Official Review: Urban Nomads and Other Stories
Posted: 11 Jul 2020, 18:00
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Urban Nomads and Other Stories" by Odie Hawkins.]
Have you ever had a conversation with someone living on Skid Row? Been treated differently by police because of the people you were with? Visited a barbershop in Compton? Listened to a black war vet talk about being stationed in Georgia in the 1960's? Learned the true difference between "poor" and "po"?
Odie Hawkins's Urban Nomads and Other Stories is a series of short stories that offers readers a chance to experience each above situation. From walking in the shoes of journalists who are getting up close and personal with the homeless and (often) drug-addicted population for the first time, to looking through the eyes of a young black man growing up in a "po" family, readers will be gifted with the opportunity to obtain a new outlook (and new sense of empathy) on those who have been ostracized from society. Additionally, Hawkins includes pictures of these "urban nomads" and their living situations throughout the text.
I first have to say that I really enjoyed this novel. I found it to be a powerful eyeopener to such large societal problems (i.e., treatment of the poor and drug-dependent, as well as racism). It served as a good reminder that it sometimes only takes a few tragic events for someone to end up in a desperate situation, and that being homeless and/or addicted to drugs doesn't make someone a lesser individual. I found myself empathizing with a group of people who I often have an incredibly difficult time understanding. For example, in a scene where a journalist interviews a man who once lived on Skid Row, the following ensues:
"'No, you can't see it, you're too far removed from their reality. You can't possibly begin to imagine what it feels like to try to fight off hallucinations, ghosts, demons, spooks, whatever you wanna call 'em, every hour of every day. Believe me, that takes a lot of courage.' ... For the first time in my life I was made to understand that courage was not about simply facing a blank sheet of paper or an impatient editor."
Those few lines reminded me exactly why literature is so important. Through stories like these, readers can find themselves understanding (often for the first time) what someone else (someone who might seem so different) is going through. We learn empathy. In addition to his beautiful words and raw scenes, Hawkins did a great job with character development. I found myself a little sad when each story ended.
There are only a few things I didn't love about this book. One of the stories appeared to be Hawkins's own and, while this was a really cool addition (and I enjoyed the whole section), I felt it should have been told in a book of its own. This was the longest section with the most development, so it really seemed like it should be a standalone piece. Likewise, he told his story towards the end, but not last. Personally, I think it would have made the most sense to close with his story. However, this is all very nit-picky. The only true issue I found is that this novel contained quite a few grammar/spelling errors, so it could definitely use another round of editing.
With everything in mind, I give this one 3 out of 4 stars. I loved the entire story, but took a star away because of the need for more editing. I did notice less errors as the book went on, so it's mostly the first part that needs revising.
This book does contain some sex, violence, and profanity. For these reasons, I recommend this read for an older, more mature audience (at least young adult and older).
******
Urban Nomads and Other Stories
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Have you ever had a conversation with someone living on Skid Row? Been treated differently by police because of the people you were with? Visited a barbershop in Compton? Listened to a black war vet talk about being stationed in Georgia in the 1960's? Learned the true difference between "poor" and "po"?
Odie Hawkins's Urban Nomads and Other Stories is a series of short stories that offers readers a chance to experience each above situation. From walking in the shoes of journalists who are getting up close and personal with the homeless and (often) drug-addicted population for the first time, to looking through the eyes of a young black man growing up in a "po" family, readers will be gifted with the opportunity to obtain a new outlook (and new sense of empathy) on those who have been ostracized from society. Additionally, Hawkins includes pictures of these "urban nomads" and their living situations throughout the text.
I first have to say that I really enjoyed this novel. I found it to be a powerful eyeopener to such large societal problems (i.e., treatment of the poor and drug-dependent, as well as racism). It served as a good reminder that it sometimes only takes a few tragic events for someone to end up in a desperate situation, and that being homeless and/or addicted to drugs doesn't make someone a lesser individual. I found myself empathizing with a group of people who I often have an incredibly difficult time understanding. For example, in a scene where a journalist interviews a man who once lived on Skid Row, the following ensues:
"'No, you can't see it, you're too far removed from their reality. You can't possibly begin to imagine what it feels like to try to fight off hallucinations, ghosts, demons, spooks, whatever you wanna call 'em, every hour of every day. Believe me, that takes a lot of courage.' ... For the first time in my life I was made to understand that courage was not about simply facing a blank sheet of paper or an impatient editor."
Those few lines reminded me exactly why literature is so important. Through stories like these, readers can find themselves understanding (often for the first time) what someone else (someone who might seem so different) is going through. We learn empathy. In addition to his beautiful words and raw scenes, Hawkins did a great job with character development. I found myself a little sad when each story ended.
There are only a few things I didn't love about this book. One of the stories appeared to be Hawkins's own and, while this was a really cool addition (and I enjoyed the whole section), I felt it should have been told in a book of its own. This was the longest section with the most development, so it really seemed like it should be a standalone piece. Likewise, he told his story towards the end, but not last. Personally, I think it would have made the most sense to close with his story. However, this is all very nit-picky. The only true issue I found is that this novel contained quite a few grammar/spelling errors, so it could definitely use another round of editing.
With everything in mind, I give this one 3 out of 4 stars. I loved the entire story, but took a star away because of the need for more editing. I did notice less errors as the book went on, so it's mostly the first part that needs revising.
This book does contain some sex, violence, and profanity. For these reasons, I recommend this read for an older, more mature audience (at least young adult and older).
******
Urban Nomads and Other Stories
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon