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keeley_allen's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
lgmaxwell722's review against another edition
4.0
In these short stories Johnson writes with raw emotion about what it means to be black in America. In Control Negro a black professor observes his son to see if his upbringing will prevent racial profiling. In the novella from which the title originates, neighbors fleeing a white mob find themselves taking shelter at Monticello. Although fiction, the stories are truth for what is happening in America. I liked that each had their own voice and message about race in America. A call to action for social change.
cassiesnextchapter's review against another edition
4.0
Woohoooo! Just won this in a Goodreads Giveaway! I'm so excited and can't wait to read this one. Thanks Henry Holt :)
sammiisammii_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
annemariep68's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting collection of short stories…very current and thought provoking. Took me some time to finish the longest story, the title story but that was me, not the story. Recommend
somesnarksareboojums's review against another edition
3.0
This is a quick read - the Monticello / Hemings layer is clever, but otherwise it’s very derivative and reminds one a lot of ‚Kindred’ or ‚Parable of the Sower‘, both of which have more layers and complexity. Good, but if you only read one, read Octavia Butler.
lirewoodis's review against another edition
3.0
Had this collection only featured the title novella, my rating would have been a two. The short stories that led into the final section buoyed my rating, particularly “The King of Xandria.”
I’ll start with “My Monticello.” The plot, a present-day early stage dystopia, had the potential to be quite good, particularly with the intersectional layers with Naisha’s family and Monticello and the love triangle. Where the author lost me was in the inclusion of such a wide cadre of characters. Maybe I was unable to grasp each of their significance, but it seemed overly cluttered with characters that added very little to this short story, and the secondary characters offered little to no development to the story.
My second issue was with the narrator, Da’Naisha. She was frustrating to me, and maybe that is intended. She seems underdeveloped with conflicting impulses that are hard to track. Is she the leader of the group, or is MaViolet the leader? What is her standing with Knox, or Mr. Byrd? The brevity of this novella and the author’s writing style could inhibit further development of Naisha.
Maybe I will read this again with fresh eyes in the coming months and have a different take, but on first read I was left unsatisfied.
“The King of Xandria” is the story of a heartbroken widower with two children who sought a new life in (ale)Xandria, VA. Mr. Attah is a memorable father overwhelmed with the situation he and his family have found themselves in, and he struggles to relinquish the idyllic future he holds for their lives to met the everyday challenges set before them. I really enjoyed this one.
I would read more of JNJ’s writing because I think it is challenging and valuable. Even if I don’t understand it all or don’t fully appreciate it just yet, I would like to keep trying to figure out her angle.
I’ll start with “My Monticello.” The plot, a present-day early stage dystopia, had the potential to be quite good, particularly with the intersectional layers with Naisha’s family and Monticello and the love triangle. Where the author lost me was in the inclusion of such a wide cadre of characters. Maybe I was unable to grasp each of their significance, but it seemed overly cluttered with characters that added very little to this short story, and the secondary characters offered little to no development to the story.
My second issue was with the narrator, Da’Naisha. She was frustrating to me, and maybe that is intended. She seems underdeveloped with conflicting impulses that are hard to track. Is she the leader of the group, or is MaViolet the leader? What is her standing with Knox, or Mr. Byrd? The brevity of this novella and the author’s writing style could inhibit further development of Naisha.
Maybe I will read this again with fresh eyes in the coming months and have a different take, but on first read I was left unsatisfied.
“The King of Xandria” is the story of a heartbroken widower with two children who sought a new life in (ale)Xandria, VA. Mr. Attah is a memorable father overwhelmed with the situation he and his family have found themselves in, and he struggles to relinquish the idyllic future he holds for their lives to met the everyday challenges set before them. I really enjoyed this one.
I would read more of JNJ’s writing because I think it is challenging and valuable. Even if I don’t understand it all or don’t fully appreciate it just yet, I would like to keep trying to figure out her angle.
hopecaldwell's review against another edition
4.0
This is a collection of short stories and the titular novella. My Monticello is a gripping read that imagines the events of the Charlottesville protests gone rogue into an apocalyptic world. The main character, a black woman who is a descendant of Sally Hemmings, leads a group to hide out at Monticello. A great concept that I could have read much more of! The narration on this audio collection is very good.
carollynnw's review against another edition
4.0
The short stories were good but the novella at the end was excellent. Wish it had been a full length story.