A House Is Not a Home: A B-Boy Blues Novel

B-Boy Blues #6

by James Earl Hardy

In the sixth and final title of his groundbreaking, bestselling B-Boy Blues series, James Earl Hardy brings his beloved couple -- Mitchell, the Buppie from Brooklyn, and Raheim, the homeboy from Harlem -- into the twenty-first century. As they prepare for the birthday party of Raheim's fifteen-year-old son, Errol (formerly known as "Junior" and "Li'l Brotha Man"), Mitchell and Raheim both juggle their own midlife crises and consider once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. With the Big 4-0 just three years away, Mitchell is a little He has a very successful freelance writing career, but he longs for something more. And that something more finds him -- a dream job from a most unlikely place. But he's gotten very comfortable working his own schedule and being a stay-at-home dad -- does he really want to return to the daily grind of punching a time clock again? Raheim has just officially entered his thirties -- and, unfortunately, has the one gray hair to prove it. And after years of coming this close to getting roles won by the likes of Taye Diggs and Mekhi Phifer, he is finally offered the lead in a film that could make him a star. But will he do what no other Black actor has done play gay and come out in the process? James Earl Hardy draws on the themes that put him on the map -- love, family, and high drama in tandem with media phenomena like same-sex marriage, the down-low, gay adoption, and homo thugs -- to create another vivid, vibrant, and saucy portrait of Black same-gender-loving (SGL) life and love.

Genres: Fiction, LGBT, Romance, Gay Fiction, Gay

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

James Earl Hardy is the author B-Boy Blues, which has been praised as the first gay hip hop love story. The novel was a 1995 Lambda Literary Award (Lammy) finalist for Best LGBT/Small Press Title and was prominently featured in Spike Lee's Get on the Bus. The book is required reading in contemporary African American fiction courses and gay & lesbian studies programs at colleges and universities across the globe.

Hardy has also written a stage adaptation of B-Boy Blues, which sold out when it debuted Off-Broadway, as well as a one-man show Confessions of a Homo Thug Porn Star (which is based on the life of adult film actor Tiger Tyson).

An honors graduate of Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, Mr. Hardy is also an entertainment feature writer and cultural critic whose byline has been appeared in many national magazines and newspapers. His work has earned him numerous grants and awards.

Reviews

[Jordan Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this had stayed the ending for the series this would have been a great end. I think the ending leaves a big question on whether Raheem and Mitchell get back together but I don’t think it matters, I think James earl hardy left that up for the reader to decide. Even though this is not the end and I will be reading the final book soon from Errols perspective, this book does feel like an end of sorts. I have to say this was in amazing book In a amazing series and I loved every bit of it. Highly recommend

[Grey853 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always liked Mitchell in the B-Boy Blues novels, but I have to say Raheim has never impressed me. I have a serious problem understanding why Mitchell puts up with the man.

In this book, he and Raheim have been separated for 8 years at this point. Mitchell is raising his sister Destiny as his daughter and his godson E as his son. Mitchell has managed to build a stable life, one where the duties as a father take over. He's not really working to get a romantic life.

Most of the book is written with two stories, one for Mitchell, one for Raheim. Raheim has his compulsive gambling under control and is getting his career back on track. Unlike Mitchell, he did have a relationship, but after it fails, he thinks more and more about going back to his first love.

While I enjoyed the Mitchell storyline, Raheim still didn't do much for me. I'm still not convinced that he's a man to be trusted.

There isn't much drama here in terms of plot, not like in some of the earlier books. Both men are more settled, more mature. They give their relationship a second chance, but not until the last few pages of the book. Whether it'll work or not, who knows. I never understood the attraction between them because they're so different. Still, I've known couples like that and it works out. So, who knows? Maybe Mitchell and Raheim have a chance, but only if Raheim keeps his promises, which he's never been able to do before.

[Kenneth W. Ringgold]

One of the best in this series

Wonderful and thought provoking read from one the the best writers on Black gay relationships. I highly recommend reading this series on black gay love.
👍🏾👍🏾

[KWAIN-AKA-MAJIX · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wasn't going to bother with writeing a review, being that i didn't like the book. but i was told i covldn't say i didn't like it with out a reason. So here it is, it was boreing. It never really went anywhere. It started with a couple no longer together and ended with the same couple who i'm not sure if they ever got back together. Not to mention it had nothing interesting goin on in between the begining an the end. thanks Michael H for letting me know the rules on rateing an reviewing..LOL

[Lashonta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book was good however not his best worked

[Ray Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice little story about gender loving relationships