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A review by rpanny
Disgruntled by Asali Solomon
4.0
After seeing Asali Solomon do a reading at Villanova for this book, I've been dying to pick it up. From what I understood, Disgruntled was a coming-of-age in Philly story, that takes place in the '80s. Kenya, the protagonist, is forced to move to the Main Line (bougie Philly suburbs) after her parents separate and she must adjust to being in the wealthy, predominantly white neighborhood and new private school.
But there is a lot more to Solomon's novel, and the teenage section are only about a third of the book. We see Kenya grow up, come to terms with her parents separation and deal with her mother's suspicious new husband and eventually her father's commune-style polygamy. I found the writing really compelling, the characters complex and the pace of the novel really fast. My only complaint is that each new section felt like it was cutting off the previous one before that story was finished. I wanted more of Kenya's day-to-day life, more about the friend from NY who betrays her (we never see the emotional fallout from that). While everything in the novel worked, some scenes felt a little rushed. Overall, I really enjoyed Disgruntled - it's interested in growing up black, in activism and in community. It's a quick read and one I would recommend, and I'm excited to see what Solomon comes out with next.
But there is a lot more to Solomon's novel, and the teenage section are only about a third of the book. We see Kenya grow up, come to terms with her parents separation and deal with her mother's suspicious new husband and eventually her father's commune-style polygamy. I found the writing really compelling, the characters complex and the pace of the novel really fast. My only complaint is that each new section felt like it was cutting off the previous one before that story was finished. I wanted more of Kenya's day-to-day life, more about the friend from NY who betrays her (we never see the emotional fallout from that). While everything in the novel worked, some scenes felt a little rushed. Overall, I really enjoyed Disgruntled - it's interested in growing up black, in activism and in community. It's a quick read and one I would recommend, and I'm excited to see what Solomon comes out with next.