Reviews

Amiable with Big Teeth by Claude McKay

a0ri's review

challenging funny lighthearted reflective 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

3.75

A good book, but I think it is worthwhile to know something about the time-period/backdrop the book uses to truly appreciate the satire. I didn't have that, and the book by itself could do a better job of making that info accessible (seriously, just use footnotes instead of a reference index). My only other (minor) gripe is that sometimes the introductions for side characters were longer than necessary 

indalauryn's review

Didn't finish but won't seem to let me take it off my shelf any other way.

shaunaford's review against another edition

3.0

My review is prefaced by the fact that I lack the intellectualism required to pull fully grasp the contents here. However, this novel was compelling and intriguing, and an absolutely rewarding read that will definitely be leading to further research. In sum, the novel is about the intellectual and artistic elites of Harlem post- WWI, dealing with the racial interests in the Ethiopia-Italy conflict. The protagonist is unclear, as well as the antagonist (Koazhy? Maxim? The entirety of the Friends?), but the intrigue is clear. The beginning is characterized as a political commentary, the middle a character-driven mystery, and ending with human sacrifice. The language is somewhat inaccessible, but true to the intelligentsia elite setting. Overall- this book wasn’t enjoyable, but I’m glad I read it.

sherbertwells's review

funny informative tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

A circle of intellectuals in 1930s Harlem face dual threats: the Fascist invasion of Ethiopia and the charms of a Communist infiltrator. This book has a fascinating premise and plot but due to its status as a “lost manuscript,” it could use a twice- or thrice-over by a good editor.

“Harlem is the stamping ground of false prophets” (110)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Colonisation and Abandonment

Minor: Racial slurs and Racism

colinmhill's review

4.0

The fascists lost World War 2 and the Soviet Union is gone since McKay wrote this book, but community organizing in the USA hasn't changed as much since then as you'd think.

I'd been trying to figure out how you'd write a novel about people who spend a lot of time in boring meetings that's as funny as that is in real life and this here's the blueprint for how to do it.

inem's review

2.0

While I liked Amiable with Big Teeth for its representation of Black Internationalism and Pan-Africanism during this era of the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, I feel like Mckay misrepresents Black radicalism in a couple of potentially harmful ways.

Newton Castle is an offensive depiction of Black communists during this era. Obviously there were issues and tension between the Black left and the white left during this time, as there are today. There are some white socialists and communists that have a terrible understanding of white supremacy and are class reductionists. The Black left has never ever in any moment of US history adopted that view. For decades Black communists have addressed the race versus class question in a way that centers the liberation of working-class Black people and other oppressed groups. Claudia Jones theorized the relationship between gender, race and class as a Black Marxist, The Alabama Communist Party that Robin D.G. Kelley writes about were working through this question in the 1930s. The African Blood Brotherhood and the Black people who participated in the ComIntern all had a sharp analysis of the relationship between capitalism and white supremacy. Newton Castle, on the other hand, listens to Maxim Tasan say blatantly racist things and he does nothing to defend his people. Even worse, there are moments in this book that he himself admits that he is ashamed of his race and his people. At one point I thought that the presence of his character could be justified if he had a foil, such as a character similar to a Claudia Jones or a Louise Thompson Patterson, but in the end I think there is still no justification for his character since it’s such a wildly inaccurate depiction of what Black communist leaders of this era (and any era since) were actually like. I would not consider Alamaya to be this foil because even though Alamaya joined the communist party in France, he was never a communist and he admits that he only did it because liberals were doing that at the time.

The second problem I have with this book is the fact that the book tries to equate fascism and communism being equal because they are both seen as ideological extremes. The book concludes that neither are viable solutions for Ethiopia, for Black people as a whole, or really for humanity. In the context of Ethiopia the problem with fascism is presented as an ideological problem without any named material or physical consequences. It is obvious the Maxim Tasan and the Friends of Ethiopia do not really care about the Ethiopian people. Tasan admits this several times. However, as I continued reading this, I began to wonder if Hands to Ethiopia or even Alamaya himself really cares about the Ethiopian people. The colonization of Ethiopia is presented as bad simply because it is embarrassing for Black people and brings shame. There is no mention of what life is or would be like for regular Ethiopian people under the colonial rule of fascist Italy. None of the organizers seem concerned with this, nor does Alamaya. The only thing that really seems to be at stake for Black characters is the reputation of Black people. There are a few moments when the oppressiveness of colonial rule is hinted at or suggested such as when Peixota says, "It excites me to think how closely the problem of Ethiopia and Europe parallels the Aframericans in America" (254), but this is not elaborated upon. I know very little about life under Italian colonization in the Horn of Africa, but I know that Angola, Mozambique, Cabo Verde, Sao Tome e Principe, and Guinea Bissau experienced a reign of absolute horror under Portuguese fascism. People were enslaved and forced to work in labor camps; they were whipped and beaten for not paying taxes that were impossible to pay with the miniscule wages they were paid. So much more could be said, but the point is, there is no consciousness presented in this book as to why Ethiopians might not want to be colonized, other than that it might bruise the Emperor's ego and make Black people look bad. This is why everyone stops being concerned with Ethiopia the minute Italy succeeds. It was never about the Ethiopian people.

The reasons why I am giving this book two stars instead of one star is because I still appreciate that he is writing about Black Internationalism which is a subject that is near and dear to me and because he writes about Harlem, a neighborhood I love, and I buy into his descriptions of the neighborhood during this era.

loveinthetimeofmrsa's review

funny mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

quintusmarcus's review

5.0

Loved this book. McKay's postumously published novel was written under contract to E.P. Dutton in 1941, but rejected by the publisher. The MSS sat in a drawer for decades until it was discovered a few years ago nestled in the papers of another author. Fascinating novel that covers the period around the fall of Ethiopia to the Italians and the exile of Haile Selassie. Wonderful snapshot of "Aframerican" life in 1930s Harlem.