CaSandra Mathis

Intake, The Measure of Air

About the Author...

CaSandra Mathis was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI. Though her childhood did not consist of the daily threats of a New York, Cali, or Chicago based crime wave, watching over your shoulder for errant bullets, and watching favorite television shows from the safest spot on the living room floor was not foreign to her. The hood was still the hood.

 Raised on the income of a divorced mother of seven, CaSandra's life was poor, but full. Her mother was an intelligent woman who was big on education and short on tolerance for bull crap and most everything else. As a result, her life young life was a constant spurt between hell and high waters that she wasn't even sure the devil himself could endure.

CaSandra was always a leader, never a follower which was a saving grace when it came to peer pressure. If she found herself in a heap of mess, you best believe she was the reason she got there and the reason she got out of it.

At the tender age of 20, and seven months pregnant, she found herself locked in a cell less than 1/4th the size of her bedroom at home. It was an interesting experience for someone who'd planned her life so carefully and was known to be the 'straight arrow' of the Mathis clan. Her day in court proved her innocence. Still, it was a life altering experience and one she'd take to her grave as a lesson well learned and never to be repeated again.

The world around her took many ill advised turns and, as the years flew by, CaSandra found herself a loner. With such high aspirations and the talent and abilities to see them through, she couldn't see wasting her life behind bars, or throwing it all away in some grave. But, that didn't mean the hood was anymore accommodating to her than anyone else. She didn't choose the streets, but one way or the other, they seemed to make their way to her.

CaSandra's passion, disheartenment, and overall struggles can be found on the pages of her books. To date, she's self-published two, written six, and developed storylines for many, many more.

Rating:

8 1/2 x 5 1/2, trade paperback book, 280 pages. Typography (arrangement of text, fonts, font size, headings, etc...) is excellent and comparable to books published by top publishing houses. Lots of work went into the overall development and it shows. Cover graphic & printing could've been better quality. Ranks high amongst other self-published works. If author's budget allows, a better print company should be used in future works, especially if this book is to be sold out of high end, book stores.

Rating:

Eye catching cover will have the ladies wanting more. Title and overall look seems directed moreso to women and may not capture a large male audience at first glance. Title is catchy, but the subtitle "When the stillness of breath is all you can manage," should reel readers in as they wonder what those 'need to catch your breath' moments are all about. Again, cover quality could be better in terms of graphic's coloring. Encourage author to invest in better print company.

Also, the cover could contain additional graphics, possibly one of Chalayne and something relating to her love of basketball so that reader's are not put off by the inferences inside the book. It could use something having to do with the hip hop realm also. This may attract a wider range of readers as there's a lot more to this story than a fine man with hella nice abs.

Rating:

Simple and tastefully done. Lots of info on what book is about. Good sized author's photo. Nice & clear, but not too overwhelming.

Rating:

Intelligently written, urban fiction that demonstrates the hood's wide range of people, experiences, styles of writing, and areas of expertise. Urban Fiction is written and read from many skill levels and they're all good. Not every book will capture every reader. Therefore, I would not suggest this book for those looking for the... "boom that blew up", "ooooh she cheated on him", or "wow, he sure is fine" style of writing.

This book is very descriptive and will please the reader looking for such. It's not one to skim over, but a work you'll actually have to read to truly appreciate. And again, if you're an avid reader and lover of good, urban fiction, you'll definitely want to enjoy this page by page.

The storyline keeps up with the times and adds hard hitting dialogue, steamy, no holds barred, yet tastefully written sex scenes, and true to life situations. It doesn't talk down to it's readers. It's a book that can be enjoyed by a college professor, housewife, street sweeper, or high school student as long as they like to read.

The story unfolds like scenes in a hit movie. With this author, you don't just walk into a room, or step outside. You enter into a new realm of interaction where something real interesting is bound to take place. You actually see the bullets leave the gun, feel the impact as they tear into flesh and bone.  You don't just know a basketball game is going on, you hear the ball bounce, see the court filled with players in full, basketball gear tainted only by the sweat of determination and sheer will to win. You hear the butts hit the floor under old school defense, hear the sound of gym shoes squeaking with every pivot, see the game and story unfold as a whirlwind love affair of ultimate proportions blossoms before your very eyes.

See what I mean? Like I said, this book is not for the skimmer. It's a great read, for the true reader. If you're not into detail, if you don't want to know what the people look like, what they're wearing, what's truly going on, this is not the book for you. Thankfully, for this author, lots of urban fiction readers enjoy detail, in fact, thrive on it. Looks like this author's on the right track.

Rating:

7

The hood has always been known for Black mothers being dedicated to giving the best they can for their sons. But, no mother puts more into her two seeds than Chalayne Macklyn. Having grown up without a father, and been raised by a mother who'd wished her dead more than alive, Chalayne isn't about to let her prized sons suffer her disheartening fate. Since they were born, she's pledged her life to keeping them safe and out of the system. But, the hood has a pull on youth that's yet to be matched. Her sons are no different.

Chalayne is a good looking, athletically fit, mid-forties woman who survived her childhood of trauma and rough times by hitting the b-ball courts. Loving the game as she does, her adult life sees more of the same. Basketball is her saving grace. And, although she's put everything else on hold, even men, to fulfill her legacy for her sons, letting go of the game is not an option.

The sexiest tomboy alive, Chalayne's life takes an interesting, unexpected twist when she meets one hellafied brotha with a body and mind that just won't quit. He wants Chalayne at all costs. She wants the world for her sons and refuses to let anyone else in. And, so the battle begins.

Chalayne uses the last of her savings to start a record label/production company hoping to find her sons something to focus on besides hustling the streets. Between gangs, drugs, and the cases they're already facing, she's scared to death that prison will get them first.

To her relief, Big Boot Productions takes off in a major way. But, just as the world gets wind of she and her son's success, so does the scorned, ex-boyfriend whose been hunting her down since she disappeared from his life years before. He's been a hustler since he was old enough to stand and isn't about to change his ways. He's not used to losing at anything, especially the woman he loves. So, when it comes to Chalayne, he takes it to a whole 'nother level. His intentions are nothing nice and this time, it's not Chalayne's sons who she should be worried about.

I don't want to give away the story, so I'll leave it at that.

Rating:

I thought this was a heartwarming story with lots of steamy scenes, and lots of hood type drama, so it was right up my alley. It fits the lives of so many sistas from the hood that readers will be able to relate right away.

The book opens with a meeting of the heart, minds, and bodies of Chalayne and the one man who won't take no for an answer. Though loving him threatens everything she's planned for her sons, resisting him becomes harder by the day. In an attempt to shoo him away for good, she tips the scale at pissing him off. But, the results are not what she expected.

Anyone reading this book and not dialoguing about the opening chapter simply did not read the book. It's not only steaming hot, it's controversial to the degree that each reader will have to decide for themselves if the whole interaction was cool, or too over the top. I dug it. But, I have issues. *L* And, I'm only one person.

 Another thing I dug was that Chalayne was a true mother. Nothing came before her sons, but she didn't hesitate to lay down the law. In a couple of the earlier chapters, she goes at it with her youngest son in a comical, yet real way that had me cracking up and cheering her on. She gets back at all the men in her life in a way that's too funny for words.

Then, just when it seemed she'd never have a life of her own, would never find the true love who could match her in and out of bed, in comes Everett T. Lawson. Whew! Ladies will definitely enjoy Mr. Lawson. Brothaz will too, but for many different reasons which you'll have to read to find out. *L* But, I'll give you a lil' tidbit... Bond ain't got nothing on this brotha. He's truly a man's man! Okay, that's enough.

I also dug the dialogue. It was real, up-to-date, well written, and hella funny. The drama was on point. I could actually feel the pain Chalayne went through, hear her cries of agony, anger, and triumph.

I dug the characters. Chalayne was like someone everybody would know. Just a cool, down ass mother from the hood. She's intelligent, wise, and hardworking. A savvy business woman who just needs a little push in the right direction which she gets in a major way. Boy, does she get it! *L*

Overall Rating:

This book is definitely not for everyone. It's highly detailed and, as some readers have told me, they don't like books that describe too much of what's happening. Simply saying the car had a flat tire is enough. They don't want to know what street it was on, how many people were around, or what the weather was like. If someone got hurt, they're cool with just knowing someone got hurt. They don't want to know what they were wearing, or how the blood covered their wing tipped, designer, shoes that cost a mint. Nor that the person causing the blow out is in hella trouble because the gangsta who's shoes they messed up has a sho nuff fetish for wing tipped, designer shoes that cost a mint. You feel me, right?

But, for those who are into descriptive writing and can appreciate urban fiction on an intelligently written, well defined level, this is the book for you. You will be able to get into the book from page one and enjoy the experience throughout.  The storyline, lifelike characters, comedy, and straight up hood drama is first rate.

With the proper marketing, I can see this book becoming a best seller in no time. I highly recommend, "Intake, the Measure of Air."

Even, if you're not into details, you'll want to recommend this to someone who is. They'll thank you for it.

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Ratings range from 1 - 7 points with 7 being the highest. Individual ratings on the 7 points covered are a consideration of the final rating, but there are other factors which take precedence as indicated in point 7 "Overall Assessment". Therefore, a book with one, or more lower ratings may still receive a higher final rating than a book with relatively higher ratings on all 7 points. It all depends on the significance of the particular category, i.e., a book with a 3 for back cover could still be rated a 7 overall as the book may be so good that the back cover becomes a non-factor.

For a complete explanation of ratings go to: Ratings Explained.

C's 7 Point Book Critique is simply in-depth opinions based on my experience as an author, reader, lover and respecter of literary works, publishing, and publishers, and should not be regarded as anything further.

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