What do you think?
Rate this book
Real Recognize Real: Part 1
There’s an old saying that goes like this:
Be careful of what you wish for because you just may get it.
Born and raised in a home with dedicated Christians, Jason “Real” Johnson developed a level of consciousness that most street dudes will never acquire. However, his poor circumstances had him dreaming of money and success, and he was willing to break the law to get it. Although highly intelligent, Real doesn’t understand how naïve he was to the orders of the underworld. He found himself affiliated with a dangerous and heartless crew dead set in the middle of a war. Street success came with a price he was not willing to pay. A barrage of incidents began to assassinate his character and Real begins to question his own integrity.
A growth process begins...
The only problem with growth was the fact that it contradicted everything his crew stood for.
Choices will be made.
Loyalty will be in question.
Sides are chosen.
And in the end, only real will recognize real.
Be careful of what you wish for because you just may get it.
Born and raised in a home with dedicated Christians, Jason “Real” Johnson developed a level of consciousness that most street dudes will never acquire. However, his poor circumstances had him dreaming of money and success, and he was willing to break the law to get it. Although highly intelligent, Real doesn’t understand how naïve he was to the orders of the underworld. He found himself affiliated with a dangerous and heartless crew dead set in the middle of a war. Street success came with a price he was not willing to pay. A barrage of incidents began to assassinate his character and Real begins to question his own integrity.
A growth process begins...
The only problem with growth was the fact that it contradicted everything his crew stood for.
Choices will be made.
Loyalty will be in question.
Sides are chosen.
And in the end, only real will recognize real.
- GenresUrban
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 2, 2014
4 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 11, 2017
Real Recognize Real is a great debut book. Jason Johnson grew up in the hood and was known as "Church Boy" during his formative years....he was raised in the Church and was different from other boys in the projects he grew up in. By his first year of High School tho, Jason was tired of the poverty and decided to take his destiny into his own hands. After the person he looked up to most is killed, he links up with Fresh....a dopeboy and murderer that was both respected and feared by the Hood. When Fresh noticed Jason's grind...in spite of his naivety, real recognized real. So much so that Fresh gave Jason the nickname Real....formed a street team called Chaos and the rest was history.......this book was insightful, gritty, filled with suspense, twists, and turns. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the fact that where were so many grammatical errors throughout the book...from beginning to end. If this book was re-edited to correct errors, it would be a 5 star for sure but it won't deter me from finishing this series.
September 10, 2016
The title of this book was very fitting for this novel. The main character in this novel had to prove that he was "about that life", hence real recognizing real.
The main plot depicted the life of a young man that wanted the money and everything that came with it without working for it. Lessons given by his God-fearing mother were ignored in his life of drugs, crime, and murder. He was prepared to get to the top by any means. In came an angel, and the devil in him subsided in her presence. Unbeknownst to him, his camp was plotting behind his back. Who needed enemies when they resembled your friends?
The plot was definitely very real every day on each street corner in every hood. There was always a close friend that wanted what you had, and would stop at nothing to obtain it.
The characters were developed well to go along with the novel. They grew and changed with each situation and the choices that they made still remain true to people in that age group. The author gave the characters such a realistic feel and they're all easily identifiable in my old childhood neighborhood. It read like the nosey, old lady who sat on the stoop and looked out of her window everyday was spilling the tea.
My only draw back was the minor editing mistakes and the length of the novel. There were editing mistakes within the dialogue between the characters. The book read exactly how I imagined the author talked, and that alone hurt the flow of the book. The lingo was too hard, and would turn off,a new reader who wasn't used to this writing style. The cover needs more to attract different readers who may stumble across this title while searching "real" on Amazon. It gives a feel like it was created with no real thought behind it, and it's extremely violent.
With the length of the novel being over 300 pages, the story should flow well enough to hold a readers' attention that long.
For detailed reviews, goto
www.KanePresents.com/#!request/e11hy
#DaReviewers #reviewers #lovetoread #products #freestuff #promo #Urbanbooks #scifi #streetlit #poems #crime
The main plot depicted the life of a young man that wanted the money and everything that came with it without working for it. Lessons given by his God-fearing mother were ignored in his life of drugs, crime, and murder. He was prepared to get to the top by any means. In came an angel, and the devil in him subsided in her presence. Unbeknownst to him, his camp was plotting behind his back. Who needed enemies when they resembled your friends?
The plot was definitely very real every day on each street corner in every hood. There was always a close friend that wanted what you had, and would stop at nothing to obtain it.
The characters were developed well to go along with the novel. They grew and changed with each situation and the choices that they made still remain true to people in that age group. The author gave the characters such a realistic feel and they're all easily identifiable in my old childhood neighborhood. It read like the nosey, old lady who sat on the stoop and looked out of her window everyday was spilling the tea.
My only draw back was the minor editing mistakes and the length of the novel. There were editing mistakes within the dialogue between the characters. The book read exactly how I imagined the author talked, and that alone hurt the flow of the book. The lingo was too hard, and would turn off,a new reader who wasn't used to this writing style. The cover needs more to attract different readers who may stumble across this title while searching "real" on Amazon. It gives a feel like it was created with no real thought behind it, and it's extremely violent.
With the length of the novel being over 300 pages, the story should flow well enough to hold a readers' attention that long.
For detailed reviews, goto
www.KanePresents.com/#!request/e11hy
#DaReviewers #reviewers #lovetoread #products #freestuff #promo #Urbanbooks #scifi #streetlit #poems #crime
February 11, 2017
This story talks about street life and inner city living. The main character Jason has what is called microwave mentality where he wants everything now, quick, and fast. You could see where Jason was headed from the moment he was introduced in the book. The storyline was easy to follow and comprehend. At times reading the story, you wanted to shake Jason and his crew just for being so stupid.
Explain to them that they may not want life to move that fast! Also be careful what you wish and ask for. Jason seems to be very smart, he just wants to grow up too fast. Jason (Real), thinks the way many teenagers today think, that they have to have everything now! This was the first time that many of the club members had read a book by this author. Real Recognize Real was actually a decent read, it surprised many of us.
Explain to them that they may not want life to move that fast! Also be careful what you wish and ask for. Jason seems to be very smart, he just wants to grow up too fast. Jason (Real), thinks the way many teenagers today think, that they have to have everything now! This was the first time that many of the club members had read a book by this author. Real Recognize Real was actually a decent read, it surprised many of us.
October 31, 2016
Do you know what it means to be real? Would you recognize real if it stared you in your face? Can you handle the face looking at you in the mirror?
Jason Johnson is church boy gone wrong. He started out on the right path in life but something changed for him. His path started to be uncomfortable with him and it was warring with his mindset. Should he continue on the right path or should he veer off the righteous path into the world of darkness?
As you know Jason didn’t stay on the right path. He gets involved in the street life heavy. He jumped into the world of drugs and fast money and didn’t look back. He links up with his boy Jerrell and they jump into the street life. On the other side of the street life is a young dude named Fresh. Fresh moves up in the world once Smoke is dead. Fresh is making moves because he wants to be the big fish in the streets. Fresh and Jason hook up and that is when things start shaking up in the underworld of drugs and money. Jason no longer goes by the name Jason. He becomes Real and Real is one you want to know but don’t want to know.
What are you willing to do recognize real? What are you willing to give up to be seen as real? Will you recognize real when it's staring you in the face?
I am giving three stars. Starling’s debut novel is a good read and kept my attention. I am looking forward to seeing what happens when real is recognized.
Reviewed By: LaLa Garrett
Jason Johnson is church boy gone wrong. He started out on the right path in life but something changed for him. His path started to be uncomfortable with him and it was warring with his mindset. Should he continue on the right path or should he veer off the righteous path into the world of darkness?
As you know Jason didn’t stay on the right path. He gets involved in the street life heavy. He jumped into the world of drugs and fast money and didn’t look back. He links up with his boy Jerrell and they jump into the street life. On the other side of the street life is a young dude named Fresh. Fresh moves up in the world once Smoke is dead. Fresh is making moves because he wants to be the big fish in the streets. Fresh and Jason hook up and that is when things start shaking up in the underworld of drugs and money. Jason no longer goes by the name Jason. He becomes Real and Real is one you want to know but don’t want to know.
What are you willing to do recognize real? What are you willing to give up to be seen as real? Will you recognize real when it's staring you in the face?
I am giving three stars. Starling’s debut novel is a good read and kept my attention. I am looking forward to seeing what happens when real is recognized.
Reviewed By: LaLa Garrett
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2015
This book was way different than what I expected. There were so many different characters with different parts. Jason/Real was a very complex young man who at this point was able to keep his christian upbringing even though he was focused on hustling. He started out wanting to create a better existence for his family but it never happened. Along the way he develops a relationship with a young lady who tries to help him refocus. The other fellas in his circle were wild cards focused on getting money, partying and getting high. When a new player is brought into the group Jason/Real doesn't trust him and soon after members of the crew start disappearing and coming up dead. It was a well written story and I look forward to part 2 and how Jason develops and finds hisself in the hands of the law.
April 18, 2016
Banger !
First thanks Shawn for gifting me this book ! You did that from beginning to end. I enjoyed this read. Jason swear he had it all figured out. He went against everything he was taught in life. The streets definitely ain't what he expected. After running into countless snakes and not knowing who to trust. It was more than he bargained for. Excellent job Shawn. Definitely a five star read.
First thanks Shawn for gifting me this book ! You did that from beginning to end. I enjoyed this read. Jason swear he had it all figured out. He went against everything he was taught in life. The streets definitely ain't what he expected. After running into countless snakes and not knowing who to trust. It was more than he bargained for. Excellent job Shawn. Definitely a five star read.
May 28, 2016
Ish is real!
Even though it took me a minute to read this book, I lime how it flowed. It seemed to be a coming of age story with Real and his true friends going separate ways when he chose the streets instead of school. This was a well written coming of age story with a gritty backdrop. This story allows you a peek into a world driven by poverty and greed at any cost.
Happy Reading,
The Official Dcbookreviewer
Even though it took me a minute to read this book, I lime how it flowed. It seemed to be a coming of age story with Real and his true friends going separate ways when he chose the streets instead of school. This was a well written coming of age story with a gritty backdrop. This story allows you a peek into a world driven by poverty and greed at any cost.
Happy Reading,
The Official Dcbookreviewer
March 21, 2015
Amazing
For this being Shawn Starling's first book I am impressed. The book pulls you in where you want to know who the players are. I can't wait to read the next book. Great job Shawn Starling you have a fan here.
For this being Shawn Starling's first book I am impressed. The book pulls you in where you want to know who the players are. I can't wait to read the next book. Great job Shawn Starling you have a fan here.
April 13, 2015
Whew, this was definitley a page turner. It was really something how this young man got sucked into the street life but you can tell that it's not where his heart is. I started praying for him like he became a real person to me.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews