This book is one of the most popular titles--- perhaps THE most popular title--- I see requested from our African American collection. So I had to read it. Right on the front cover, Sean “P.Diddy” Combs says that Sister Souljah is “the #1 author of the hip-hop generation.” This book engrossed me for a long while. It had me thinking out loud as I drove the car and did dishes. I read it hunched over my breakfast plate many mornings. But did I like it? In the end… only with reservations. However, I wholeheartedly admire Sister Souljah’s craft and intentions.
Sister Souljah’s ghetto female character, Winter, is a piece of work. She’s beautiful and yes, she’s cold. This is a tale of survival in the projects in Brooklyn, The posh suburbs of Long Island, and different hideouts & halfway houses in Manhattan. The Santiaga family culture (pop’s a drug kingpin) is loving and over-the-top materialistic (think Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous outrageousness), but when he gets caught, Winter’s world is turned upside down. Suddenly the bonds just dissolve, and Winter is on her own. At this point, I was shocked that Winter cared more about making money and continuing to dress couture than about the well-being of her mother and sisters. She’s narcissistic, and, did I mention it already? she’s cold.
Sister Souljah herself makes a cameo as a character, but even she can't save Winter. In fact, Winter robs Souljah and tries to steal her man. It is like no one can save this character from herself, not even the author. She’s larger than life. Yeah, she comes to no good end, but she is hypnotizing as she gets there. Sister Souljah set out to write an anti-drug book, but boy, her writing and Winter’s struggle to stay on top are so vivid that, in my view, Souljah does make The Life seem glamorous--- and defeats her own purpose. I am shaking my head.
If you LOVED this book or have an opinion about it, help me out and post a response.
Or you can follow up on educating yourself more about hip hop culture with the following books from our collection:
Deconstructing Tyrone: A New Look at Black Masculinity in the Hip-Hop Generation Natalie Hopkinson and Natalie Y. Moore 305.38 HOP
Pimps Up, Ho’s Down: Hip Hop’s Hold on Young Black Women T. Denean Sharpley-Whiting 305.48 SHA
