Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile (recovering from an arm injury; on a short review-writing break)'s Reviews > Hell of a Book
Hell of a Book
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Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile (recovering from an arm injury; on a short review-writing break)'s review
bookshelves: immersion-read, 2022-favorite-reads
Jul 13, 2022
bookshelves: immersion-read, 2022-favorite-reads
Update: rounding up to 5⭐️... I can't stop thinking about this book!
4.5⭐
Our unnamed narrator is a Black writer riding high on the success of his recently published book – a book titled “Hell of a Book” ("It’s been Kindled and Kobo’d, iPadded and Audible’d. It’s been optioned so that it can be movie’d—"). He is currently on a promotional tour, traveling across the country, answering the question “What’s Your Book About?”, signing copies and connecting with his reader base. Of course, he has been extensively trained in media interaction and has a “handler” wherever he goes, though that doesn’t quite prevent him from getting into trouble. As our narrator travels across the country, the recent tragic shooting of a ten-year-old Black boy by the police has garnered national attention – it’s on the news, protesters have taken to the streets - and being an African –American writer, almost everywhere he goes someone is bringing it up expecting him to voice his thoughts about it .
Parallel to our narrator’s experiences is the story of a little boy who is unkindly nicknamed “Soot” on account of his extremely dark skin. Soot’s loving parents believe that they can keep him safe if he stays “invisible”.
Our narrator is often visited by “The Kid”, a “gangly, meek, and nerdy-looking” boy only he can see and interact with, who insists he is “real” and with whom he shares some deep and meaningful conversations on what it means to Black in America.
As the different threads converge and the lines between fiction and reality become blurred -for our narrator and for the reader-the story attains a dream-like quality that pulls you in, breaks your heart and leaves you more than a little unsettled.
“But the thing to know and remember is that you can never be something other than what you are, no matter how much you might want to. You can’t be them. You can only be you. And they’re going to always treat you differently than they treat themselves. They won’t ever know about it—at least, most of them won’t. Most of them will think that everything is okay and that you’re being treated well enough and that everything is beautiful. Because, I guess for them, all they can imagine is a world in which things are fair and beautiful because, after all, they’ve always been treated fairly and beautifully. History has always been kind to them.”
I tend to be wary of award winning books with a lot of hype surrounding them which is why I took my time to get to this one. But I am so glad that I eventually did pick this book up. Aptly named, "Hell of a Book" is truly a creative and brilliant work of fiction. With its powerful writing, lyrical prose and elements of magical realism, sardonic humor and a narrative that is hard-hitting, insightful and relevant, Jason Mott’s "Hell of a Book" is a unique and immersive experience. I combined my reading with the audio narration by JD Jackson and Ronald Peet which made for an exceptional immersion reading experience.
4.5⭐
Our unnamed narrator is a Black writer riding high on the success of his recently published book – a book titled “Hell of a Book” ("It’s been Kindled and Kobo’d, iPadded and Audible’d. It’s been optioned so that it can be movie’d—"). He is currently on a promotional tour, traveling across the country, answering the question “What’s Your Book About?”, signing copies and connecting with his reader base. Of course, he has been extensively trained in media interaction and has a “handler” wherever he goes, though that doesn’t quite prevent him from getting into trouble. As our narrator travels across the country, the recent tragic shooting of a ten-year-old Black boy by the police has garnered national attention – it’s on the news, protesters have taken to the streets - and being an African –American writer, almost everywhere he goes someone is bringing it up expecting him to voice his thoughts about it .
Parallel to our narrator’s experiences is the story of a little boy who is unkindly nicknamed “Soot” on account of his extremely dark skin. Soot’s loving parents believe that they can keep him safe if he stays “invisible”.
Our narrator is often visited by “The Kid”, a “gangly, meek, and nerdy-looking” boy only he can see and interact with, who insists he is “real” and with whom he shares some deep and meaningful conversations on what it means to Black in America.
As the different threads converge and the lines between fiction and reality become blurred -for our narrator and for the reader-the story attains a dream-like quality that pulls you in, breaks your heart and leaves you more than a little unsettled.
“But the thing to know and remember is that you can never be something other than what you are, no matter how much you might want to. You can’t be them. You can only be you. And they’re going to always treat you differently than they treat themselves. They won’t ever know about it—at least, most of them won’t. Most of them will think that everything is okay and that you’re being treated well enough and that everything is beautiful. Because, I guess for them, all they can imagine is a world in which things are fair and beautiful because, after all, they’ve always been treated fairly and beautifully. History has always been kind to them.”
I tend to be wary of award winning books with a lot of hype surrounding them which is why I took my time to get to this one. But I am so glad that I eventually did pick this book up. Aptly named, "Hell of a Book" is truly a creative and brilliant work of fiction. With its powerful writing, lyrical prose and elements of magical realism, sardonic humor and a narrative that is hard-hitting, insightful and relevant, Jason Mott’s "Hell of a Book" is a unique and immersive experience. I combined my reading with the audio narration by JD Jackson and Ronald Peet which made for an exceptional immersion reading experience.
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Reading Progress
June 29, 2021
– Shelved
July 8, 2022
–
Started Reading
July 13, 2022
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 50 (50 new)
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Diane S ☔
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Jul 13, 2022 06:50PM
Loved your review, Sujoya. Really need to get to this book!
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Fabulous review, Sujoya! I’ve had this one on my TBR for too long, so time to get to it. Just placed it on a Libby hold🙃
Diane S ☔ wrote: "Loved your review, Sujoya. Really need to get to this book!"
Thank you so much, Diane! 😊 This is such a unique read! I hope you also like it!
Thank you so much, Diane! 😊 This is such a unique read! I hope you also like it!
Rebecca wrote: "Fantastic review Sujoya! Adding to my tbr 💖💖"
Many thanks, Rebecca! 💖 I hope you also like this one!
Many thanks, Rebecca! 💖 I hope you also like this one!
Terrie wrote: "Fabulous review, Sujoya! I’ve had this one on my TBR for too long, so time to get to it. Just placed it on a Libby hold🙃"
Thank you , Terrie!😊 I sat on this one for a while too. But am glad I read it. The audio is also excellent! Hope you like it too!
Thank you , Terrie!😊 I sat on this one for a while too. But am glad I read it. The audio is also excellent! Hope you like it too!
Marilyn wrote: "Wonderful review, Sujoya 💗 I have to move this one up on my list. It sounds so good!"
Thank you , Marilyn!🧡 It is very well-written! Hope you also like it!'
Thank you , Marilyn!🧡 It is very well-written! Hope you also like it!'
message 14:
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Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile (recovering from
(last edited Jul 14, 2022 04:39AM)
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rated it 5 stars
Brandice wrote: "Glad the book was worth the praise! Great review, Sujoya :)"
Thank you, Brandice! More often than not I've been disappointed with books with a lot of hype surrounding them. I'm so glad this was an exception!😊
Thank you, Brandice! More often than not I've been disappointed with books with a lot of hype surrounding them. I'm so glad this was an exception!😊
Wow, this sounds incredible! I haven’t heard of it until now, but had to add after your review! Any book that you keep thinking about is one I need to read. Fantastic review Sujoya! 💖
message 20:
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Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile (recovering from
(last edited Jul 14, 2022 08:54AM)
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rated it 5 stars
Catherine wrote: "Wow, this sounds incredible! I haven’t heard of it until now, but had to add after your review! Any book that you keep thinking about is one I need to read. Fantastic review Sujoya! 💖"
Many thanks, Catherine!💖 It is an incredible read! I do hope you give it a try!
Many thanks, Catherine!💖 It is an incredible read! I do hope you give it a try!
L.A. wrote: "Unique is an eye catcher for me! It sounds awesome and so is this review, Sujoya!"
Thank you kindly, L.A.!😊 I hope you also like the book!
Thank you kindly, L.A.!😊 I hope you also like the book!
Melissa (post-wedding catch up mode) wrote: "Fantastic review, I'm very intrigued!"
Thank you, Melissa! 😊This was an exceptional book. I didn't expect it to be so good!
Thank you, Melissa! 😊This was an exceptional book. I didn't expect it to be so good!
Fantastic review Sujoya. I'm glad you gave it a shot with an open mind. This is one that should not be missed!
message 32:
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Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile (recovering from
(last edited Jul 14, 2022 03:22PM)
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rated it 5 stars
Barbara wrote: "Fantastic review Sujoya. I'm glad you gave it a shot with an open mind. This is one that should not be missed!"
Thank you kindly, Barbara!😊 I truly would have missed out on an amazing reading experience had I not picked this one up!
Thank you kindly, Barbara!😊 I truly would have missed out on an amazing reading experience had I not picked this one up!
Excellent review, Sujoya! I can understand your hesitance to read a much-hyped book, but I'm glad you ended up loving it!
Wow! I'm sold! I too steer clear of award-winners but this sounds like a great exception. Wonderful review, Sujoya! ♥
Sarah-Hope wrote: "It is a book that sticks with you, isn't it?"
Absolutely! I hadn't expected it to be so good! :)
Absolutely! I hadn't expected it to be so good! :)
JanB wrote: "I agree about award winners. Glad this was an exception. Great review Sujoya!"
Thank you kindly, Jan! 😊
Thank you kindly, Jan! 😊
Kat wrote: "Excellent review, Sujoya! I can understand your hesitance to read a much-hyped book, but I'm glad you ended up loving it!"
Many thanks, Kay!😊
Many thanks, Kay!😊
Rosh wrote: "Wow! I'm sold! I too steer clear of award-winners but this sounds like a great exception. Wonderful review, Sujoya! ♥"
Thank you so much, Rosh!😊 It's not that I haven't enjoyed award winning books before but they have been few and far between. Most times I've been disappointed.
Thank you so much, Rosh!😊 It's not that I haven't enjoyed award winning books before but they have been few and far between. Most times I've been disappointed.
Kathleen wrote: ""a creative and brilliant work of fiction"--Agree. Lovely, well-written review."
Thank you kindly, Kathleen! 😊
Thank you kindly, Kathleen! 😊
Miya (ugly crying thanks to the Duffer Brothers) wrote: "Fantastic review Sujoya!"
Thank you so much, Miya!😊
Thank you so much, Miya!😊