I Am Not Sidney Poitier

A Novel

By: Percival Everett

Narrated by: Amir Abdullah

I Am Not Sidney Poitier is an irresistible comic novel from the master storyteller Percival Everett

I was, in life, to be a gambler, a risk-taker, a swashbuckler, a knight. I accepted, then and there, my place in the world. I was a fighter of windmills. I was a chaser of whales. I was Not Sidney Poitier.

Not Sidney Poitier is an amiable young man in an absurd country. The sudden death of his mother orphans him at age eleven, leaving him with an unfortunate name, an uncanny resemblance to the famous actor, and, perhaps more fortunate, a staggering number of shares in the Turner Broadcasting Corporation.

Percival Everett's hilarious new novel follows Not Sidney's tumultuous life, as the social hierarchy scrambles to balance his skin color with his fabulous wealth. Maturing under the less-than watchful eye of his adopted foster father, Ted Turner, Not gets arrested in rural Georgia for driving while black, sparks a dinner table explosion at the home of his manipulative girlfriend, and sleuths a murder case in Smut Eye, Alabama, all while navigating the recurrent communication problem: "What's your name?" a kid would ask. "Not Sidney," I would say. "Okay, then what is it?"

©2009 Percival Everett (P)2023 Tantor

Hilarious!

Such clever satire. I truly enjoyed it. The narration was excellent. Made me laugh out loud several times!

The ins and outs of the storyline and the humor

Humorous twists of the characters, geographically interesting, Everett’s understanding and subtle historical references. Loads of fun

The title says it all

I like this author. I listened to “James” and I was hooked. So I tried “not Sidney” and I wasn’t disappointed.

Clever, humerous story skillfully narrated

Everett delivers an outstanding novel with skillful humor woven around characters and events of the mid-twentieth century in the South.

Bizarre story with humor and terror interwoven throughout. Highly enjoyable!

Bizarre story with humor and terror interwoven throughout. This story was extremely enjoyable! I am now hooked wanting to read more by Everett.

Who are you, exactly?

The ironies, play on words, double entendres, Clever and witty take on mistaken identities. Loved it!

The wonderful writing

Loved the reader and the convoluted story. It made me laugh out loud! I highly recommend this audio book.

Funny, but…

There were clear & meaningful jabs at so many racists attitudes and practices, but too nonsensical for me.

I am Not Mr. Tibbs

This story will be more fun if before reading,you refresh your familiarity with Sidney Poitier's flimography. Not coincidentally, Poitier's work is available for viewing on Turner Classic Movie TCM. 'In the Heat of the Night' is a good place to start. It's still a great movie.

And like all of his books, Everett's signature send up of racists, both black and white racists, is hilarious and remains fresh.

A special adventure into self

I loved the ending and the unexpected road to getting there. What an imagination. “I am not myself today.”