Bookverdict.com

The Candy Shop is Faith's favorite spot these days-it's a drug house where Faith goes to get her "candy." An assistant principal at a Norfolk, VA, high school, Faith is stressed out by the demands of her job and a strained marriage. When a day at work becomes particularly bad, Faith's secretary, Teresa, introduces her to cocaine. That first hit begins Faith's downward spiral. As Faith becomes homeless, Teresa lures her deeper into the drug world by allowing her to hang out at her home, which is also a den of addicts and ruthless dealers. Verdict Upon its initial publication by Melodrama Publishing in 2007, this novel received a mixed response; however, the paperback reissue may encourage readers to give another chance to this raw, in-your-face portrait of a drug addict reminiscent of Donald Goines's 1971 classic Dopefiend (see below). While we may think of typical street-lit stories as detailing the drug-inflicted downtrodden, Swinson breaks new ground in her depiction of a middle-class character whose life goes out of control. What propels this character to give up the American dream to become a dopefiend? Swinson's argument isn't very convincing, but street-lit fans will enjoy her gritty and authentic account.-Vanessa Irvin Morris, The iSchool at Drexel Univ., Philadelphia Copyright 2009 Media Source Inc. Copyright 2009 Media Source Inc. ...Log In or Sign Up to Read More