Reviews

Counternarratives by John Keene

savaging's review

5.0

These are extraordinary stories, reframing history through the eyes of the enslaved and oppressed. Even in the maw of colonization and white supremacism, nearly each story reveals a wily power -- unexpected escapes, survivals, pleasures, triumphs.

I highly recommended this compilation to anyone interested in history. But also there's really broad appeal in stories like "Rivers," which follows out the story of Jim from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in a really satisfying way (screw you, Tom Sawyer!).

Many of Keene's protagonists have a supernatural access to hidden knowledge. This book feels like Keene's own magic power, to resurrect the dead, revitalize history, connect with the ancestors, and snatch new meaning out of all that awful violence.

alisonjfields's review

4.0

Gorgeous work

thepoisonwoodreader's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

colorfulleo92's review

4.0

I've recently started to find short story collections that I've enjoyed even though I've said before I don't enjoy them. And this one was one of them. An interesting way to read about black history in different short stories spanning from 1600 century to modern time.

rocketiza's review against another edition

2.0

I will probably try to read this again at some point but at the moment just couldn't stay interested in it.

nickynickynicky's review

challenging informative mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

dhaydon95's review

I found the writing summarizing rather than narratorial. It seemed as though the stories were discovered in the archive then give an overview treatment by the author.

gowens's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

sylveondreams's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.5

motifenjoyer's review

adventurous challenging medium-paced

4.5