In Love with a Thug (22 page)

In Love With a Thug

In Love With a Thug,
the new novel by the critically acclaimed, controversial author Reginald L. Hall takes you inside the world of an openly gay male, Juan Jiles.

Based in Philadelphia, Juan takes part in a bank robbery that leads to the death of his once thugged-out boyfriend, Darnell. After the mourning process is over, Juan takes the money earned from the robbery to open up one of Philly's most popular hair salons, where he meets and falls in love with sexy B-boy Bryant. Bryant has all the baggage that comes with dealing with a thug—the hustling, the lies, the beatings and, of course, the baby mama drama. Bryant introduces Juan to a world of drugs where he soon falls victim to the streets; causing him to lose his glamorous hair salon. Juan soon learns that the reason for Bryant's appearance is solely to tie up a few loose ends from his past.

 

Now that you've read the book, consider the following:

• Do you think Darnell was actually that much in love with Juan that he'd ask him to rob a bank and risk his life; or was Juan used?
  
• Do you think Juan made a smart decision with the money?
  
• Do you think Juan had enough time to mourn Darnell's death before he went out and splurged with the money?
  
• Instead of opening a hair salon, what's the best thing that Juan could have done with such a large amount of money?
  
• Was Juan's feelings lust or love for Bryant? Do you think Juan was looking for love but in all the wrong places or was his focus basically on thugs?
  
• Bryant could have done more to make Juan feel more wanted or needed. Was there ever a part where Juan felt as though Bryant was using him?
  
• Once Juan found out that Bryant was engaged to Mariah, should he have bailed then or taken Bryant's deception?
  
• Juan is considered to be a smart, level-headed person. Were all the decisions he made with the money the right ones?
  
• If not, more so than using drugs would you say he could have made more capital by selling drugs?
  
• With all the drama with Bryant's baby's mother and then the eye-drop incident, should Juan have opened his eyes and bailed? Or would it be wise to stand by your man and stick with whatever he's going through?
  
• Juan had a large sum of money in his bank account. Although he started using drugs do you think he still had the means and the will power to hold on to the shop?
  
• Do you think that Juan was Bryant's first gay lover?
  
• What do you think of Juan's relationship with his parents? Do you think either of his parents felt any remorse for disowning him? Do you think Juan truly forgave his father for abusing him?