Review of Carl Weber's So You Call Yourself a Man

Carl Weber's newest novel, "So You Call Yourself a Man" has hit the New York Times Bestseller list for a reason. While reading this book I found that I would laugh so hard I had to run to the bathroom, but there were also scenes that made me want to cry.

The story is about the friendship, love life and personal lives of three best friends, James Robinson, Brent Williams, and Sonny Harrison. Of course, Weber references a few clichés about black people such as: "the angry black man", the unruly baby mama and the baby mama drama, the gay black man who you NEVER thought would ever have an ounce of homosexual tendencies. What I did like most about this book was that he didn't make the characters too boring, they were all complex with external and internal conflicts.

James is the married one who cheated on his wife. He already has two boys with his wife, but the woman he cheated with has a child too, so now James has another son. His baby mama is demanding him to watch his son all the time while she goes to work and while she goes clubbing (she works nights, so you know his wife is going to start asking questions).

Brent is the God-fearing, sanctified best friend who just got married...he is also described as being the most attractive of the bunch. He is supposed to be so devoted to his fat wife that when an attractive, model-esque woman approaches him in the airport, he politely declines her card and walks away. I don't know where these men are in real life, but if you're reading this, come my way! T

he last friend, Sonny, has his wife just left him while he was on a trip to make a better life for them and their kids. As it turned out, he was beating her behind up and down the street everyday and she couldn't take it anymore. When he hooks up with his new girl, she still has problems with her baby's daddy, but Sonny will kill to keep her. The plot thickens...

If you are in a book club and you need a book that will have your group shouting, screaming and hollering, I recommend this one. If you're a fan of well-written literature, I recommend this book. I give this book four and a half out of five stars.