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True to the Game #1
True to the Game
True to the Game is considered a 'street classic' and for over twenty years has been in the hearts of its readers with a story like no other. Gena the main character finds herself in true blue love with Quadir, a millionaire associated with the cartel. Quadir is faced with combating the art of extortion and interception masterminded by the notorious Junior Mafia, which reigns from the inner city streets of Philadelphia onto the pages of this book. Both Gena and Quadir find themselves caught up in the vicious, yet seductive, world of drugs and money, only to find that success int his Game is no easy win. There's no way out once you're in, and everyone in stays forever...TRUE. Enjoy a copy today of the ORIGINAL and CLASSIC cover copy of TRUE TO THE GAME!
244 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 1998
673 people are currently reading
12603 people want to read
About the author
Teri Woods
22Ìýbooks609ÌýfollowersTrue to the Game by author and publisher Teri Woods has been undisputedly titled a classic. While working as a legal secretary for a law firm and juggling motherhood in Philadelphia, PA, Teri Woods completed her first novel, True to the Game. Teri Woods submitted her story over a period of six years to more than 20 different publishers, all of whom rejected her. When major publishing houses refused to embrace True to the Game she wasn’t discouraged. In 1998 instead of giving up, Teri Woods printed, bound, self-published and began selling hand to hand her first book True to the Game. . . . Her grassroots tactic paid off; Teri Woods became a self-made millionaire in just three years selling her novel, True to the Game. She landed a major motion picture deal for the book as well. With the release of True to the Game, Teri Woods has reinvigorated the urban fiction market and created a growing trend in publishing.
--from the author's website
--from the author's website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 388 reviews
June 30, 2017
Fabulous series! incredible writing,this book was engaging and had a nicely developed cast of characters..recommend (paperback!)
May 1, 2017
I liked the book because I think that it showed the consequences of being a drug dealer. It showed that being "true to the game" would leave you dead, or paralyzed.
But I had a problem with all of the grammatical errors that showed up in the book. Also some of the things that the characters would say was a little repetitive.
I also wanted Gena to learn more by the end of the book. I wanted her to learn that she needs to get away from the game. Because it may bring wealth and material things, but in the end it leaves tragedy and despair.
Plus I hate the ongoing theme in urban literature where the guy cheats on his girlfriend all the time, but the author still praises him like he loves the girl anyway. I don't completely doubt Qua's love for Gena. But if the author really wanted me to believe that Q loved Gena beyond any doubt, then he should have been faithful to her.
But I had a problem with all of the grammatical errors that showed up in the book. Also some of the things that the characters would say was a little repetitive.
I also wanted Gena to learn more by the end of the book. I wanted her to learn that she needs to get away from the game. Because it may bring wealth and material things, but in the end it leaves tragedy and despair.
Plus I hate the ongoing theme in urban literature where the guy cheats on his girlfriend all the time, but the author still praises him like he loves the girl anyway. I don't completely doubt Qua's love for Gena. But if the author really wanted me to believe that Q loved Gena beyond any doubt, then he should have been faithful to her.
December 8, 2010
Two stars and that is being generous. How did this book make it to the top when they are so many well-written writers who go unnoticed? I have no earthly ideal. If Teri Wood can make it as a so called writer, and be well received with accolades, any one can. Gena is one of the most underdeveloped characters I have read; and what was so special about Quadir? That he sells drugs to his own people and is rich because of that. The plot in the beginning was all over the place. I like street fiction when the characters are developed and there is a lesson and good story line. This was trash! So mad I picked it up because of all the rave reviews I'd read. And they said Teri Woods is the new generation's voice from the street. If this is true we are in serious trouble.
August 1, 2013
I read this as part of my library's Urban Fiction genre study.
Years ago, when I took a library school class on adult popular fiction, I had to read two westerns. One of them was Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey. It wasn't the best book I've ever read, but it was very entertaining, and it contained all the elements I expected to find in the genre: cattle stampedes! Tumbleweeds! A damsel in distress! A villain who, literally, wore a black hat!
I feel the same way about True to the Game. It's not the best book I've ever read, but it was consistently entertaining, and it contained all of the elements I expected to find in the genre (plus a cat named Gucci).
I'd call this a rags-to-riches story, but Gena's not the sort of woman who would ever wear rags, so it's more of a projects-to-Main Line (then back to the projects then back to the Main Line again) story. In the beginning, Gena has a good-for-nothing boyfriend, a flirtatious best friend, and a desire to make a better life for herself. When she meets Quadir on an excursion to New York City, she's intrigued, and when she gets to know him, they fall passionately in love. Quadir is Philadelphia's coke kingpin, and he's got enough disposable income to give Gena the life she's always wanted. Making the kind of money that Quadir makes puts a person in a lot of danger, and there's an upstart gang who wants a bigger piece of the drug-dealing pie.
So there's a tough-but-tender heroine, a hero who, given the chance, really just wants to be a dentist, a grandmother (Gah Git) who is the mother to an entire neighborhood worth of children, a variety of associates and hangers-on who want their piece of the good life, and villains who want to get in the way of Gena and Quadir's happiness. Woods does a good job capturing the atmosphere of the streets and the varied relationships that develop between the characters.
It's easy to decry urban fiction as literature that reinforces illegal behavior. I disagree. Woods doesn't glamorize the facts of these characters' lives. What they do and how they live is dangerous. It could get you shot. It could get you killed. It's one thing to have millions of dollars stashed away in a safe, but that money means nothing if you're dead--and that's a point that's conveyed very effectively in this book. It's up to the individual to decide if the game is worth the risk.
Years ago, when I took a library school class on adult popular fiction, I had to read two westerns. One of them was Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey. It wasn't the best book I've ever read, but it was very entertaining, and it contained all the elements I expected to find in the genre: cattle stampedes! Tumbleweeds! A damsel in distress! A villain who, literally, wore a black hat!
I feel the same way about True to the Game. It's not the best book I've ever read, but it was consistently entertaining, and it contained all of the elements I expected to find in the genre (plus a cat named Gucci).
I'd call this a rags-to-riches story, but Gena's not the sort of woman who would ever wear rags, so it's more of a projects-to-Main Line (then back to the projects then back to the Main Line again) story. In the beginning, Gena has a good-for-nothing boyfriend, a flirtatious best friend, and a desire to make a better life for herself. When she meets Quadir on an excursion to New York City, she's intrigued, and when she gets to know him, they fall passionately in love. Quadir is Philadelphia's coke kingpin, and he's got enough disposable income to give Gena the life she's always wanted. Making the kind of money that Quadir makes puts a person in a lot of danger, and there's an upstart gang who wants a bigger piece of the drug-dealing pie.
So there's a tough-but-tender heroine, a hero who, given the chance, really just wants to be a dentist, a grandmother (Gah Git) who is the mother to an entire neighborhood worth of children, a variety of associates and hangers-on who want their piece of the good life, and villains who want to get in the way of Gena and Quadir's happiness. Woods does a good job capturing the atmosphere of the streets and the varied relationships that develop between the characters.
It's easy to decry urban fiction as literature that reinforces illegal behavior. I disagree. Woods doesn't glamorize the facts of these characters' lives. What they do and how they live is dangerous. It could get you shot. It could get you killed. It's one thing to have millions of dollars stashed away in a safe, but that money means nothing if you're dead--and that's a point that's conveyed very effectively in this book. It's up to the individual to decide if the game is worth the risk.
October 12, 2007
I'VE JUST COMPLETED READING A BOOK CALLED,"TRUE TO THE GAME".WHICH IS ABOUT A WOMEN NAMED GENA WHO HAS HAD A RECENT RELATIONSHIP WERE SHE WAS ABUSED BY A MAN NAMED JAMAL,SO SHE LEFT HIM FOR A MILLIONAIRE NAMED QUADIR WHO HAD IT ALL GOOD LOOKS,MONEY,JEWELS JUST EVERYTHING HE WAS A DREAM MAN A FANTASY.SHE HAD MET HIM AT NIGHT CLUB OUT OF TOWN WITH HER BESTFREIND SAHIRA WHO WAS BRUTALLY MURDERED DURING THE READING WHICH WAS A HEART BREAKING MOMENT. A LIL AFTER HER FRIEND WAS MURDERED WHEN SHE THOUGHT LIFE COULD'NT GET ANY TOUGHER HER 1 IN A MILIION DREAM GUY'S LIFE HAD BEEN TOOKEN NOW SHE DOESNT KNOW WAT TO DO JUST WHEN SHE THOUGHT SHE HAS HAD THE PEFECT LIFE
March 17, 2018
It felt just like the very first time
I red this book what now seems like a lifetime ago and it always been in my top 5 list of classics.
With the movie scheduled to come out in a few days, my bookclub decided to read so we can compare and from page one I was sucked completely in all over again.
There were a few things I felt different about this time around such as Gena and Qua's love. Back in the day I thought they were everything together, now with age and wisdom under my belt I found myself feeling more sorry for Gena than anything. True enough Qua took EXCEPTIONAL care of her but can we REALLY say he loved this girl?
All in all it was still an amazing story of love, heartbreak and life being sooo blue. I absolutely can't wait to finish the trilogy AND see the movie. I'm praying that they do it justice but if they don't I won't even be mad because I can always come back to this book that will forever be classically TRUE TO THE GAME
My name is K Sherrie
And I recommend this read
I red this book what now seems like a lifetime ago and it always been in my top 5 list of classics.
With the movie scheduled to come out in a few days, my bookclub decided to read so we can compare and from page one I was sucked completely in all over again.
There were a few things I felt different about this time around such as Gena and Qua's love. Back in the day I thought they were everything together, now with age and wisdom under my belt I found myself feeling more sorry for Gena than anything. True enough Qua took EXCEPTIONAL care of her but can we REALLY say he loved this girl?
All in all it was still an amazing story of love, heartbreak and life being sooo blue. I absolutely can't wait to finish the trilogy AND see the movie. I'm praying that they do it justice but if they don't I won't even be mad because I can always come back to this book that will forever be classically TRUE TO THE GAME
My name is K Sherrie
And I recommend this read
October 29, 2009
I read this book, finally, because I always heard good reviews about it. I honestly do not see why. The main character had no development throughout the book. She seemed to only care about money and how to maintain her lifestyle. The writing was going back and forth from different points of view often jumping around making it read like a school aged story. Maybe If I was eighteen I could appreciate this novel a little more. (It was such a simple read that I was able to finish it in less than 24 hours.)
November 11, 2021
I loved the whirlwind love story for Gena & Quadir, and wish that had been more of the focus for this book.
All the side stories/characters pull focus and didn't really have any impact on Gena & Quadir's story.
We could have gotten to the same conclusion without all the other bits and it would have been much more enjoyable getting there.
The whole forty storyline/court case was completely unnecessary and far too much time was wasted on it. There were other bits too, but that one was driving me bananas.
I like Teri Woods' style and am intrigued enough to check out book two.
All the side stories/characters pull focus and didn't really have any impact on Gena & Quadir's story.
We could have gotten to the same conclusion without all the other bits and it would have been much more enjoyable getting there.
The whole forty storyline/court case was completely unnecessary and far too much time was wasted on it. There were other bits too, but that one was driving me bananas.
I like Teri Woods' style and am intrigued enough to check out book two.
August 14, 2017
Superficial tale of money, "love(as long as the money lasted)" and hood fame
I listened to the book on audible. I was a bit disappointed. I do like a good "street lit" book. They are gritty, raw and take you on a ride you won't forget. This one fell short for me.
The characters were extremely superficial. This made it hard to believe the deep and soul shattering love between the 2 primaries. While we were told that Gina and Quadar had this amazing , deep connection and love for one another, it was not evident in their interactions with one another nor with their individual thoughts about each other. One minute Gina was on relationship "probation", because she was untrustworthy. A few paragraphs later, she was in Quadar's private apartment and they were mad about each other. As with a few other points in the story, the telling of how Q & Gina made a connection was glossed over and had you wondering if there was audio or pages missing. Gina and the other females in the story were all money hungry and lusted for street fame by snagging a "baller". Telling a reader that 2 people had love and loyalty for each other is different than showing the reader. I did not see a love for the men or themselves. My book club is listening to the trilogy. I hope book 2 has "meat".
I listened to the book on audible. I was a bit disappointed. I do like a good "street lit" book. They are gritty, raw and take you on a ride you won't forget. This one fell short for me.
The characters were extremely superficial. This made it hard to believe the deep and soul shattering love between the 2 primaries. While we were told that Gina and Quadar had this amazing , deep connection and love for one another, it was not evident in their interactions with one another nor with their individual thoughts about each other. One minute Gina was on relationship "probation", because she was untrustworthy. A few paragraphs later, she was in Quadar's private apartment and they were mad about each other. As with a few other points in the story, the telling of how Q & Gina made a connection was glossed over and had you wondering if there was audio or pages missing. Gina and the other females in the story were all money hungry and lusted for street fame by snagging a "baller". Telling a reader that 2 people had love and loyalty for each other is different than showing the reader. I did not see a love for the men or themselves. My book club is listening to the trilogy. I hope book 2 has "meat".
September 10, 2015
Trash...no plot and I couldn't really connect to any of the characters. They were too ignorant for me. But I was never into the drug game. I don't mind chasing women but these guys were dogging these women and the women were seriously just after money. Boring. Worse was how shallow everyone was. There's more to life than money. You can't take money with you after you're dead. You can't take jewelry with you when you're gone. You can't take any of that material nonsense with you.
April 20, 2009
When I was about twelve years old I was in the Philadelphia Library in search of a book for school. Scanning the shelves I came across an aisle dedicated to African American Fiction Novels. The first book I laid eyes on was “True To The Game� by Teri Woods. The book cover was a plain black paperback with a set of dice on the bottom and the words TRUE TO THE GAME in big bold white letters. The book cover was very simple not eye grabbing but the title made me want to see what it was about.
True to the Game was an urban tale about the drug game during the late 1980’s in the city of Philadelphia. The main characters Gena and Quadir find themselves caught in a vicious, yet seductive world of drugs and money. The price of fancy living can be expensive at time and deadly. In Gena’s case she must deal with the abuse from her then boyfriend Jalil who paid all her bills, provided her with money, jewelry and kept her in the latest fashion.
This lifestyle soon became only a memory to Gena when she meets Quadir aka “Qua� one night in Harlem. Quadir a million dollar drug dealer sweeps Gena off her feet with a trip to Jamaica. They haven’t separated since. But all stories can’t have a happy ending. Quadir is faced with the art of extortion brought upon by the notorious Junior Mafia. With Quadir at war with the Junior Mafia, Gena is forced to hold her man down, their house, their cars, and his MONEY. With everything at stake they both must stay on top of their game and win. But all is tainted when Gena and Quadir join a party thrown by a close friend. Gunshots are fired bodies were dropped and lives were lost and among them were Quadir.
Gena is forced to watch the love of her life die and with him goes all her faith. Gena is lost now without Qua. His mother took back the Minnie mansion they once shared. She took the cars and left Gena for dead. Gena didn’t accept any handouts. Gena return to the projects with her Grandmother and started from scratch. One day Gena received mail. It was a bill to an unknown address. Gena visited the apartment and recognized it immediately as the one Quadir visited periodically. Using the key Gena entered the complex. As she toured the apartment she came across a closet with steel safes built into them. Calling up a locksmith Gena revealed Quadir millions of dollars. She found his hidden treasure but what would she do with it? Who could she tell? Who could she trust? No one. Bagging up the millions Gena climbed in her Mercedes jumped on the Ben Franklin Bridge. She prepared to leave Philly and never return. But some one has other plans for her.
True to the game was one of my very first urban novels I read. It set the standard high for any other urban books. True to the game was a page turning book. It had drama, it was realistic, and told a love story. All qualities an urban book should contain.
True to the Game was really a drama filled book. The arguments and the emotional dialogue kept me intrigued.
She walked over to the jeep and knocked on the glass window. Jamal jumped out of what looked like a very uncomfortable sleeping position.
"Where the fuck you been?"
Gena just looked at him, as if she didn't know what he was talking about.
"I spent the night over Sahirah's, Jamal."
"Oh, that gold-diggin' bitch with the matching hat and shovel?" Climbing out of the jeep, he continued, "I thought I told you I didn't want you hanging around her!"
"I know what you told me, Jamal, but this is a free country and I can do what I ..." The words were lost as her body made its way to the pavement with the force of Jamal's backhand.� The drama in this book kept me glued to the chair. Every chapter in True To The Game had drama. It went from Gena’s abusive relationship, to the death of her best friend Sahirah, then her relationship with Quadir. The drama kept me on edge. Hungry for more. The production in the book is only one reason why I loved True to the Game.
True To the Game was such a realistic book. Nothing was sugar coated. Everything was real and gutter. The streets were described to a T. They had real life gang groups in the book and the time frame was on point. The way Teri Woods put life in Gena and Quadir made them appear to be real life people. Their problems were the same like any other couple. They weren’t like other characters in books I read. Teri gave them life. They were raised in the projects; they had to deal with poverty, tragedies and hardships. It wasn’t hard for me to imagine them. Instead of Teri idealizing the picture of life of a “hustler� and his wife she represented life as it really is. She made it seeable. This is another reason why I liked this book.
“Quadir studied Gena as though he'd just been introduced to a goddess. My name is Quadir." From their meeting I was in love with the book. When reading True to the game the love story it shared was “So Blue� as Gena would say. Gena and Quadir relationship was like the urban Bonnie and Clyde or Romeo and Juliet. True to the Game told the love story of two people stuck in a hateful filled world. The love in this story was so real it had me wishing I had somebody to love me like that. When Gena and Quadir went to Jamaica for their first date they made love on a white sand beach where the waves crashed against their skin. Gena would write Quadir love poems when he went out to “work� and they’d sit in their mansion cuddled up in front of the fireplace staring in each other eyes. Cute right? I became so attach to their relationship that when Quadir died I cried reading how Gena broke down. The love story True to the Game told is the last reason why I loved it!
In conclusion, True to the Game was the best book I’ve ever read, it is definitely a must read book. I loved True to the Game so much I read it six times. Teri Woods really set the standards for urban authors. Teri Woods “True to the Game� was a page-turner. It had drama, it was realistic, and it told a love story. I Loved This Book!
True to the Game was an urban tale about the drug game during the late 1980’s in the city of Philadelphia. The main characters Gena and Quadir find themselves caught in a vicious, yet seductive world of drugs and money. The price of fancy living can be expensive at time and deadly. In Gena’s case she must deal with the abuse from her then boyfriend Jalil who paid all her bills, provided her with money, jewelry and kept her in the latest fashion.
This lifestyle soon became only a memory to Gena when she meets Quadir aka “Qua� one night in Harlem. Quadir a million dollar drug dealer sweeps Gena off her feet with a trip to Jamaica. They haven’t separated since. But all stories can’t have a happy ending. Quadir is faced with the art of extortion brought upon by the notorious Junior Mafia. With Quadir at war with the Junior Mafia, Gena is forced to hold her man down, their house, their cars, and his MONEY. With everything at stake they both must stay on top of their game and win. But all is tainted when Gena and Quadir join a party thrown by a close friend. Gunshots are fired bodies were dropped and lives were lost and among them were Quadir.
Gena is forced to watch the love of her life die and with him goes all her faith. Gena is lost now without Qua. His mother took back the Minnie mansion they once shared. She took the cars and left Gena for dead. Gena didn’t accept any handouts. Gena return to the projects with her Grandmother and started from scratch. One day Gena received mail. It was a bill to an unknown address. Gena visited the apartment and recognized it immediately as the one Quadir visited periodically. Using the key Gena entered the complex. As she toured the apartment she came across a closet with steel safes built into them. Calling up a locksmith Gena revealed Quadir millions of dollars. She found his hidden treasure but what would she do with it? Who could she tell? Who could she trust? No one. Bagging up the millions Gena climbed in her Mercedes jumped on the Ben Franklin Bridge. She prepared to leave Philly and never return. But some one has other plans for her.
True to the game was one of my very first urban novels I read. It set the standard high for any other urban books. True to the game was a page turning book. It had drama, it was realistic, and told a love story. All qualities an urban book should contain.
True to the Game was really a drama filled book. The arguments and the emotional dialogue kept me intrigued.
She walked over to the jeep and knocked on the glass window. Jamal jumped out of what looked like a very uncomfortable sleeping position.
"Where the fuck you been?"
Gena just looked at him, as if she didn't know what he was talking about.
"I spent the night over Sahirah's, Jamal."
"Oh, that gold-diggin' bitch with the matching hat and shovel?" Climbing out of the jeep, he continued, "I thought I told you I didn't want you hanging around her!"
"I know what you told me, Jamal, but this is a free country and I can do what I ..." The words were lost as her body made its way to the pavement with the force of Jamal's backhand.� The drama in this book kept me glued to the chair. Every chapter in True To The Game had drama. It went from Gena’s abusive relationship, to the death of her best friend Sahirah, then her relationship with Quadir. The drama kept me on edge. Hungry for more. The production in the book is only one reason why I loved True to the Game.
True To the Game was such a realistic book. Nothing was sugar coated. Everything was real and gutter. The streets were described to a T. They had real life gang groups in the book and the time frame was on point. The way Teri Woods put life in Gena and Quadir made them appear to be real life people. Their problems were the same like any other couple. They weren’t like other characters in books I read. Teri gave them life. They were raised in the projects; they had to deal with poverty, tragedies and hardships. It wasn’t hard for me to imagine them. Instead of Teri idealizing the picture of life of a “hustler� and his wife she represented life as it really is. She made it seeable. This is another reason why I liked this book.
“Quadir studied Gena as though he'd just been introduced to a goddess. My name is Quadir." From their meeting I was in love with the book. When reading True to the game the love story it shared was “So Blue� as Gena would say. Gena and Quadir relationship was like the urban Bonnie and Clyde or Romeo and Juliet. True to the Game told the love story of two people stuck in a hateful filled world. The love in this story was so real it had me wishing I had somebody to love me like that. When Gena and Quadir went to Jamaica for their first date they made love on a white sand beach where the waves crashed against their skin. Gena would write Quadir love poems when he went out to “work� and they’d sit in their mansion cuddled up in front of the fireplace staring in each other eyes. Cute right? I became so attach to their relationship that when Quadir died I cried reading how Gena broke down. The love story True to the Game told is the last reason why I loved it!
In conclusion, True to the Game was the best book I’ve ever read, it is definitely a must read book. I loved True to the Game so much I read it six times. Teri Woods really set the standards for urban authors. Teri Woods “True to the Game� was a page-turner. It had drama, it was realistic, and it told a love story. I Loved This Book!
January 14, 2011
"Even the rich are hungry for love, for being cared for, for being wanted, for having someone to call their own." In this book one of the main characters Gena represents this quote very well. She wanted someone to call hers, whohe could trust. She was hungry for love and wanted to be cared for but she didnt want to work hard for it she wanted someone else to. This book is about a girl name Gena who is eighteen years old who goes out to different clubs in different citites and states to look for top ballars who can take care of her. She is very desperate to find a man who can take care of her so she doesnt have to work . Gena's dreams finally comes through when she meets Quadir her dreams come true. She gets to live the good life. He spoils her with diamonds , a big house and shopping sprees that have no limites. Gena feels on top of the world, she doesnt have to work for anything she wants all she has to do is ask for it . Gena doesnt care that she is spending dirty money and that anyday her "Lover" can be killed because of the kind of work he does. Problems start to happen with Quadir's drug business. people start to die and people start to get kidnapped because of tritiory. Quadir is making millions a week and other drug lords aren't making as much and start to become jealous. Quadir wants to get out the game but doesn't know how. Many people tell him he won't make it out alive but Quadir believes he can. But something in his head tells him that he probaly wont be able to so he starts to hide some of his money where nobody knows where it will be stored. Gena starts to catch on that there are problems and start to think about what will happen to her if Quadir dies she doesnt know how she will be able t go on with life without him because she has no money of her own she depends on Quadir a lot. Only time can tell what will happen! I would recommend this book to mature young adults because it has a lot of description that can be disturbing.I gave this book three starts because it was kind of a slow book it only got interesting at the end. There really wasnt anything shocking happening in the book that kept me interested.
August 19, 2017
Wooo, lordt this was terrible. I checked it out after seeing a trailer for the movie somewhere. The movie looked terrible so I thought maybe this was one of those cases where the book would be better. WRONG. Smh
March 23, 2013
Excellent, this gangsta book made me feel like I was right there in the story while I was reading it.
June 14, 2011
This read had me in tears...excellent read...classic
March 4, 2019
GoodRead.....I did not enjoy this one as good as I did the first time back in 99� but it still was a pretty decent read.
January 21, 2009
The story I am reading is True To The Game3. The author is Teri Woods.This book is a fiction book because it is base on a true story and its only dedicated to the person its about.The main idea if ture to the game is being ture and real to what you do as in giving it your all. But in this its like you have to stay ture to the streets and your friend because that's what its mainly about.
One very important line they use in this book that make it so real is that when your in the game and into the stress you can't snitch to the cops or you will loose your friend an much more and that's a true statement because that's how it is in todays life. The book that I was reading is very interesting I really enjoyed it because its like some people everyday life which is very sad but that's just the way some people live.I was able to visualize a few things like for a example young man standing on the corner I see that almost everyday so yea I cold pic it. I would relate to this book as an lage issues this book didn't effect me in anyway but maybe if young teenage book read this book it could make a good input on there life and make them want to change for the ones who live the street life. I think Sincere was a very strong character because he went though a lot in the whole book be work it out and stayed strong got his life together and out of the game he realize that there more to life then that.
I would recommend this book to young teenage boys who's are confused and the ones who live a street life this book can be really touching and help you make better choices in life. If you liked to ready true stores you might like this book because this is so real and you see things that happen in this book in everyday life rather you see it with your eyes or on the news.
One very important line they use in this book that make it so real is that when your in the game and into the stress you can't snitch to the cops or you will loose your friend an much more and that's a true statement because that's how it is in todays life. The book that I was reading is very interesting I really enjoyed it because its like some people everyday life which is very sad but that's just the way some people live.I was able to visualize a few things like for a example young man standing on the corner I see that almost everyday so yea I cold pic it. I would relate to this book as an lage issues this book didn't effect me in anyway but maybe if young teenage book read this book it could make a good input on there life and make them want to change for the ones who live the street life. I think Sincere was a very strong character because he went though a lot in the whole book be work it out and stayed strong got his life together and out of the game he realize that there more to life then that.
I would recommend this book to young teenage boys who's are confused and the ones who live a street life this book can be really touching and help you make better choices in life. If you liked to ready true stores you might like this book because this is so real and you see things that happen in this book in everyday life rather you see it with your eyes or on the news.
February 23, 2024
I got to the half point and the dialogue just started to sound really stupid like she ran out of steam in the story. Also, I realized that words like "jewelry,BMW,beamer,sneakers, benz, jaguar" are some of the main things these characters talk and care about. The characters are some of the most shallow and stupid and worthless people imaginable and there is really nothing to like about them. I don't mind reading raw stores and I don't mind reading about people I don't like but then make them interesting/fascinating and have the writing be incredible and It will keep me wanting to continue reading. Seriously, who the hell is rating writing like this highly?? Seriously.
December 12, 2009
This my second time reading this series of True to the game. I actually read the original book she first wrote this time. It was very close to the newer version of the boook. What I can say that there part that were new to me like I don't remember her being beating up by her boyfriend Jamal, the trial with Forty, the way she was dressed for her party was different, Black and his girl pam. But the fable version was pretty good. So that everyone is clear there is two version to this book.
July 30, 2017
I listened to the trilogy, and overall, I enjoyed all 3 books. Sometimes they were too graphic for me, but they held my attention. The narrator was not very good and I feel his inconsistent, sometimes choppy narration detracted from my enjoyment of the audiobooks. The plot is somewhat predictable, but it's good enough for you to want to keep reading/listening. I'd give it a 3.8.
March 31, 2011
This book have you like WOOOW!!!!!!Anybody that have not read this book needs to ASAP!!!!
October 25, 2017
This was a good read. Not in my top ten, but it was good...even better after the halfway point. Definitely better than most urban fiction books out now. The end shook me a little, because that wasn't how I pictured it all going down. I will probably read the rest of the series, but I feel like the real star was Quadir, so...
Gena was pretty one dimensional while Quadir seemed to have different levels to his character, obviously because of his business and his lifestyle. I would have liked to see what happened after he got out the game.
I'd recommend to readers who enjoy street lit.
Gena was pretty one dimensional while Quadir seemed to have different levels to his character, obviously because of his business and his lifestyle. I would have liked to see what happened after he got out the game.
I'd recommend to readers who enjoy street lit.
July 27, 2021
I saw the movie from book one and two. Bothe were so dang good, I just knew it was more to the stories. So before I read book three and watch the movie I want to read the books to see what I missed out on. Awesome, I’d read the book any day. That’s not to say the movies didn’t do a good job, because honestly, the movies did the book justice. I love the way the author made me come along for the ride with Quadir and Gena. Yes the drug life is no joke. I’m just grateful to experience it through the eyes of the author and not in my real life. Awesome job. Cant wait to finish the Trilogy.
December 1, 2021
🔥
The way that I devoured this series is not even funny! Literally Quadir is that dude.. like, there’s nothing left to be said. I loved that there was so many twists with this storyline, it was never a dull moment. I think the last 70% or so I wasn’t even breathing 😂😬. Awesome series!
The way that I devoured this series is not even funny! Literally Quadir is that dude.. like, there’s nothing left to be said. I loved that there was so many twists with this storyline, it was never a dull moment. I think the last 70% or so I wasn’t even breathing 😂😬. Awesome series!
September 3, 2017
It took me awhile to get in to this book but once I did it was really good.
August 31, 2017
Awesome Book
I read this book when first published and read it again to prepare for the upcoming movie. I can't wait to see the movie.
I read this book when first published and read it again to prepare for the upcoming movie. I can't wait to see the movie.
April 6, 2018
Very good. Book
Very good book i would recommend getting this book. I'm getting the 2&3book love it . C in inn i
Very good book i would recommend getting this book. I'm getting the 2&3book love it . C in inn i
March 25, 2011
Is having thrill and excitement in your life always good? Well in this book "True to the Game" a girl named Gena who came from the projects meets up with a "top dog" drug dealer and her life begins to go differently. Its all fun and games at first with all the shopping a money and lots of power , but then everything turns around when Quadir wants to get out of the drug dealing bussiness so him and gena can get married and live their life without worrying for their lives. The adventure that they go through to get outt he game with their lives will keep your eyes glued to the book.
Quadir is a very educated man who came from a good family , even with all this he used his smarts on drugs instead on something real. When he first met Gena his world changed and he relized that somethings might have to change so life would better for both of them. Even though he wants to get out he knows that it’s not going to be easy to get out , especially with his life. What makes it worse is that he doesn’t get all the support he needs from Gena since she is lost in world with all the money and power.
Gena's drama will also keep your eyes in the book. She was one of those people who lived in the "projects" but never acted like it. Then once she started dating Quadirher life becaome more exciting in her eyes even though she knew danger could come, which made her family and her old friends wonder about her and somewhat envy her also. Even though she had a little trouble with her family she had a lot of love for them. For example she would always try to help her aunt who they called "Gotget" when she needed money or somethingfixed around the house.Also as Quadir was trying to get out of the drug dealing game she was told to stay out of the public and stop spending so much money which was hard for her since she was spoiled.
With all the drama and excitement comes sorrow . By this I mean that even with all his courage and motivation to get out the game Quadir dies trying. I think that some people wouldn’t like this book because of the sad moments. They may also not like this book because they feel that things could have been different if Gena and Quadir made better choices or Maybe even if Quadir didn’t even join the drug dealing businees at all.
The thrill and excitment from this book will keep you on your toes and the sadness will make you feel sorry for the character , especially if something similar happened to you . This book is the best book i have every read so far and this book also makes me want to read more. I also like how the author made each character have their own personality and thoughts and didn’t make it seem like one character was copying the next. Since there is more than one book to the"True To The Game" series i can't wait to read the rest of the books to see what Gena will do now without Quadir and if she will turn back into her old self now that he is gone.
Quadir is a very educated man who came from a good family , even with all this he used his smarts on drugs instead on something real. When he first met Gena his world changed and he relized that somethings might have to change so life would better for both of them. Even though he wants to get out he knows that it’s not going to be easy to get out , especially with his life. What makes it worse is that he doesn’t get all the support he needs from Gena since she is lost in world with all the money and power.
Gena's drama will also keep your eyes in the book. She was one of those people who lived in the "projects" but never acted like it. Then once she started dating Quadirher life becaome more exciting in her eyes even though she knew danger could come, which made her family and her old friends wonder about her and somewhat envy her also. Even though she had a little trouble with her family she had a lot of love for them. For example she would always try to help her aunt who they called "Gotget" when she needed money or somethingfixed around the house.Also as Quadir was trying to get out of the drug dealing game she was told to stay out of the public and stop spending so much money which was hard for her since she was spoiled.
With all the drama and excitement comes sorrow . By this I mean that even with all his courage and motivation to get out the game Quadir dies trying. I think that some people wouldn’t like this book because of the sad moments. They may also not like this book because they feel that things could have been different if Gena and Quadir made better choices or Maybe even if Quadir didn’t even join the drug dealing businees at all.
The thrill and excitment from this book will keep you on your toes and the sadness will make you feel sorry for the character , especially if something similar happened to you . This book is the best book i have every read so far and this book also makes me want to read more. I also like how the author made each character have their own personality and thoughts and didn’t make it seem like one character was copying the next. Since there is more than one book to the"True To The Game" series i can't wait to read the rest of the books to see what Gena will do now without Quadir and if she will turn back into her old self now that he is gone.
January 8, 2018
I don’t know why I wanted to reread this, but it made me thankful of the life I chose to live. One of my best friends growing up sold drugs and she always had the flyest gear and material things. I could have easily slipped into that lifestyle, but I didn’t. That wasn’t me. For as long as I can remember I wanted to get out of our neighborhood and “live where the white people live�. I don’t know why I attributed that to being successful...maybe because very few ethnicities lived in fly single homes with backyards. My friend on the other hand just wanted to make money but never leave the our neighborhood.
Anyway....One of the many things I appreciated about our friendship is that I never judged her and she never judged me for the paths we chose in life. We were simply friends and loved each other no matter what.
As always rereading opens up new things about the story you didn’t get the first time reading. But rereading over a decade later really puts things into perspective. This reread sickened me a little. Knowing that what’s portrayed is still happening to this day in the Philly. It seemed like everyday you would hear shots fired and the next thing you know someone from around the way...or across the city was killed. I hated watching the news growing up because it was always this person or that person was either killed or in critical condition. Mostly all young men from the hood. And you never think the violence will touch you or your family....but that shit almost always finds its way. There’s not one person I know from back home that can say that gun violence hasn’t affected them. It’s sad. The lifestyle of the young men thinking they can do it for a few years to make quick money then get out is really messed up. Looking back I wish I would have had some type of voice to speak out to the friends I’ve lost along the way that gave them a reality check. But I never wanted to judge them and I understood the struggle. It just makes me sad.
The main guy Quadir seemed like he had so much potential if only he would have flown the straight and narrow path to success. Of course it ends badly for him. Now his girlfriend Gena...I just feel bad for her but at least her outcome was a little better than Quadir’s 😢
Anyway....One of the many things I appreciated about our friendship is that I never judged her and she never judged me for the paths we chose in life. We were simply friends and loved each other no matter what.
As always rereading opens up new things about the story you didn’t get the first time reading. But rereading over a decade later really puts things into perspective. This reread sickened me a little. Knowing that what’s portrayed is still happening to this day in the Philly. It seemed like everyday you would hear shots fired and the next thing you know someone from around the way...or across the city was killed. I hated watching the news growing up because it was always this person or that person was either killed or in critical condition. Mostly all young men from the hood. And you never think the violence will touch you or your family....but that shit almost always finds its way. There’s not one person I know from back home that can say that gun violence hasn’t affected them. It’s sad. The lifestyle of the young men thinking they can do it for a few years to make quick money then get out is really messed up. Looking back I wish I would have had some type of voice to speak out to the friends I’ve lost along the way that gave them a reality check. But I never wanted to judge them and I understood the struggle. It just makes me sad.
The main guy Quadir seemed like he had so much potential if only he would have flown the straight and narrow path to success. Of course it ends badly for him. Now his girlfriend Gena...I just feel bad for her but at least her outcome was a little better than Quadir’s 😢
August 17, 2021
I wanted to give the book 2 1/2 stars but unfortunately I don’t think there’s a way to do half marks on the reviews. In all honesty, after reading the second chapter of the book I was ready to put it away and choose something else, but when I have committed to reading a book, I like to stick it out to the end no matter how horrible it may seem to be. The story overall was not terrible, but 1st of all there were too many characters to keep up with. The narrative switched from person to person so fast it made it hard to keep up with whos thoughts were whos. Also, the book was not very detailed in regards to getting into who the characters were and their background stories. The only person I got to know pretty okay in the book was Gena. Even the love of her life Quadir, was very vague in his story. (Spoiler alert)…when he died I did not feel a connection to him like I normally do when I read books like this because I didn’t know much about him besides the fact the he was Muslim, a hustler, he had hoes, and he spoiled his girl (Gena). I also knew that he wanted to be a Dentist before he started hustling but thats about it. It wasn’t a real gangster love story between them in my eyes. I planned on reading the next two segments to the book but I’m really in the fence because I had to force myself to finish this one. In addition, I know it is hard to make a book perfect, especially in editing so many words, but there were quite a few typos that I wasn’t use to seeing. Im a little intrigued to see where Gena’s life will take her with the millions that she found, but I may just setting with the movie which I do plan on checking out soon. Overall, if you are into hood books and just can’t find anything else to read, then I say go for it, but i’ve read plenty of other books like this and there was no comparison.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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