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A review by reggiereads
The Narrows: A Novel by Keith Clark, Ann Petry
5.0
What can't Ann Petry do? Although this question seems to have some level of difficulty—since you more than likely never had the chance to know Ann Petry personally—it's simply an illusion. The answer is simple: Ann Petry cannot write a bad novel.
A lot of people (although not nearly enough) are familiar with The Street and would use that as a part of their reasoning for that answer, but The Narrows is another reason that should be leveraged.
An ambitious & complex novel narrated by someone omniscient with guest appearances from several residents of the fictional town of Monmouth, Connecticut. You may even refer to them as guest interruptions, considering the sharp changes in perspective that occur without a moment's notice.
That's because in The Narrows or Darktown or Niggertown or Little Harlem, etc. they've learned the importance of controlling the narrative. The residents of that town know that if you don't tell your story, and you live in the United States, then the whites will.
And who wins when that happens?
Why have the owner of the Monmouth Chronicle, Peter Bullock (although it is really run by the rich ass Treadways), tell the story of The Narrows when you have a Ivy League educated, and re-educated, historian, Link Williams, serving drinks over at The Last Chance, under the supervision of Bill Hod & the mentorship of Weak Knees, readily available to tell it? He'll tell you that & the history of the U.S itself!
Link is chosen because residents like Abbie Crunch, Frances K. Jackson or Malcolm Powther would probably say things similar to Bullock.
Mamie & J.C. would probably hold it down though.
Ann Petry flawlessly delivers us a world of deceit, betrayal, corruption, payola, lust, scandal, racism, classism, love, humor, passion & MORE. This novel's warning should say: YOU ARE NOW WATCHING A MASTER AT WORK.
Sadly the literary world decided this novel had to take a backseat to the Invisible Man's & Go Tell It On The Mountain's of the time. Another warning: ONLY ONE OF YOU CAN SHINE PER YEAR.
Let's circle back now that you are fully aware of the illusion.
What is it, again, that Ann Petry can't do?
------------------------------------------------
This is my first entry into my 2021 edition of the #2BooksUnder50Reviews Challenge. My hope if that a masterpiece like this will take it's rightful place in history and no longer be as underread as it is. Crazy to think that a novel as good this, which was first published in 1953, has under 50 Goodreads reviews.
A lot of people (although not nearly enough) are familiar with The Street and would use that as a part of their reasoning for that answer, but The Narrows is another reason that should be leveraged.
An ambitious & complex novel narrated by someone omniscient with guest appearances from several residents of the fictional town of Monmouth, Connecticut. You may even refer to them as guest interruptions, considering the sharp changes in perspective that occur without a moment's notice.
That's because in The Narrows or Darktown or Niggertown or Little Harlem, etc. they've learned the importance of controlling the narrative. The residents of that town know that if you don't tell your story, and you live in the United States, then the whites will.
And who wins when that happens?
Why have the owner of the Monmouth Chronicle, Peter Bullock (although it is really run by the rich ass Treadways), tell the story of The Narrows when you have a Ivy League educated, and re-educated, historian, Link Williams, serving drinks over at The Last Chance, under the supervision of Bill Hod & the mentorship of Weak Knees, readily available to tell it? He'll tell you that & the history of the U.S itself!
Link is chosen because residents like Abbie Crunch, Frances K. Jackson or Malcolm Powther would probably say things similar to Bullock.
Mamie & J.C. would probably hold it down though.
Ann Petry flawlessly delivers us a world of deceit, betrayal, corruption, payola, lust, scandal, racism, classism, love, humor, passion & MORE. This novel's warning should say: YOU ARE NOW WATCHING A MASTER AT WORK.
Sadly the literary world decided this novel had to take a backseat to the Invisible Man's & Go Tell It On The Mountain's of the time. Another warning: ONLY ONE OF YOU CAN SHINE PER YEAR.
Let's circle back now that you are fully aware of the illusion.
What is it, again, that Ann Petry can't do?
------------------------------------------------
This is my first entry into my 2021 edition of the #2BooksUnder50Reviews Challenge. My hope if that a masterpiece like this will take it's rightful place in history and no longer be as underread as it is. Crazy to think that a novel as good this, which was first published in 1953, has under 50 Goodreads reviews.