Chasing Destiny~EJD

Gina1201 · #1 05-13-2006, 11:02 PM

This thread is dedicated to the newest novel by Eric Jerome Dickey and where else to put this thread but the Alpha Phi Alpha forum. I truly loved this book. I love how EJD weaves all the characters together. Since I didn't really like Jenny Vee, I thought I'd start a thread on this (TonyB, where you at?).

But it's late and I'm tired so I'm going to sleep. I will defintely be back to post more thoughts.

ETA: Please note that this will be a discussion so spoilers will be included for those that haven't read the novel yet.

TonyB06 · #2 05-14-2006, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gina1201
This thread is dedicated to the newest novel by Eric Jerome Dickey and where else to put this thread but the Alpha Phi Alpha forum. I truly loved this book. I love how EJD weaves all the characters together. Since I didn't really like Jenny Vee, I thought I'd start a thread on this (TonyB, where you at?).

But it's late and I'm tired so I'm going to sleep. I will defintely be back to post more thoughts.

ETA: Please note that this will be a discussion so spoilers will be included for those that haven't read the novel yet.

Hey, Gina1201. I'm still reading the book (nearly 40 percent done), so, difficult as it may be, I'll avoid the thread till I'm finished but I'll definitely be in to contribute.

PerfectVerse06 · #3 05-15-2006, 09:30 AM

I'm ready to discuss this book whenever you are!!

I LOVED it!

1browngirl · #4 05-17-2006, 09:33 AM

I finished the book last weekend. I loved it as well!

TonyB06 · #5 05-17-2006, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1browngirl
I finished the book last weekend. I loved it as well!

I'll be done with it by this weekend. promise.

PerfectVerse06 · #6 05-18-2006, 01:22 PM

Hurry up!!!

*taps foot and looks at calendar*

We're waiting on YOU!

stardusttwin · #7 05-20-2006, 03:26 PM

EJD is BACK!!

Waiting patiently to join the discussion...

Warning to others- do NOT pick up this book if you have things to do - like cook or feed the kids - cause the house will burn down and CPS come after you while you are sitting in the chair reading and yelling...

TonyB06 · #8 05-20-2006, 11:33 PM

Ok, let's do this.....

Chasing Destiny was all over the place. EJD is back from his dark phase (Thieves Paradise, Drive Me Crazy). His exploration and deconstruction of Billie/Keith's relationship drives the book and makes you want to see how the story is resolved.

Billie and Keith seem starcrossed from the start. Billie was ok, with me. I rooted for her. Her feud with Carmen yielded some classic confrontations; and by the end she saw herself eventually becoming "Carmen" had she rolled with Keith. I think it made her wise up. Did she ever explain how her first pregnancy ended? If so, I missed it. Ok, I wanted to see this motorcycle poster.

Keith? I never felt dude. He was a whiner, who never found a way to take control of his situation. I know he made bad options for his life, but dayum, pick one and make the best of the situation. He was weak at the start of the book and was the same way at the end. That he wound up where he started, miserable, yet with Carmen, didn't really surprise me, I guess.

Carmen? wow, this chick was bizarre crazy. Evil, conniving, desperate, she took Keith and Destiny through madd changes. I neve knew what to expect from her, except that it would be nasty. Her near-death scene was really transformative. Did yall think Billie was gong to let her die? I think it made Billie see her (and herself) differently.

Destiny? She needed her ass whupped. hard. I know her parents and grandparents were crazy, but geez. Ok, I know her "video rape" was traumatic, but she went off the hinge, in getting her payback. It almost seemed unrealistic because she didn't seem that "street" before, so how did she know how to pull off the wreckage she did? Slicing folk, throwing acid and shooting Mo --this kid should have wound up in prison, not some juvenile detention center. Trying to get Billie to take those "pills" was foul.

I think the young couple's "baby crying" across the street from Keith's apt. was really a metaphor for Destiny's character. Always a point of stress, the mother finally snapped, just like Destiny did later.

...that's my take. EJD, can you chill on all that swearing next book?

DSTcretion · #9 05-23-2006, 02:49 PM

I just bought the book and I must say I didnt like Jenny Vee either but I did like "Drive me crazy". I guess I need to get to readin then.

PerfectVerse06 · #10 05-23-2006, 03:37 PM

I felt for Billie as well. She's a definite free spirit from the fact that she does such a variety of odd jobs here and there. Nothing about her seems permanent, from her jobs to her living situation to the type of vehicle she chooses to ride every day.

I love how the story opens up with both Billie and Keith having to reveal information that has the ability to drastically change the nature of their relationship: Billie and the fact that she is pregnant and Keith with the fact that he's going back to his wife.

I agree with TonyB that Keith is just pitiful. He's done nothing to rectify the situation that he's gotten himself into, and instead of working to make a life that he could at least tolerate, he takes the easy way out by going back to Carmen so that he could have a place to live and not have to worry about being out of work. Although Billie's not working at a cushy job like most think a woman of her age should be, at least she had dreams of singing and she was working towards making that happen. In the end, Keith ends up living with that wench Carmen and silently worshipping that poster of Billie in her yellow thong.

Destiny....oh Destiny. The things that she did were a bit outlandish, IMO. The girl was BRUTAL!!! Slicing and dicing folks like she was a contestant on Iron Chef: Canibalism Cuisine! I hated to read how Carmen treated her, and I could see how she was pained by the way her parents talked about her like she wasn't there and couldn't speak for herself. But that child needed serious help. All for all the crimes she committed, she should not be in Juvie.

I just loved the way all of the characters were linked together, in true EJD fashion.

I need to refresh my memory on this, so I'll post more tonight!

1browngirl · #11 05-24-2006, 01:06 PM

i loved the book - just needed to say that again. reminds me of ejd before "drive me crazy" (which I still haven't finished reading).

i love the way the characters interconnected with each other.

keith - i think keith found a way to blame everyone else for the situation he was in, except himself. instead of fighting for the woman he loved he just settled for carmen. i know he was trying to do what was right for his daughter, but did he really think moving back in would help destiny?

destiny - man! she was just so lost. her parents didn't listen to her and didn't spend any quality time with her. it was always about them and their drama. it's like she had three personalities - one with her grandparents, one with her parents, and another for the streets. maybe she did so she could survive living with keith and carmen. i was shocked when she threw the brick through billie's window - but dayum, when she cut up rahims neice, threw clorox in goldies face, and beat up the other's girls sister, and then shot Mo - i was like WHOA

.

carmen - at first i didn't understand why carmen acted like she did - but then her mother/father were introduced. the scene before she was taken to the hospital was classic. i knew she was crazy before - but that's when i REALLY knew.

billie - i loved her character from the beginning. i only hate that she kept going back to keith - especially after he told her he was going back to carmen. but -like others- i'm glad she finally saw that in the end, if she and keith stayed together she'd end up bitter and desperate like carmen.

Gina1201 · #12 05-25-2006, 12:21 PM

Y'all I will try to comment this weekend. Too much going on right now.

kiml122 · #13 05-25-2006, 03:59 PM

Ok, I put off reading this book, because like TonyB stated EJD was in a dark place for a moment, but after only reading some of your comments....ummm, I think that I am going to pick this book up this weekend. I took it with me when I went to Monte Carlo last week, but I read Changing Faces instead by Kimberla Lawson Roby, but I am definitely going to have to read htis one now, and nope i doubt I come back to read your comments until I am finished.

TonyB06 · #14 05-25-2006, 05:24 PM

^^ nice to know who the ballers are. Monte Carlo, indeed.

us regular folk await your review.

kiml122 · #15 05-25-2006, 07:42 PM

Yeah ok you regular folk...he he he