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erint251's review against another edition
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Gun violence
thecolourblue's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Wow. Yikes. This book. Hmm. This book is funny, both in the sense that it is in places genuinely hilarious and in the sense that it makes you feel weird as f-ck. Nothing is sacred in Beatty's writing, and yet his satire is as cutting and effective as any sincere thoughtpiece could dream of being.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Racial slurs
abbie_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
All the adjectives you’ve already seen used to describe Paul Beatty’s The Sellout are 100% accurate. Caustic, witty, fierce, brutal, biting, scathing, they and more all hold true to this novel. It’s one of those books where I can’t really say I ‘enjoyed’ it, but I’m glad I read it and it’s definitely unforgettable.
.
It’s a scathing (I’m sorry okay, I have a limited repertoire of adjectives) critique of the supposedly ‘post-racial’ America, a satire which rings uncomfortably close to home in many cases. There are so many blistering quotes in The Sellout which cause you to stop and think, thinking that this is not satire but just an accurate portrayal of America today. For instance ‘she should’ve known that while 250 poor colored kids getting inferior educations will never be front-page news, the denial of even one white student access to a decent education would create a media shit-storm.’
.
I mentioned in a Story when I started reading that Beatty’s mind works faster than the average reader’s, and he refuses to slow down for anyone. So if you’re planning on reading this, buckle up, strap in, just hold on tight as you rocket your way through Beatty’s firecracker prose. I did think the first half had more momentum than the second. It’s also full to the brim with American pop culture references, which for a non-American interrupts the flow somewhat as I had to keep Googling things.
.
This seems to be a love or loathe book and I’m not sure where I fall - just sitting in a corner trying to recover from the force of Beatty’s mind and prose, probably.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Ableism, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Slavery
jessreadsthings's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs
angharad's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Slavery
nora__reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A satirical story about race and gentrification set in a mostly fictional city in LA.
Beatty is so witty and dry, it’s kind of feels like he wrote this book mostly to show that with a tiny bit of plot thrown in.
An incisive story about American attitudes to race in a ‘post-racial’ world.
Beatty is so witty and dry, it’s kind of feels like he wrote this book mostly to show that with a tiny bit of plot thrown in.
An incisive story about American attitudes to race in a ‘post-racial’ world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Slavery
rosalind's review against another edition
challenging
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
nbrockbank's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Slavery, and Racism
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