Shannon Tatum
Graduate Student
T.I., also known as Tip Harris, has once again added another facet to his ever-growing list of talents. The Hip-Hop artist/actor has just penned his first novel, “Power & Beauty: A Love Story of Life on the Streets.”
The story, which was developed and completed over T.I.’s two stints in jail in as many years, chronicles the hardships, losses and triumphs of two teenagers raised in the hood.
The novel, written under the direction of acclaimed author David Ritz, was released after T.I.’s September 2011 release from prison. Ritz is most noted for his work with many R&B and Soul artists on their autobiographies. Some of these music legends include: Ray Charles, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and Janet Jackson. Ritz also claims to have co-written Gaye’s 1982 Hit ‘Sexual Healing.’
Many times throughout the novel I felt that the book may have been written by Ritz with help from T.I., instead of the other way around.
The book starts with the two main characters dealing with a horrific loss and how that loss separates the two. Many circumstances surrounding their relationship and Power’s connections to the world of crime are obstacles that keep them apart but Power spends much of the book trying to reconcile the relationship.
Beauty, however, who although loves Power, wants nothing to do with a life of crime and decides to pursue her dreams of becoming a fashion designer and this goal takes her far away from the one she loves most of all.
If you like action and adventure, the first part of the novel entitled ‘Him’ will meet those needs. Power’s lessons on the streets are both gritty and exciting. He not only learns how to survive, he learns how to succeed. His education takes place both in college classrooms and back alleys. Beauty’s lessons are given in a world among the rich and powerful, but prove to be just as treacherous as Power’s.
“Power & Beauty” was a page-turner to the very end. Here lies the problem. When you get to the end of the book, there should be at least 10 more pages, but stop looking, there isn’t! The book ends right in the middle of the story line and offers no resolution, no climax or culmination of events. It really does not end, it just stops. I was both confused and angry that these authors would commit such a felony offense of writing. I am now waiting and hoping for T.I.’s next legal mishap so I can find out what happens to Power and Beauty!
I have read many books in which the author leaves the reader with the sense that there is more to come but this was just ridiculous! I am and always will be a fan of T.I.’s music, but this is my first and last time reading a novel written by him. Well, I may have to pick up a copy of Book 2 to see what the ending of Book 1 should have been, but then….it’s over….maybe.
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