The White Boy Shuffle by Paul Beatty

Hilarious-a perfect poetic satirical prose.  A fictional coming of age story of a young black male growing up in southern California in the mid 90’s that reads what I would imagine if Jerry Seinfeld and Wanda Sykes married and had a child. Wickedly funny dark humor on the trial and tribulations of the plight of this young black man that rings true from the stereotypical media definition of the black race in this country-Racism, poverty, education and crime that will not define a young man, but how he will use his life to better his situation.

Completely relatable to all races in poverty, but you are reminded that this is a black and minority problem as oppose to a poverty problem, that seems almost like an excuse for the main characters behavior.

Beautifully written, but the constant reminder that a chip on the shoulder of the black race still and will exist is reinforced every few pages and stereotypical representation of white people is almost similar to what I would consider some whites feel about some blacks.  All in all, great, great read.  Highly recommend.

I give it 3 ½ JAG’S

Dark Origins Level 26 by Anthony E. Auiker with Duane Swierczynski

Marginal and simple. This book is graphic in parts and fast pace. At certain points the story seems to drag and little is left to the reader to explore his or her imagination. It reads like a like a scripted CSI episode, which I think was the selling point in their advertisement of this book.

 The interactive content is hokey at best and requires you to sign up online with an email address before you are allowed to view videos. The story line is a quick read and unoriginal, almost conducive to a late night HBO series. It is a typical serial killer story. The heroin suffers at the hand of the Killer, only to be muscled back in to save the remaining victims.

Would not purchase new, but instead wait until you are able to pick up a copy at a local rummage, flea market or used book store.

I give it, 1 JAG!