Reviews

Erasure by Percival Everett

tscott907's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.75

Read after recently seeing American Fiction, which I liked but had criticisms which I was hoping the novel would paper over for me. Luckily they were mostly answered. I liked that the book was more interior and had less of the family plot that I felt stretched the length of the film. I loved that it included a section of the fictional book because that section really did showcase Monk’s self-loathing and how ridiculous a lot of popular “urban fiction” is — I was uncomfortable reading these chapters, yet every white character was frothing at the mouth over how real and raw they were. Everett’s prose is excellent.

geoccali's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated

4.5

carolita1128's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging funny reflective sad 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

4.0

jenniferhorn's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

personoftheyear2006's review

Go to review page

2.5

the yellowface of 20 something years ago? shocking, uncomfortable, frustrating, and good - personally it was overhyped and I was let down but it was great storytelling. 

dmbast's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging funny reflective fast-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

shelleyannh's review

Go to review page

challenging 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

4.5

alibi313's review

Go to review page

challenging dark funny lighthearted 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

3.75

I wanted to like this more, as I really enjoyed the movie and heard some criticism stating the book was better. Unfortunately, I did not find that to be the case. There were 10 chapters dedicated to the execrable novel at the center of the story (an entire scene was then repeated in its entirety, with “bleeping” of the most offensive words), where the movie just treated us to a few illustrative passages (which were more than enough). The book added inscrutable fictional conversations between historical figures, passages in Latin(?) and a fully indecipherable and dry lecture delivered by the main character. As this was an audiobook, my mind wandered until the narrator returned to the entertaining main story, which I just pictured being acted out by Jeffrey Wright et al.
In addition, the movie included an actual ending, where the book just ended.

ericwheeler's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

5.0

grunzigrun's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0