Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Hell of a Book

Hell of a Book is a hell of a book. Once upon a time, meta meant self-referential, like a book about a book by an author writing about an author. The central character of this book is an author on a book tour for his book which he titled Hell of a Book. We never learn his name, so we can’t assume he is Jason Mott, but we can’t assume he isn’t.

There is a second storyline that centers on a young boy named Soot whose parents hope can learn to become invisible and thus, become safe. His story is tragic and quotidian, his name joining the other children who were seen when they needed to be unseen, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Tamir Rice.

Soot and our anonymous author meet up and begin a conversation but then a person can start to wonder if Soot is real or a memory or even a ghost. There is a lot to make you wonder in A of a Book.

I loved Hell of a Book. I loved it so much I would stop reading it just to make it last longer. It also made me cry, but that is not remarkable, I cry at Hallmark commercials. What is remarkable is I cried without for one second feeling emotionally manipulated. I cried without feeling the author wanted to make me cry.

The language in this book is powerful and poetic, with spare and disciplined poetry. It is very much about racism and white supremacy, but there are no polemics. The author does not want to be that person, and he has a handy PR expert telling him to definitely not be the “angry Black man” but sometimes avoiding that anger is impossible. To not be angry is to lie. This was a of a Book.

Hell of a Book at Penguin Random House
Jason Mott author site

https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2022/02/11/9780593330968/

Content Warnings

yamumsnotproud's review

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A bit trippy, a lot timely. The reckoning on matters of race that America has faced permeates this story. It floats like an omnipotent perfume, heady and dangerous. The characters are reminder that Black suffering and death are devastatingly unremarkable in their prevalence. A truely heartbreaking notion. It is about the acts of mothers, fathers and communities trying to break the wheel.

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lorit1227's review

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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deedireads's review

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emotional funny sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.

TL;DR REVIEW:

Hell of a Book is a really creative, really affecting novel that’s as funny as it is devastating. One heck of a ride, it will surprise you and move you.

For you if: You like novels that play with form in a creative way while also remaining ultra-readable.

FULL REVIEW:

“Every child like you in this country has been swallowed up by the monster since before they were even born. And every Black parent in the history of this country has tried to stop that monster from swallowing them up and has failed at it. And every day they live with that.”

Wow, OK. Where to even start with this one? Hell of a Book wasn’t really on my radar until it was longlisted (now shortlisted) for the National Book Award, but I’m glad it found its way onto my TBR in the end. This one is super creative, super smart, and both funny and devastating. And it’s definitely one heck of a ride.

The main character is an unnamed Black man on tour for his debut, bestselling novel called Hell of a Book. What’s it about? Hell if he knows. But it’s great; everyone says so. He’s living recklessly and wildly; anyway, his “condition” makes him never quite sure what’s real or what’s not. Including the young Black boy who claims he’s real, just invisible to others at will. The novel also bounces back and forth to show The Kid’s past, just as our narrator’s background comes into sharper focus.

It’s been a long time since I read a novel as creative or smart as this one. The beginning is comic, voicey, almost bouncy. You’re curious, amused. But the way it all comes together? Mott has used this creativity to shed light on a really heavy topic — Blackness, police violence, racial and generational trauma — and tell a devastating story is incredible. It’s a slow boil; you won’t know what hit you until you’re walloped on the floor. It’s wild to call this book fun, but it was; and yet it was also heartwrenching, wise, and effective.

Also, I highly recommend the audiobook for this one; the voice actor did an incredible job and it added a lot to my reading experience. If you’re up for a unique (but still very readable) form and voice, pick this one up.

Content Warnings

strmom18's review

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A lot of people would find the subject matter and main character dark/heavy, but this story gives voice to that inner child in all of us. That child in us that looks at pain without flinching. This book had me in thinking about my past hurts and my brother (he passed away before he really lived). This book allows us to look at ourselves and how we handle all that life throws our way.

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isnotacrayon's review

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is no joke. Charlie Kauffman-esque in its surrealism that devolves into almost fever dream. The most unreliable narrator ever. Fantastic writing, and meaning, and it should be read by the masses.

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Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Hell of a Book by Jason Mott

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strmom18's review

isnotacrayon's review