The Hole: Book One

by Dameon Gibbs

Experience and relive The Hole, it is a true inspiring story in which a young man desperately struggled to overcome The Hole. To him the streets of Baltimore city was a hole, it was a place that had bind and consumed his life, it gave some but took more. Surviving in the streets he had to watch as the drug game sucked many of his friends and family down into its dark abyss like the black hole it truly was. Finally realizing after years of tribulation and lost, he came to find that the key to his redemption lay in a form least expected.

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 28, 2014

About the author

Dameon Gibbs holds an BA in Anthropology and World History and an MA in Classical Studies. For the past five years he has worked with inner-city youth in Baltimore, Maryland. He has been an avid writer since his days in high school during the late 1990's. He enjoys the creative process of all writing genres, whether it be religious, poetic, science fiction, historical, biographies or action adventure.

Reviews

[Camillia (Twenty Three Pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book, I didn't like it. It was set in Baltimore and it talked about life in the streets. About having sex and getting into gang fights. Something that I, as a Singaporean was not used to. I couldn't level with the author because I didn't understand his lifestyle. That said, I kept reading because there was just something about it that kept me interested.

So the story follows Will as he lives his life, gets into trouble with his brothers and chases girls. Around the middle of the book, something incredible happens. The author's older brother Will gets shot and he goes into a coma for 7 months.

Following that, he becomes paralysed from the waist down and he doesn't walk for 2 years. Then one night, after praying passionately, The Lord gave him the ability to walk again. After parading his new ability around to his family, he broke the very promise that he made to get God to give him back the ability to walk. So, God took the ability away again. The author quoted the bible here saying, 'The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.'. I have always read stories about the Lord giving. In majority of the things I've heard, The Lord is always giving. Very rarely do you come across a story that shows you that the Lord also takes away. Eventually the Lord granted him the ability to walk again though and that experience changed Will's life drastically.

I have never read a book that was so raw and honest as this one was. I could feel that the author was stripping bare in this book and just letting his memories consume him which is something you rarely find in novels and autobiographies nowadays.

This is certainly a must-read because of it's honesty. What I liked about the book was also because the author wasn't trying to cover anything up. He portrayed Baltimore and life there the way it was. There want stereotypes that you find in the movies. There was just him and his life.

FOR AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR, VISIT MY BLOG HERE: http://twentythreeowls.blogspot.sg/20...

[R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are a number of things disquieting about Gibbs' book The Hole. Its premise is supposed to be based on the a question posed by the author's son, resulting in a reflective recitation on growing up in Baltimore in the 80's and 90's. In understanding this work though, the reader has to know what it is not. It is a polished, traditionally published that resembles what one typically thinks of as a common book. Accepting that, one can move on to the story at the heart of the matter.

And that is where the real disappointment begins. Gibbs clearly has an important story to tell, but the boundaries of his canvas leave much to be desired. At the outset, Gibbs never reveals what the question was that prompted his writing. The nearly complete lack of context in book does not lead one to guess as to the substance of the question. Despite the problems in the book, Gibbs is able to keep the reader engaged, but mostly in hopes of a payoff for the time investment. Instead, the graphic and the prurient keep the pages turning. In the end, Gibbs seems to accomplish little more than aggrandizing a lifestyle and childhood that nearly cost him his life. Given time, Gibbs may transform himself into a masterful story-teller, but The Hole is probably not a reflection of his best efforts.

This review is based on a free copy of the book provided by the author.

[TruthBeTold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a "Man" that reads and with these 2 Brothers sharing their past history with growing up in one of the hard-core West-Side City of Baltimore is extraordinaire. And now, they are a living Testimony of being Black Authors of telling it like it really is with the Truth. I'm only half way, and I'm here to tell you, I had to stop reading just to get a bottle of water several times from chocking of laughter so damn hard. In the beginning, it reminds me of reading the Bible of "Genesis" with explaining the numbers and their family history. These are some Bad Hard-Headed Brothers that played so many tricks and games on one another and survive through the Grace of God..omg..!!! Because to whom much is given, much is required and with that being said, I applaud you Brothers to the fullest of sharing your Powerful Testimony of Love, The Hard Way. May God continue on Blessing each of you and I'm sending traveling mercies for me to get my 2 copies signed to add to my Black History Collection of my Library of Arts from Black Amazing Authors. The Saga continues in Book 2 & 3, in which I finish reading and can't wait for Book 4 of next year. A MUST READ..!!!!

[Kourtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stream-of-consciousness memoir that provides an intimate portrait of inner city life in Baltimore in the 80s and 90s. You are right there with Will when his parents are spiraling into drugs or he's gets a beating for a food fight inside his parents' house. You can't help rooting for him and his family to overcome everything they face. This first hand account of a teen shooting and the painful recovery process is a riveting read. It's an honest and insightful glimpse into a world many have heard about but few truly understand. One of my favorite lines is: I would rather be tried by twelve jurors than to be carried by six pall bearers. Definitely worth reading. I look forward to the sequel!

[Joannes Rhino · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hole by Dameon Gibbs is someone's personal journal. I assume it's based on the actual event, either the author or someone he knows. It's about true experience living in the street, as he called "The Hole", something that will open readers eyes to understand more about how tough trying to survive with all the mess surrounding. I used to live like this when I was living in the remote area of Melbourne, so I know exactly about what really happened in the street, and the author described it very well....so well. It's an honest reading. Clearly the author has no intention to hide something. It is what it was. Splendid!

[Michael Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes you on a ride thru the streets of Baltimore which the Author calls it The Hole. I have been to Baltimore and also I have heard many stories about some of the things that go on out there. The Hole is a real life story there is no fiction here. How the Author describes things that happen in his life is incredible! I don't want to be the one who spoils a good story so I would recommend this book to all my friends!

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a first read. The memoir is as gritty as the city of Baltimore itself. It's honest and brutal. It talks about a lot of the ugly and violent elements of life but it also talks about family and spirituality. It's written in urban vernacular and told in a friendly storytelling format. It ends a bit abruptly but the story is picked up in Book Two. Fans of Manchild in the Promised Land will find a kindred book in this no holds barred text.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it and I didn't like it.

When I started to read this book I couldn't put it down. I thought it was a biography, especially with all the chapter notes. As I read further, I got more and more confused. Was the lead character Christian, confused, suffering brain damage from the constant fighting and beatings he received? Why does he revert to guns after promising so often to mend his ways? I simply could not tell.