Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion

*Winner of the Anisfield- Wolf Book Award
*Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction
*PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction nominee
*Shortlisted for the Booker Prize
*PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction nominee

Did I miss anything because the book is racking up awards, nominations & accolades daily.

If we can get at least 6 hands raised to discuss THE TREES by Percival Everett by December 13th, we’ll discuss it next month. Please be committed to read it if you raise your hand.

I’ll start ✋

I just read it and might pipe in.

If I can get my hands on it by then. Its wait listed at both my library systems. If its half as good as Erasure....

Carmel wrote: "I just read it and might pipe in."

👍🏽

William wrote: "If I can get my hands on it by then. Its wait listed at both my library systems. If its half as good as Erasure...."

I figured it would be a serious wait list with all the acclaim. If it appears difficult to get a hold of for most folks then we can delay the date a bit.

I was notified that my book is in. I'll start reading in 2-3 days...I could use some good comic relief right now...Perhaps I just drop a few bon mots here as I read along..

William wrote: "I was notified that my book is in. I'll start reading in 2-3 days...I could use some good comic relief right now...Perhaps I just drop a few bon mots here as I read along.."

Great, I’ll do the same.

I will admit that this book surprised me. There was much more humor than I expected with such a dark and awful focus. I'm glad I got through my reluctance to give it a try it.

I read this last month — my first Everett, I’m embarrassed to admit, and was pleasantly stunned. At the same time, after i finished,I felt like I didn’t really understand the explanation for what was happening. I still can’t decide if Everett was more invested in the first 80% of his novel and less in the reveal, or if I am hopelessly dense. I’m really looking forward to everyone’s thoughts and takeaways since I desperately wished to have someone to kick this around with in real time. And I’m still thinking about it several weeks later- always a good indicator of a special one.

Carmel wrote: "I will admit that this book surprised me. There was much more humor than I expected with such a dark and awful focus. I'm glad I got through my reluctance to give it a try it."

IKR? The humor helped quite a lot.

Hey 👋🏾,

I have this in my want to read list. I’m definitely ✋🏿

The chapters are really short.. Should we have the first check-in at chap 33, page 99 on Saturday?

I’ve read the first 8 chapters so far and this is quintessential Everett: uncomfortable humor & smart, skillful prose. Fingers crossed it continues. 🤞

ColumbusReads wrote: "The chapters are really short.. Should we have the first check-in at chap 33, page 99 on Saturday?"

I doubt I'll have gotten very far into it by then, but, sure..

ColumbusReads wrote: "I’ve read the first 8 chapters so far and this is quintessential Everett: uncomfortable humor & smart, skillful prose. Fingers crossed it continues. 🤞"

I read a review somewhere that said it was a mark of genius to be able to pull off a successful comic novel on such a painful subject. Anxious to find out for myself..

William wrote: "ColumbusReads wrote: "The chapters are really short.. Should we have the first check-in at chap 33, page 99 on Saturday?"

I doubt I'll have gotten very far into it by then, but, sure.."

I’m simultaneously reading an essay collection now so I’m totally flexible with the reading. I’ll follow your lead.

William wrote: "ColumbusReads wrote: "I’ve read the first 8 chapters so far and this is quintessential Everett: uncomfortable humor & smart, skillful prose. Fingers crossed it continues. 🤞"

I read a review somewh..."

Absolutely agree. I feel sort of guilty guffawing at some of the most disturbing parts here and its constant.

For those of you that have completed the book. Our very own LFPC member, Carole Bell just informed me that she had the opportunity to interview the author recently. I was able to read around most of the material on THE TREES to avoid spoilers. Enjoy!

https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainm...

Terrific article. Thanks!

Carmel wrote: "Terrific article. Thanks!"

You’re welcome, Carmel. Carole always does a great job.

I have a feeling I'm going to regret that I'm able to read this at a breakneck pace. It will be over too soon...I'm worried about posting spoilers...Is everyone else finished or still reading?

William wrote: "I have a feeling I'm going to regret that I'm able to read this at a breakneck pace. It will be over too soon...I'm worried about posting spoilers...Is everyone else finished or still reading?"

What page are you on? I’m on 148.

ColumbusReads wrote: "William wrote: "I have a feeling I'm going to regret that I'm able to read this at a breakneck pace. It will be over too soon...I'm worried about posting spoilers...Is everyone else finished or sti..."

I'm on 180. I'll be done tomorrow at this pace. (I started yesterday)

William wrote: "ColumbusReads wrote: "William wrote: "I have a feeling I'm going to regret that I'm able to read this at a breakneck pace. It will be over too soon...I'm worried about posting spoilers...Is everyon..."

These short chapters sort of lends itself to fast reading. Just ripe for a literary crime/mystery novel.

Hot Mama Yeller..need I say more? I'm really glad that the story line veered away from Emmit Till as a protagonist...I couldn't see a good ending or resolve in that direction.

The Trees is more brilliance from Percival Everett. Would you call this an Anti-Trump era novel? I kept thinking about it throughout the book with all the buffoonery, craziness and the sheer stupid behavior of these folks.

I loved that it reminded me of some of the best satire I ever read. I also kept thinking about Colson Whitehead and James McBride and their satirical humor in similar work by them. I love revenge novels anyway but most of the others were of the Donald Goines variety.

I’m left thinking about the ending of this book and have various questions about it. I’m not sure I know exactly what happens to Gertrude and the others who participated? The other hordes of men who participated in the various cities. Such as the Chinese men who murdered for the atrocities in Wyoming in the 1800’s. Any retribution?

All of that doesn’t take away from the fact that this is one of my top 3 books of the year.

I'm sorry that I haven't been able to contribute much to this discussion. (I started a part-time job after 10 years of retirement. Who knew it would cut into my on-line time?)...But the book did nothing to lower my reverence for Everett's talents. His comic timing was precise, and often pointed and heart wrenching. There were avenues the story could have taken, a rehash of the Emmitt Till story comes to mind, that it, to my relief, avoided. The listing of the names those lynched was brilliant and I think the point of the story. Saying or writing the names of those lynched made them "become alive". The inclusion of so many of Asian decent uncovered a previously hidden (to me) aspect of American racism and mob violence.
I will continue to consume all that Everett writes>

I agree about the reading of the names…also the reading of the places. They felt like litanies to me and therefore sacred. Very powerful and effective.

Hello, I'm new to this group as of today, but I loved The Trees and on the strength of that one I bought every single book he's written, including his latest. I think he is one of the best authors out there today.

It's been a while since I read this, but I remember being struck with how skillfully the satire element was done.... one of the best I've read. Sometimes satire leaves me cold because, even though I understand it on an intellectual level, it doesn't manage to amuse me on any level. This one did. So kudos to his skill in achieving that.

I was also struck by the list of names and places, some of which I recognized, but many I didn't. As I read through them, I was reminded of the end of the Schindler's List movie, as the actual people who'd been portrayed filed by. That gut punch of reality made me gasp. This felt just like that. No turning away possible. All there in print. It felt very powerful. And very sad and troubling.

The ending left me with some of the same questions.... feeling unfinished. And then I wondered.... because we aren't finished yet? We still struggle with the same thing in different manifestations? Maybe he intended that? This is a story that needs resolution? I have no idea.... just some questions. Maybe another sign of great satire....

I just finished this. Loved it. It's my second by Everett (I'd previously read and loved "Erasure"). I have to go dig up more of his stuff at my library, now.

Anybody else a Chester Himes fan and catch the allusions to Coffin Ed Johnson and Gravedigger Jones in Everett's two detectives? Really fun.