Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion

Monica wrote: "I know I've seen up thread that some have expressed that Emira wasn't wasn't very well characterized. I think that is part of the brilliance of the book. She doesn't know who she is so it can't be easily described. (...)"

Didn't see this at first, insightful view.

@Rosalie Thanks for your book recommendations – also cats and books are always a perfect pair.

@Lotty Kiley Reid did such a great job, the finale was really thrilling especially because of Zara and I am glad Emira get what she wanted in the end!

Rosalie wrote: "Could someone remind me what the last paragraph was (paraphrasing or quoting)?

I thought it was such a great twist when we learn that Alix has deliberately misremembered what happened with the let..."

"Deep into her thirties, Emira would wrestle with what to take from her time at the Chamberlain house. Some days she carried the sweet relief that Briar would learn to become a self-sufficient person. And some days, Emira would carry the dread that if Briar ever struggled to find herself, she'd probably just hire someone to do it for her."

I thought the whole letter thing was a weak point in the story. Regardless if Kelly gave Robbie those letters back in high school, it didn't change my opinion of either. I mean did anyone really think this was a convincing reason for Alix to feel and behave the way she did towards Kelley?

I will say that when Reid reveals Alix's secret in the end about intentionally misremembering the events surrounding the letters she removes the ambiguity and forces our opinion of Alix. I don't think it was necessary because I already had her character pegged, but maybe Reid ended it that way to make it clear to anyone who would otherwise still not characterize Alix the way she had intended. For some people who might read up until that point and still think Alix was harmless and that she had good intentions.

Initially I had some qualms about the way Emira and her friends were portrayed, like the most basic stereotypical versions of themselves (music choice, hobbies or lack thereof, constant dancing/twerking, language used etc.) but then I read somewhere its satirical so I forgave this. I did enjoy the book which was made more insightful after discussing it here, there were a lot of good points mentioned.

Amanda wrote: "I thought the whole letter thing was a weak point in the story. Regardless if Kelly gave Robbie those letters back in high school, it didn't change my opinion of either. I mean did anyone really th..."

Yes - the letter thing really annoyed me on first reading because it felt as though the author didn't trust me to have worked out by myself that Alix was self-deceiving and generally awful. But, hey, I've read reviews since then by people who found her a sympathetic character until that twist, so I guess I can see why the author made that choice.

Every characters portrayal was from a 1st person perspective. Alix was portrayed as a person hated because of her parents and thier wealth and then because a boyfriend who betrayed her trust and exposed her private letter, then blamed her for his newfound friends getting in trouble. I did wonder if Kelly showed that letter making him responsible for those kids being there. That twist made me feel like Kelly never did anything wrong.

Did anyone listen to the audiobook of this? I just heard it wasnt enjoyable. Changing voices.

Wow! Kiley Reid gets prestigious Booker Prize longlist nod. A big deal!

https://amp.theguardian.com/books/202...

I honestly liked the twist with the letter because I do think people have a tendency to forgive and elide Alix’s narcissism and culpability. It does underscore things, that’s true. But to me it fit the style/genre well. I don’t think this is meant to be understated. To me it fit totally because the whole thing had a slightly heightened satirical feel so that didn’t seem out of place. And truly, with what we’re living with today, nothing Kiley Reid puts on the page is more absurd than what I’m reading about in the news. I think Amy Cooper is cartoonishly racist. Obviously Donald Trump is that as well, everyday. So I ask myself if Alix’s self deception and manipulation is worse and I don’t really think so.

@Tricia Re Kelley. It’s been a while since I read Such a Fun Age. I think the scene towards the end in the park, when Emira sees him with his new girlfriend who’s sort of a variation on his Black girl type underscores the idea that he’s might be a bit suspect, going back to the fetish vs. preference discussion. His dating habits reflect his upbringing but also his striving for a connection to blackness. It’s hard to tell how much of his attraction was individualized and specific to Emira versus how much stemmed from that affinity. But I don’t think he’s a “bad” character, just maybe one she couldn’t fully trust. And that reminded me of some dates I’ve had.

What a great discussion! Thanks so much for leading this discussion, Sean. Seems like most people are in agreement that this is an engrossing and captivating look at race and privilege with many interesting and complex characters. Some questions:

-Was there anyone who didn’t care for the book at all?...or find fault with the storyline or the depictions of any of the characters?
- Several people were surprised that this book was included in the Booker longlist. Considering the books selected for this award this year and books listed in the past, would you consider this worthy?

Thanks again all!

I'm not familar with the Booker Award. I really enjoyed discussing this book and this group made it so much more meaningful than my previous reading. Thank you all.

ColumbusReads wrote: "What a great discussion! Thanks so much for leading this discussion, Sean. Seems like most people are in agreement that this is an engrossing and captivating look at race and privilege with many in..."

I really enjoyed the discussion!

1. I liked the plot of the book and how it all came together. I didn't really care much for any of the characters. What I mean when I say that is that I didn't really root for anyone in particular.

2. I'm also not familiar with the Booker award. This book is important for the discussion it can foster, and if that is a qualification for the award, I can see why it was selected. Regarding prose, it wasn't written like it was meant to be a book. It was written like the author wanted to easily turn it into a screenplay (which I am noticing is happening more and more with younger authors these days). If that was her goal, I'm glad she is experiencing success.

Has anyone read The Help? Does anyone see any correlation in the dynamic of domestic to wife/mom from Aibileen to Mrs Leefolt in Emira to Alix?

Nominated for The Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Fiction and Best Debut Novel. Vote!

Thank you, Sean – done!

Same!

I know I'm late to the game here! I just got a copy of this from the library and am 3 chapters in. Excited to read back over this discussion thread once I'm done!

Some thoughts in random order after finishing the book and reading your comments here (great discussion!):

-I hated Alix from the beginning but especially in the early scene where she nurses Briar onstage as a clearly premeditated PR move.

-I loved the interactions between Emira and Briar. I think Kiley Reid did a great job of showing how you can really love a kid like that and how it would make you reluctant to leave her, no matter what else is horrible about the situation.

-I was not at all thrown by Emira sleeping with Kelley on their second meeting/first date. I mean, I'm almost 50, and that doesn't seem far-fetched to me at all.

-I felt very drawn into the storyline while simultaneously hating nearly every character except Emira and Briar.

-A couple people have mentioned the theme around caregiving, and I think that's really central to the plot, from Alix's Black housekeeper in her childhood to Emira. It's such a complicated relationship already as you're paying somebody to care about your child, and then add race on top of it, and it's extra complicated.

-A couple of you used the terms "pulpy" or "melodramatic" and the book did have a bit of a soap opera feel. I think the quality of Reid's prose was the one thing that saved the book from those tendencies.