Set in 1959 to 1964 Ray Carney is a nearly-respectable furniture store owner in Harlem, where shady dealings and outright criminality are never far away. We see Ray’s story develop as he strives to do well for his family (including his deeply dodgy cousin Freddie) and behind the facade he becomes drawn more into Harlem’s underworld while trying to maintain a legitimate business.
It’s a very well told story with wholly believable characters and an engaging protagonist in Ray as he tries to negotiate the tough realities of life in Harlem. I think the publisher’s blurb is a little misleading in describing it as “gloriously entertaining” and “hilarious.” It is a very engaging, enjoyable read, but it’s a novel with real social and political content, as you would expect from Colson Whitehead. The picture of Harlem is remarkably good, and the background of a corrupt city which runs on influence, payoffs and kickbacks (the “exchange of envelopes”) and the racism of the time are extremely well done. Whitehead never becomes solemn or preachy, which often makes the ingrained, everyday nature of it all the more powerful – with obvious present-day resonances. For example, the wit of having the 1964 riots described by a thug who is annoyed because the mayhem means that he can’t buy a sandwich for lunch is brilliant, I think, but it doesn’t detract one jot from the horror and rage sparked by yet another black child being shot dead by a white policeman with impunity.
This is, in short, a great read. It is gripping and entertaining while having genuine weight and I can recommend it very warmly.
(My thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC via NetGalley.)
No comments:
Post a Comment