Erasure

A Novel

By: Percival Everett

Narrated by: Sean Crisden

Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Percival Everett's blistering satire about race and publishing, now as the Oscar-nominated film, American Fiction, directed by Cord Jefferson and starring Jeffrey Wright and Tracee Ellis Ross.

Thelonious "Monk" Ellison's writing career has bottomed out: his latest manuscript has been rejected by seventeen publishers, which stings all the more because his previous novels have been "critically acclaimed." He seethes on the sidelines of the literary establishment as he watches the meteoric success of We's Lives in Da Ghetto, a first novel by a woman who once visited "some relatives in Harlem for a couple of days." Meanwhile, Monk struggles with real family tragedies—his aged mother is fast succumbing to Alzheimer's, and he still grapples with the reverberations of his father's suicide seven years before.

In his rage and despair, Monk dashes off a novel meant to be an indictment of Juanita Mae Jenkins's bestseller. He doesn't intend for My Pafology to be published, let alone taken seriously, but it is—under the pseudonym Stagg R. Leigh—and soon it becomes the Next Big Thing. How Monk deals with the personal and professional fallout galvanizes this audacious, hysterical, and quietly devastating novel.

©2001 Percival Everett (P)2023 Tantor

A Rollercoaster That Never Descends

Though at times it was challenging to follow, I couldn’t put it down once I found the rhythm of the writer, This book touches on so many important, nuanced topics: racism, classism, elder care, identity, infidelity, homophobia… meticulously highlighting the insidious nature of erasure. I just needed more chapters to flesh it all out. Hopefully the movie gives me the closure I so desperately desire lol…

Where am I being taken?

Somewhat complex. Kept my attention. This book left me wondering what to think of it.

Brilliantly Meta!

Ironic, sardonic, and so smart. The bookwork on so many levels. And it speaks to the richness and complexity of life. It does take the banal and make it somehow riveting and enjoyable, despite touching on some of life’s great pains.

A crazy ride

The book was good but not great! My friends loved it so read and take a chance on the crazy!!

The dichotomy of story. A literary intellectual dumbing down for the money.

I did not like the ending. No question.
I liked the family and the story thereof. The paper he presented at the conference lost me.
I think it is sad that the only way to sell a story is to write to the general perception of the masses, true or not.

Authentic Storytelling

Erasure was thoughtful, funny, and sensitive. I enjoyed how the writer shared the balancing act he has navigating his expected and desired life and the lives of his loved ones past and present.

Great performance of a great book

The vocal performance is perfect and the satire is hilarious. I highly recommend this book before you see the movie…

The Parody itself…

I liked the display of intelligence and versatility of the protagonist. The juxtaposition of Monk’s family ( with all the family’s shortcomings and failings) against the gross parody of “Van Go’s”life and those of other black lives. The lumping, the stereotypical grouping that supports “ the suspension of disbelief “ for white folks. In most cases so that “hands can be washed clean”
I liked this book very much!!

Didn’t see the movie… loved the book!

I wish I’d known about this book years ago. It would’ve saved me a lot of anguish.

A masterpiece

Best novel of the 21st century? Maybe! American Fiction is an excellent adaptation - but not nearly as heavy hearted as this novel, which is both unbearably sad and laugh-out-loud hilarious - occasionally at the same time.