gave in and bought a few books because you can't judge what you don't know.

I came away understanding that these were stories that spoke to someone other than me. I found the stories unbelievably trite, violent, ignorant and at times just plain stupid. Every once in a while the writing was surprisingly good, most times it wasn't. Many of the books could not have come within 100 miles of an editor. There was one book that had nearly 200 pages of two sentence paragraphs with every other word in italics. I soldiered on. I recently listed all of these books on Amazon and THEY SOLD!

These are not my stories, but they are stories that speak to a different generation. Whether or not I like it, this form of literature has a place on the bookshelves of the world. At least it gets people reading and and that's a good thing, right?

Comment #2, by Ladylee

Humph. I HATE urban lit... It is raunchy and badly written, among other things.

I too was like Jackie, and I gave it a chance. I have read four or five urban lit books, and have read the back cover of numerous ones. The storyline was always the same or some slight variation of the following:

Young woman leaves small town to go to bigger town. She falls for a drug dealer or club owner. She starts stripping. If she ain't stripping, she's flossing her diamonds and furs, i.e., living the glamorous life. She starts cheating on her man, or her man starts cheating on her. The man gets mad or jealous and decides to torture her and all parties involved. The young woman decides she can't handle it anymore. She goes on the run or into hiding. She comes up with a plan, her and her girls make off with a lot of money, and live happily ever after, with some type of vague lesson learned in the process.

The writing is terrible most of times, with small pockets of interesting action. And this genre does not speak to me, or add to my being. But, there is a market for it. And the bottom line most times: Money, money, money. Money is made.

Now urban lit in the hands of good writers would be interesting. For example, I thought Pearl Cleage's new book was an example of urban lit. But it was, I don't know... more dignified in the hands of an exceptionally talented writer...

Like Jackie said above, it get's people to read. Literacy is key...But on the real?

It is making some publishers some big, BIG money...

Comment #3, by Dakota Knight

Until recently, I didn't have a major problem with the term "urban." Now, I sense there is a backlash against what some call "urban lit" and some good writing will be lost in the shuffle. I think there is a major difference between urban literature and hip-hop fiction, which is what Nikki Turner and others write. I don't agree that all hip-hop literature is bad, in fact, I think it's getting better now that big publishing houses have professional editors taking care of business. However, there has been a glut of self-published junk out there, and serious book buyers feel duped. Now, an author says something about an "urban" novel and the response is, "Oh, I don't read urban fiction." My debut novel, SOLA, has some urban elements, but it's basically a thriller. And guess what, in the Kensington catalog, my book is called an "urban thriller." Now I have to figure out how to convince readers to buy and read my book and hope that the backlash doesn't affect my potential sales.

Comment #4, by tina

As a NYC high school librarian i face this dilemna on a regular basis. As librarians we are asked not to censure materials. But I do, I don't purchase them.My students largely female age 14-18 crave these books. They believe these books are keeping it real. It appeals to them just like the music, videos, and films of this 'urban\hiphop genre that has been created because its' making money for the large publishing houses. First they 'discovered' Black people can and do read and now they decided that we will only read 'urban' 'hip hop' lit. and the good writers with excellent stories are being left behind. So I do book talks constantly about kenji jasper, dakota knight, pearl cleage, sharon flake, bernice mcfadden, and you girl along with so many other black hispanic, asian and other writers with stories to tell. Because my job is to educate, not just how to do proper research, but how to find a good book. A well written book, a book with a good story to tell. Urban, hip hop lit stories are a dime a dozen we all can tell them. And what were our stories called before they were urban? Chick lit! Remember Omar Tyree (Flyy Girl)Terri McMillan, Michael Baisden (The maintainence man) Micheal got a national radio spot out of the deal. I disgress. Sorry.

Comment #5, by Dakota Knight

Tina,

You can rejoice in the news that many publisher are planning to release more age appropriate material for teens. This autumn, Kensington's Dafina line is releasing its new series, Drama High by L. Divine. Pocket is releasing YA series by Reshonda Tate Billingsley and Jacquelin Thomas. In Spring 2007, Dafina is releasing another series by an author named Paula Chase. I'm sure you'll be hearing about them soon, but please consider them for your library. You might also want to check out the Payton Skky Series by Stephanie Perry Moore and the Bluford Series, published by various authors. I'm trying to look for my YA series too!

Comment #6, by Jackie

Ladylee, that was so funny! I so agree with you about the stripper storyline. It does seem like every "urban", "hip-hop" book I read or examined had drugs, clubs and strippers as the central themes. Almost always a young girl had trouble at home, ran away, fell for a man with bling and promises which involved guns, drugs and a strip club. Then inexplicably she cheated with another man and bullets started flying, people hiding out.....and after a few books like this I have to take a rest, read a magazine or something to clear my head. It is dismaying to see that these type books are now associated in bookstores with African-American fiction as if they define what we are all reading. I am often dismayed and increasingly embarrased as quality work is being pushed aside for this stuff. There is only so much shelfspace and this new genre is prominantly displayed.

Comment #7, by Nikki Biggest FAN

Unlike Jackie and LadyLee I disagree with what they say about urban literature. For those who havent been there, you cannot relate to the characters that are in the book. However, for those who have been there; they can relate to the characters that are often found in urban literature. Nikki Turner lets women know that they are not alone that things do not often just happen to one person, in fact, it happens to more people than you want to believe. There is a lesson that comes from every situation that you go through whether it is good or bad. However, I do agree that some books can be over dramatic when it comes to money but in some people cases life is all about the money. In order to understand urban literature you have to know the streets and have to be a survivor of the streets, if your not, than you're wasting your time reading the books.

Comment #8, by Nikki Biggest FAN

Unlike Jackie and LadyLee I disagree with what they say about urban literature. For those who havent been there, you cannot relate to the characters that are in the book. However, for those who have been there; they can relate to the characters that are often found in urban literature. Nikki Turner lets women know that they are not alone that things do not often just happen to one person, in fact, it happens to more people than you want to believe. There is a lesson that comes from every situation that you go through whether it is good or bad. However, I do agree that some books can be over dramatic when it comes to money but in some people cases life is all about the money. In order to understand urban literature you have to know the streets and have to be a survivor of the streets, if your not, than you're wasting your time reading the books.

Comment #9, by Nikki Biggest FAN

Unlike Jackie and LadyLee I disagree with what they say about urban literature. For those who havent been there, you cannot relate to the characters that are in the book. However, for those who have been there; they can relate to the characters that are often found in urban literature. Nikki Turner lets women know that they are not alone that things do not often just happen to one person, in fact, it happens to more people than you want to believe. There is a lesson that comes from every situation that you go through whether it is good or bad. However, I do agree that some books can be over dramatic when it comes to money but in some people cases life is all about the money. In order to understand urban literature you have to know the streets and have to be a survivor of the streets, if your not, than you're wasting your time reading the books.

Comment #10, by Nikki Biggest FAN

Unlike Jackie and LadyLee I disagree with what they say about urban literature. For those who havent been there, you cannot relate to the characters that are in the book. However, for those who have been there; they can relate to the characters that are often found in urban literature. Nikki Turner lets women know that they are not alone that things do not often just happen to one person, in fact, it happens to more people than you want to believe. There is a lesson that comes from every situation that you go through whether it is good or bad. However, I do agree that some books can be over dramatic when it comes to money but in some people cases life is all about the money. In order to understand urban literature you have to know the streets and have to be a survivor of the streets, if your not, than you're wasting your time reading the books.

Comment #11, by TT

If you hate Nikki Turners style of writing, DON"T READ THE BOOKS!! And stop bashing Urban Lit. You wouldn't want a group of HATERS to speak negatively about something you love. Do me a favor......Pour out your cup of haterade!

Comment #12, by TT

If you hate Nikki Turners style of writing, DON"T READ THE BOOKS!! And stop bashing Urban Lit. You wouldn't want a group of HATERS to speak negatively about something you love. Do me a favor......Pour out your cup of haterade!

Comment #13, by TT

If you hate Nikki Turners style of writing, DON"T READ THE BOOKS!! And stop bashing Urban Lit. You wouldn't want a group of HATERS to speak negatively about something you love. Do me a favor......Pour out your cups of haterade!

Comment #14, by TT

If you hate Nikki Turners style of writing, DON"T READ THE BOOKS!! And stop bashing Urban Lit. You wouldn't want a group of HATERS to speak negatively about something you love. Do me a favor......Pour out your cups of haterade!

Comment #15, by NA

If she was not so GHETTO in the flesh and pay parking in NYC, maybe her books would sell better. It is amazing how rude someone can be