Sister Souljah–Hip Hop Generation Best-Selling Author
By APOOO • Aug 4th, 2008 • Category: APOOO Features, Hot Fun in the Summertime •
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APOOO welcomes you to Hot Fun in the Summertime–where anything goes on the mean streets of the inner-city, especially during the summer time when school is out, kids are bored and looking for outlets–any outlet. Sometime’s the more dangerous…the better…the higher the risk…the higher the rush. Hot Fun in the Summertime–Let’s get this party started.
Today we kick off the series with the most well-known author of the urban/street genre, Sister Souljah. It all started with her fictional title, Coldest Winter Ever, a favorite of every fan of urban/street fiction. This Fall, she will follow up with a sequel titled, Midnight: A Gangster Love Story.
To whet your appetite, provided below is a synopsis of Midnight.
Midnight is a hustler-but one with a mindset and a mission. A tall, dark, and handsome hero in his own way, Midnight would, in mainstream American society, be characterized as a threat and dismissed as a criminal. But in her beautiful, captivating style, Sister Souljah reveals the heart of a man that readers will love and cheer for until the very end. When Midnight came to America from the Sudan, he was just seven years old with a mother who spoke no English and a baby sister on the way. Midnight has to grow up fast on the violent and dangerous streets of Brooklyn. Amidst the poverty and lawlessness, Midnight must find some way to survive, thrive, and defend his family and way of life-no matter what it takes. SOURCE
It’s been over nine years since the Coldest Winter Ever was released–and with new readers and a new generation discovering it everyday–it’s still as popular today as it was then. In 2005, over 500,000 copies of the Coldest Winter Ever had been sold in the US alone. Given the popularity of the book, I’m sure that number is significantly higher today.
To pre-order a copy of Midnight a Gangster’s Love Story, CLICK HERE.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Rights for the Coldest Winter Ever were sold several years ago for a feature film starring Jada Pinkett Smith. I never heard anything further about the deal. Does anyone have the 411 regarding this project?
I read this book almost 10 years ago, but the characters are so memorable that I still remember details about each one of them today. Outside of Winter, who was the most memorable character for you?
How accurately did Sister Souljah depict the mean streets of New York in Coldest Winter?
Do you plan to read Midnight: A Gangster’s Love Story?
If Midnight: A Gangster’s Love Story were made into a movie, who would you cast for Midnight?
When you think of the urban/street lit genre, who comes to mind first–Sister Souljah or Omar Tyree? Why?
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APOOO is a book club and an online author and reader community dedicated to advancing African American literature. Our mission is to expose readers of all ages to a good book in any genre; to support African American authors, books, literary events and bookclubs; to provide marketing resources, tools and tips to authors; and, to promote literacy within the African American community.
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Do you plan to read Midnight: A Gangster’s Love Story?
Every November, my local book club has a joint meeting with another club. This year, we selected Midnight because they had listed The Coldest Winter Ever as their favorite BOM choice to date. So they are REALLY excited about this release and we hope to have a great discussion.
If Midnight: A Gangster’s Love Story were made into a movie, who would you cast for Midnight?
There’s so many chocolate delights to choose from — I guess it depends on the age of the character in the book, are we talking about a character in their teens, twenties, thirties, etc….it all depends., kwim?
When you think of the urban/street lit genre…
Actually, I don’t…I’ll admit I don’t read the genre and I’ve only read one Omar Tyree book (Leslie) and two SS books (No Disrespect and TCWE). So ironically based on my limited exposure, those two authors would not have instantly come to mind first if I were asked about the genre..
…. who comes to mind first–Sister Souljah or Omar Tyree? Why?
Given the choice of the two – I guess I’d say Omar Tyree simply because he has more published works in the genre.
Hey Phyllis…I hear you about neither one of them instantly coming to mind for the Street Lit genre…and where I was going with that question was that Omar Tyree said he created/re-vibed the genre with Flyy Girl back in 1997. I was suprised to hear and read that since I don’t associate him at all…or very little with the genre. When I sold books…once a day a customer would ask me if I had the Coldest Winter Ever…rarely did folks ask if I had Fly Girl.
Leslie…hmmm street lit doesn’t come to mind when I think of that one…maybe I just don’t want to give Omar props as a street/urban fiction writer…lol.
No Disrepect was non-fiction so it doesn’t really count as street/urban fiction and in fact many of those who read No Disrepect lost some respect when Souljah came out with TCWE.
Midnight–imagine him being in his 20s/early thirties…he’s definitely not a teen…he’s a full grown man now…albeit a young man.
I will probably read Midnight. I remember him from the Coldest Winter Ever. Back thien I thought Morris Chestnut was the perfect person to play Midnight. Now, i would have to read this book and then make a decision on who should play him.
I really don’t think of either of these two authors when i think of urban/street lit.
I like Morris Chestnutt for Midnight.
I read this book almost 10 years ago, but the characters are so memorable that I still remember details about each one of them today. Outside of Winter, who was the most memorable character for you?
Midnight definately! I was young enough to have a crush on his charachter. I can’t place the other characters withought thumbing through the book.
Do you plan to read Midnight: A Gangster’s Love Story? Suredo…lol
I am a fan of SS,
1. Yes I plan to read Midnight like I read The coldest winter ever.
2.Souljah did a wonderful job on depicting the mean streets of NY. I’ve lived here all my life.
3.In a movie about Midnight, I think the african actor that Kimora Lee Simmons is dating would be a wonderful candidate to play the part. I believe his name is Dijimon something.He was the star of that slave movie, Amastad. He is tall, dark, sexy, smart and I believe he has a little bit of undercover thug ready to be unleased in him….licks lips. I hope that they make a movie of both books. That would be great.
4. I heard of Omar Tyree but I have never read any of his books so I think I will stick with my girl Souljah.
I CAN’T WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON A COPY OF THIS NEW BOOK!!!! : ) I READ TCWO MANY YEARS AGO IN 2 DAYS I COULDN’T PUT THE BOOK DOWN IT WAS JUST THAT GOOD!! DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHEN EXACTLY ITS SUPPOSE 2 BE RELEASED?????? AN ACTOR THAT WOULD BE GOOD 2 PLAY MIDNIGHT IN MY OPINION “IDRIS AELBA” THE GUY WHO PLAYED THE FATHER N DADDY’S LITTLE GIRLS WITH THE BRITISH ACCENT! I KNOW I SPELT HIS NAME ALL WRONG! LOL! BUT HE WOULD BE GOOD 4 THAT PART!!
Outside of Winter, who was the most memorable character for you? Names are escaping me, but I loved her dad.
How accurately did Sister Souljah depict the mean streets of New York in Coldest Winter?I think it is pretty acrruracte..this from the jersey girl looking at NY
Do you plan to read Midnight: A Gangster’s Love Story?Yes, It is on order at Borders for me.
If Midnight: A Gangster’s Love Story were made into a movie, who would you cast for Midnight?I have to say I agree with Dijmon, Idris, Issaih Washington(I loved to hate him in Romeo Must Die) and I think I like Tyrese, yes I know that he has become type cast in these types of roles, but I LOVE him in them
When you think of the urban/street lit genre, who comes to mind first–Sister Souljah or Omar Tyree? Why?
I have to say Sister Souljah….I read Omar Tyree and After Flyy Girl he just did not do it for me.