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A review by lynecia
A Lucky Man by Jamel Brinkley
5.0
Jamel Brinkley’s A Lucky Man is a collection of short stories that comprise a tender and thoughtful interrogation of masculinity in all its complexity. We journey with characters in the bloom of manhood and those navigating the struggle of past trauma, hurts and life’s unsettling disappointments. Even in the shorter pieces here, there lies a myriad of insightful and interesting themes ever unfurling, some deployed with great care and gravitas of a writer who has honed his craft consistently and skillfully; and some with a wink and a smile. And that is where, to me Brinkley’s brilliance lies.
Set in my stomping grounds of New York City, mainly in The Bronx and Brooklyn, it was especially wonderful to see my City on the page. But more than that, it’s been a while since I’ve encountered (perhaps I never have) a writer who has done such justice to stories of the men and boys who inhabit my corner of the world, and for that I feel grateful to have read this. Though only one story here contains the point-of-view of a female character, I did not feel alienated at all. In fact, I feel like there is a kind of vulnerability to some of these stories that was very moving and drew me in.
The heart-rending “Everything the Mouth Eats” and the exhilarating imagery “J’ouvert 1996” were standouts for me. If you pick this up, proceed straight there! (But don’t play yourself and miss out on the rest).
Undoubtedly, this has earned itself a spot on my Top Books of 2018.
Read it.
Set in my stomping grounds of New York City, mainly in The Bronx and Brooklyn, it was especially wonderful to see my City on the page. But more than that, it’s been a while since I’ve encountered (perhaps I never have) a writer who has done such justice to stories of the men and boys who inhabit my corner of the world, and for that I feel grateful to have read this. Though only one story here contains the point-of-view of a female character, I did not feel alienated at all. In fact, I feel like there is a kind of vulnerability to some of these stories that was very moving and drew me in.
The heart-rending “Everything the Mouth Eats” and the exhilarating imagery “J’ouvert 1996” were standouts for me. If you pick this up, proceed straight there! (But don’t play yourself and miss out on the rest).
Undoubtedly, this has earned itself a spot on my Top Books of 2018.
Read it.