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africanbookaddict's review
4.0
*** full book review: https://africanbookaddict.com/2022/05/19/harry-sylvester-bird-by-chinelo-okparanta/
Sigh. Where do I even begin with this book???? There are so many layers to this satire, and I have so many complaints and questions! Chinelo Okparanta really had the gall to portray the life of a white boy / man, as a Black African woman writer and I deeply admire her for that. Reading Harry Sylvester Bird was mind-boggling and mortifying as hell, but I’m always down for an original, chaotic read by an author I admire.
Once I finished reading this book, I concluded that my dear Harry, is a sick man. I don’t know whether he has a white savior complex, body dysmorphia, obsessive-compulsive disorder or all three – but the man is… strange. I found Harry to be adorable yet repulsive, timid, lonely, calm, selfish, confused, weird and inherently racist as fuck – through no fault of his own.
While this book is hilarious, it explores various political stances that may be uncomfortable to imbibe. I just want to know why Okparanta chose to write this story. Authors are free to write what they like – duh. But was she trying to humanize racist white men? Was she trying to expose racist white people? Was she indirectly celebrating the gloriousness of our Black race? Was she trying to open up the dreadful trans-racial conversation? Was she trying to flip the white gaze? I have soooo many questions! Nevertheless, Okparanta did a damn good job with this original novel. Dear reader, please remember that this novel is a SATIRE – lighten up! Harry and this glorious mess of a novel will be on my mind for a long time.
Sigh. Where do I even begin with this book???? There are so many layers to this satire, and I have so many complaints and questions! Chinelo Okparanta really had the gall to portray the life of a white boy / man, as a Black African woman writer and I deeply admire her for that. Reading Harry Sylvester Bird was mind-boggling and mortifying as hell, but I’m always down for an original, chaotic read by an author I admire.
Once I finished reading this book, I concluded that my dear Harry, is a sick man. I don’t know whether he has a white savior complex, body dysmorphia, obsessive-compulsive disorder or all three – but the man is… strange. I found Harry to be adorable yet repulsive, timid, lonely, calm, selfish, confused, weird and inherently racist as fuck – through no fault of his own.
While this book is hilarious, it explores various political stances that may be uncomfortable to imbibe. I just want to know why Okparanta chose to write this story. Authors are free to write what they like – duh. But was she trying to humanize racist white men? Was she trying to expose racist white people? Was she indirectly celebrating the gloriousness of our Black race? Was she trying to open up the dreadful trans-racial conversation? Was she trying to flip the white gaze? I have soooo many questions! Nevertheless, Okparanta did a damn good job with this original novel. Dear reader, please remember that this novel is a SATIRE – lighten up! Harry and this glorious mess of a novel will be on my mind for a long time.
shreevenkat's review
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
eduardoleitev's review
2.0
Esse livro me lembrou muito a entrevista da Xuxa em que ela disse que queria ser negra na próxima vida. E me causou o mesmo tipo de reação de quando li essa manchete. O personagem principal (um rapaz branco que acha que deveria ter nascido negro) é a epítome do white saviour e que não enxerga seus próprios atos racistas porque o racismo só está nos outros. Minha frustração com esse livro é que nada se desenvolve. A autora toca em muitos assuntos importantes, mas tudo meio que só pincelado, sem desenvolver. E fica tudo por isso mesmo. Serviu para eu descobrir que existem pessoas sem um pingo de noção que clamam por uma transracialidade, o que é uma ofensa de raça e gênero ao mesmo tempo (ver Rachel Dolezal), mas a trama não desenvolve, não fecha, não chega a lugar nenhum.
whatadutchgirlreads's review against another edition
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
msvenner's review
2.0
I’ve been waffling between 2 and 3 stars. This book sells itself as satire but I feel it only makes half hearted attempts at that. The concept is interesting and there is potential with the main characters’ clueless white privilege in the face of racist parents. There are moments that are great but the overall delivery is lacking. The end seemed particularly lackluster. There are much better was to spend your reading time and book budget.
oxtailandcabbage's review
4.0
I was lucky to receive an ARC of this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review, so i'd like to thank the publisher for sending me this book.
What can I say about this book? I am speechless, amazed by the storytelling crafted by the author here, the sheer AUDACITY!!! Chinelo Okparanta is one of my favorite authors of this century and I have yet to be disappointed by her work. I am at awe by the amount of nuance, scandalous behavior, toxicity and innocence brought to Harry's character all at once. I found myself being pulled from every direction. The character work in this novel consists of various uphill battles of empathizing with Harry while also despising him deeply. I found the pacing to be straight to the point, very clean. I was gripped by this story from page one and managed to finish the book very quickly because it was such a page turner. This book will encourage people to take a closer look at child abuse, generational trauma, the dangers of white innocence, white liberalism and memory. Memory is a theme that is constantly revisited throughout this novel. And I really like the various ways it was explored from beginning to end. I thought this book was brilliant, funny, and I wanted to scream at times while reading this book publicly because so much kept happening, each chapter more appalling than the next. I really liked Maryam as a character. I admired her confidence but also recognized her own suffering through it all,while trying to build some sort of normalcy for herself,with the sorrows of displacement, migration and the daily cruelties of the world constantly at her neck. Many times I found myself wanting to protect her from her own decisions, gosh she needed it. I keep wondering what it is that she saw in that man that we the readers couldn't see, I'm always curious about questionable choices characters make. I loved that she had locs, I loved how tender she was, how she was able to follow her gut in the end and chose what was best for her.
Overall this was a satisfying read. I rated this 4 / 5 stars.
What can I say about this book? I am speechless, amazed by the storytelling crafted by the author here, the sheer AUDACITY!!! Chinelo Okparanta is one of my favorite authors of this century and I have yet to be disappointed by her work. I am at awe by the amount of nuance, scandalous behavior, toxicity and innocence brought to Harry's character all at once. I found myself being pulled from every direction. The character work in this novel consists of various uphill battles of empathizing with Harry while also despising him deeply. I found the pacing to be straight to the point, very clean. I was gripped by this story from page one and managed to finish the book very quickly because it was such a page turner. This book will encourage people to take a closer look at child abuse, generational trauma, the dangers of white innocence, white liberalism and memory. Memory is a theme that is constantly revisited throughout this novel. And I really like the various ways it was explored from beginning to end. I thought this book was brilliant, funny, and I wanted to scream at times while reading this book publicly because so much kept happening, each chapter more appalling than the next. I really liked Maryam as a character. I admired her confidence but also recognized her own suffering through it all,while trying to build some sort of normalcy for herself,with the sorrows of displacement, migration and the daily cruelties of the world constantly at her neck. Many times I found myself wanting to protect her from her own decisions, gosh she needed it. I keep wondering what it is that she saw in that man that we the readers couldn't see, I'm always curious about questionable choices characters make. I loved that she had locs, I loved how tender she was, how she was able to follow her gut in the end and chose what was best for her.
Overall this was a satisfying read. I rated this 4 / 5 stars.
paisley2k's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
3.5
readtotheend's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
My impressions and feelings while reading this book were positive and I liked it but after being away from my computer a few days, I've started this review and cannot remember hardly anything about this which tells me it was not memorable. A perfectly fine, interesting read and I remember the character of Harry Sylvester Bird and his parents and his girlfriend but struggling to remember the details. It's definitely satirical but I think many people might be turned off because they may lose sight of the satire. Writing about a white man who identifies as Black with racist parents is quite the trip!