"X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz, Kekla Magoon (Review)

                                  X: A Novel Book Review  

Story:

Malcolm Little’s parents have always told him that he can achieve anything, but from what he can tell, that's nothing but a pack of lies—after all, his father's been murdered, his mother's been taken away, and his dreams of becoming a lawyer have gotten him laughed out of school. There’s no point in trying, he figures, and lured by the nightlife of Boston and New York, he escapes into a world of fancy suits, jazz, girls, and reefer.But Malcolm’s efforts to leave the past behind lead him into increasingly dangerous territory when what starts as some small-time hustling quickly spins out of control. Deep down, he knows that the freedom he’s found is only an illusion—and that he can't run forever.
X follows Malcolm from his childhood to his imprisonment for theft at age twenty, when he found the faith that would lead him to forge a new path and command a voice that still resonates today.

Review:

I was very excited for this book, but my expectations weren't met. It was definitely well written, with the story flashing back and forth in time, but still, X never really captured the imagination, or gave insights into Malcolm's character; rather, it just gives a more detailed and novelized version of Malcolm's youth, without really lifting off the ground. Some plot points bored me, and I had the uncomfortable feeling that the book was slightly glamorizing Malcolm's depraved, and criminal life. Still, an OK read, which gets 5/10 stars from me, and on Goodreads 2/5.