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stevendedalus's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book in spite of myself. I mean, it's another lauded book about a middle-class white guy going through a mid-life crisis, whoop-de-doo. But Jernigan is the most grating, unloveable asshole that just hate-reading this book becomes a joy in itself.
It's a careful airing of white male privilege where the worst person is given chance after chance for no reason by ostensibly good people and burns every bridge while presenting his own rare and slight positive actions as heroic deeds.
This narrative realization builds slowly as you realize that Gates's use of anti-hero tropes isn't meant to get you, as per the usual novel, to be charmed by and sympathize with the protagonist. No, he's a toxic asshole and before you realize it you're reading to bask in his horrible flameout and self-destruction.
His literary pretensions are not evidence of a tender soul, they're hallmarks of his own unearned sense of superiority (though they do let Gates do some fun references and cringey work).
I found this a great companion piece to Dionne Brand's Theory, itself working in the same way through a completely different but just as self-absorbed protagonist. I think I discovered my favourite new genre: the takedown of pretentious literary fiction heroes.
It's a careful airing of white male privilege where the worst person is given chance after chance for no reason by ostensibly good people and burns every bridge while presenting his own rare and slight positive actions as heroic deeds.
This narrative realization builds slowly as you realize that Gates's use of anti-hero tropes isn't meant to get you, as per the usual novel, to be charmed by and sympathize with the protagonist. No, he's a toxic asshole and before you realize it you're reading to bask in his horrible flameout and self-destruction.
His literary pretensions are not evidence of a tender soul, they're hallmarks of his own unearned sense of superiority (though they do let Gates do some fun references and cringey work).
I found this a great companion piece to Dionne Brand's Theory, itself working in the same way through a completely different but just as self-absorbed protagonist. I think I discovered my favourite new genre: the takedown of pretentious literary fiction heroes.
greenblack's review
3.0
This is a compelling story. My rating is more 2.5 stars than 3 stars. This a very well written book, filled with persons I didn't like at all. So, I will recommend the author and the book but none, not even one, of the characters. I'm on the fence..... you decide.
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