Official Review: Seeds in the Concrete

mmm17 · Post by **mmm17** » 07 Jan 2021, 14:38

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Seeds in the Concrete" by L Joevon aka 8rooklyn 8atman.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Seeds in the Concrete, written in the first person by L. Joevon, tells Lance Adams' story. The protagonist is a talented songwriter who faced difficult circumstances growing up in the Marcus Garvey projects in Brooklyn, New York. Surrounded by drugs and violent gangs, he did time in prison for gun charges. Everything began to change when he fell in love with Ayana, a college student who also had a daunting childhood and a broken home. Lance felt that since Ayana had dealt with so much pain of her own, she understood and helped him with his hurt and anguish. Lance wants a clean life, but the illicit activities pay the bills, and he feels it's the only way he can fund his artistic dreams. Lance's musical talent and his love for Ayana help him cope, but will they save him from a potentially grim future?

The book has a couple of positive aspects. What I enjoyed the most was the way the author narrates Lance’s hardships and dilemmas. Throughout the story, the protagonist endures challenging situations, and I particularly liked how he reflects on ways to overcome it all by changing his mindset. Lance often talks with his subconscious to find answers and find the strength to overcome his many hurdles. I found the depiction of his stream of consciousness a noteworthy positive point. He has to summon all his energy to get through a series of unfortunate events as he untangles himself from an adverse past, and these parts were touching and inspirational. Also, there are moving song lyrics and illustrations in the book.

As for naming negatives, the aspects I liked less were the poor editing and the excessive use of profane terms. Thus, I found that the language could use some polishing. Even though it seems like an honest and touching story, I felt that its rendition could have been better. The parts involving sexual encounters, for instance, were distinctively (and unnecessarily) vulgar.

After considering the above aspects, I decided to rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. It is a touching story about resilience, redemption, and hope. However, it needs another round of editing, and the number of errors necessitates the deduction of a star.

Lastly, I believe the book will appeal to readers who appreciate first-person accounts with a touch of romance. Readers who enjoy realistic dramas against a backdrop of crime should consider reading this story. It might also appeal to readers in search of motivation to triumph over difficult circumstances. Those who dislike violence or are bothered by strong language might not like it, though.

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Seeds in the Concrete
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Pluma · Post by **Pluma** » 17 Jan 2021, 20:22

This book and its themes of love and resilience sound touching; however, it’s a pity about the excessive profanity--this is always a bit of a turn-off for me. Thank you for the thorough and honest review.

Victoria Copsey · Post by **Victoria Copsey** » 17 Jan 2021, 20:47

I often find authors tend to turn to explitives, and vulgar scenes when there is a slight lack of creative imagination. I find that a great author can express the nature of a scene or capture the reader's attention without resorting to profanity and sex.

Praise GodWord · Post by **Praise GodWord** » 18 Jan 2021, 09:00

Was Ayana a wrong partner? This plot twist grabs my attention.

Drianie · Post by **Drianie** » 18 Jan 2021, 19:16

I don't think this is a book I would particularly enjoy reading, although I appreciate the messages of resilience, hope, and redemption the author communicates through his work. Your review is well-written and interesting to read! Thanks!

KMGR70 · Post by **KMGR70** » 20 Jan 2021, 02:25

This book sounds similar to the one I just finished about overcoming dire circumstances. Although I haven't read it yet, the profanity mentioned may be more realistic than the author not using it at all considering the activities and culture mentioned, such as violent gangs, drugs, time in prison, and more. Hopefully they will get another run through with an editor soon. Thanks for the review! I may add this one to my list.

Suzer6440 xyz · Post by **Suzer6440 xyz** » 13 Feb 2021, 23:21

I have to be honest. The title this book is what caught my eye. A good review but I’m thinking I’m not going to read the book unfortunately because of the profanity. Thatwill be a big turn off for me.