“…he played me. And the worst part is… I let him.”
B., KuTura. The Slums: Episode One. Kindle Edition.
A GHETOW
Read
Let me tell you about this book I read, The Slums: Episode One by Mrs. Kutura B., and am still thinking about!!
But before I can continue on that road. As you all know, there is somewhat of an order to how we do things around here. And I figured out how to link on page, so you can choose how I’ll tell you about it.
Let me inform you guys on what you will be getting yourself into, when you decide to pick up this book, before I go ALL THE WAY in. And Mrs. Kutura B. can tell you best, so I’m quoting her directly.
The Slums is a raw and unfiltered urban tale that explores themes of domestic violence, drug use, child neglect, sexual content, profanity, emotional abuse, and mental health struggles. It’s gritty, explicit, and unapologetically real. This story is meant to reflect the harsh truths of some people’s reality and is written with honesty and grit.
B., KuTura. The Slums: Episode One. Kindle Edition.
My shortened take away on this here read?
It’s messy! Frustrating! Aggravating! The characters are T–R–I–F–L–I–N–G!
And like Mrs. Kutura B. herself forewarned us on her promo tour. It is G–H–E–T–T–O!
This will have you feeling for the characters, sometimes rooting for them, judging them, talking about them (trust I was in Mrs. B.’s DMs’!), and will have you rooted in place because this is a compelling read, with some lessons as well… That satisfied all my ratchet needs.
Recommend?
You already know this, but for those who are new around these parts.
I’m writing about it, so yes! A standalone post? I’m most definitely recommending it. However if what I mentioned triggers or impacts you negatively? Always choose your mental wellbeing.
Mrs. B.’s book, The Slums: Episode One, can be found through the following link:
The Slums: Episode One by Mrs. Kutura B.
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SheReadsaLot to Audience:
SheReadsaLot to Audience: Thanks for joining me… If you’re here, you know that there is a possibility for spoilers, even though I will try my hardest not to.
You know the saying “Small minds discuss people, average minds discuss events, and great minds discuss ideas”? I accepted early on that I’m a multifaceted person. I will talk to you about ideas and concepts one moment, world and life events the next, and will be knee deep listening to some mess that took place after. And in knowing and accepting that about me. This ramble is gonna be small minded to average minded at best!!
Introducing the Characters
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: You haven’t told the audience not one thing this time.
SheReadsaLot: I know, so let me rectify the situation right quick.
SheReadsaLot to Audience: In The Slums: Episode One, we get introduced to three FMC’s. I’ll introduce them by order of appearance.
Tasha, mother of two, early thirties, works hard, and in a relationship with her man.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Aren’t you going to tell them about that man? And their “relationship”?
SheReadsaLot: I most definitely am not. I will TELL them about them however.
Mikki, younger sister to Tasha, single mother who has fallen on hard times and moves in temporarily with her big sister.
Dreka, best friend to Tasha, a hustler, making a way somewhere… somehow.
They are all living in the slums, a place where grit and tenacity is very much necessary to not only survive but thrive.
Let me tell you about you, Tasha!
I’mma do my best to not spoil too much…. but you will have to feel what I was feeling. Because I wasn’t even 10% in and I already wanted to…
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Now why would you want to do that?
SheReadsaLot: *sighs*
We got introduced to Tasha, she works hard, H-A-R-D. Currently on night shift, she is exhausted Y’all, EXHAUSTED. And still making sure her kids are fed. Her house is cleaned, and there is a roof over their heads.
Audience to SheReadsaLot: Hold up, Hold up! Don’t Tasha got a man?
SheReadsaLot to Audience: Same thing I said! Because how???
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: You know how, she was settling!
SheReadsaLot: For what though? She hadn’t gotten even any dicque to say she was dicquematized? I mean… he didn’t bring in any income, he didn’t take care of his kid, he didn’t have a car, and he was surrounded by drama!
Audience to SheReadsaLot: Hold up! What now?
SheReadsaLot to Audience: That’s not even the half of it. Because at first I wanted to mollywhop him… And then Tasha came and said…
SheReadsaLot to Audience: I’m telling you I was judging! Why you ask?
Staying your behind in a toxic relationship with a couch potato at that? is a… choice! When you stay in one, with kids?
SheReadsaLot to Tasha: Talking about he has a hold on you? Ma’am, with what?? If you don’t get your behind up off that floor, begging for morsels from someone who can’t even take care of himself! And what is it they say? I can do bad all by myself?
SheReadsaLot to Audience: The lesson in her situation? You need to love yourself. Because letting your self and kids be mistreated by a willing couch potato?
Let me tell you about you, Mikki!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Mikki had you fooled at first, didn’t she?
SheReadsaLot: She sure did, I was like! You’re alright in my book Ma’am!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Tell them why!
SheReadsaLot to Audience: Mikki is a rider! She doesn’t take the disrespect of her family lightly, and is willing to glove up about them! And does!
That wasn’t how it stayed though!
Because Miss Mikki decided to double back to a situation that already proved to be a mess the first time around.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Mikki got straight stupid, deaf and blind, behind Kang Dangalang!
SheReadsaLot: She sure did!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: We can’t judge her too harshly on this however. Because we’ve been that way at least once!
SheReadsaLot: You know we have been! My judgment came when she started to neglect her kids for Kang Dangalang! And we all saw how that turned out for her… Didn’t we?
SheReadsaLot to Mikki: Now girl, why did you go back? You went hard for him, uprooting the stability of your kids, got confirmation of his misdeeds, and still went right on back doing the rodeo on the Dicque? Choosing the dicque over your kids?
SheReadsaLot to Audience: My lesson out of Mikki’s situation? Go stupid for some dicque on your own time. And even still, never at the cost of the wellbeing of your kids.
Let me tell you about you, Dreka!
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Dreka was something wasn’t she?
SheReadsaLot: She was something alright!
Dreka… Where am I going to start with her.
I think we all have seen or come into contact with a woman like her. You know the one, centering men in everything they do? Willing to do anything to be noticed by a man? And if it takes the man’s eye of, of someone they are envious of? Even the better!
Dreka at first had some redeeming qualities, and getting it by any means necessary is one of the necessary traits to have so she could survive.
HOWEVER!
That centering of men? It came to light in the worst of ways in Dreka.
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Just foul, FOUL!
SheReadsaLot: And to think that she calls Tasha her bestie, and to go around and do that?
SheReadsaLot to Dreka: You see a mofo moving foul and you don’t let your supposed bestie know anything? And you are trying to heal your loneliness through dicque… Teenage dicque at that?
SheReadsaLot to SheReadsaLot: Ma’am… not you convicting her?
SheReadsaLot: Judging her wasn’t enough!
SheReadsaLot to Audience: Lessons that I took away from Dreka’s situation? Predators aren’t only found in men! And if you want to heal a part of you? Trust that Dicque won’t help you get there.
Recommend?
This book, to me, read like a soap opera! You know… the drama, the messiness, backstabbing, and trifling characters?
And the ONLY moment that I put this book down, was when I was in the dentist’s chair.
I ATE THIS BOOK UP!
With my cup of judgment on the side!
This book fed my ratchet side B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L-L-Y! If you are like me, and enjoy feeding your ratchet side once in a while, taking into account the possible triggers?
The Slums is a raw and unfiltered urban tale that explores themes of domestic violence, drug use, child neglect, sexual content, profanity, emotional abuse, and mental health struggles. It’s gritty, explicit, and unapologetically real. This story is meant to reflect the harsh truths of some people’s reality and is written with honesty and grit.
B., KuTura. The Slums: Episode One. Kindle Edition.
I would for sure recommend this read. However if what I mentioned triggers or impacts you negatively? Always choose your mental wellbeing.
Mrs. B.’s book, The Slums: Episode One, can be found through the following link:
👩🏾SheReadsaLot 
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