Scan barcode
A review by autumn_alwaysreadingseason
Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
I finished this over a week ago and I still don't know how I feel about it. I listened on audio (which I recommend, but be warned that the frat-bro-esque yelling gets to be too much sometimes).
Black Buck follows Darren, who has been working at Starbucks for four years. His mom wants him to do something else and an opportunity arises when one day he recommends an executive of a startup a different drink than his usual. He then is christened Buck and put through arduous sales training with two other newbies. But Buck is the only Black employee in the company and he faces racist jokes and increased torment, especially from his immediate supervisor. When tragedy befalls him personally and Buck single-handedly saves the company from bad publicity, he decides that he will change course and focus on getting more BIPOC in sales.
I was most interested in this aspect and it took a long time to get there. Then, when the Happy Campers are formed and start getting hired, shit hits the fan.
Overall, the plot was gripping, but sometimes it was too over-the-top, even for satire. And I found the ending deeply unsatisfying, although upon reflection it does fit.
Black Buck follows Darren, who has been working at Starbucks for four years. His mom wants him to do something else and an opportunity arises when one day he recommends an executive of a startup a different drink than his usual. He then is christened Buck and put through arduous sales training with two other newbies. But Buck is the only Black employee in the company and he faces racist jokes and increased torment, especially from his immediate supervisor. When tragedy befalls him personally and Buck single-handedly saves the company from bad publicity, he decides that he will change course and focus on getting more BIPOC in sales.
I was most interested in this aspect and it took a long time to get there. Then, when the Happy Campers are formed and start getting hired, shit hits the fan.
Overall, the plot was gripping, but sometimes it was too over-the-top, even for satire. And I found the ending deeply unsatisfying, although upon reflection it does fit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Death