Hunting in Harlem : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Some of the Best Fiction in Years
Review: I've never been a fan of the mystery/thriller genre and this book encompases neither genre. What 'Hunting in Harlem' is is one of the strongest pieces of fiction writing/literature in the last 30 years. Johnson's novel is strong on characters who keep you pulleld into the book and you're very happy to stay there. What makes this novel so good is Johnson's ability to weave words with the ease of the Modernists and the grace of post-modern writers. Never one to hold himself above language, Johnson's second novel is nothing short of brilliant, and I say this after reading it 3 times. Can't wait for his next novel to come out...Get a move-on, Johnson!

Rating:
Summary: Marvelous!
Review: Loved it! This book will keep you enthralled. Never a dull moment here. Mat Johnson is a master of plot, character and humor.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: Mat Johnson does a great job character description and plot development. I normally don't even read suspense novels but this one had me from the beginning. There are some hialrious scenes and also some great insight into the mind of male species. I too felt the ending was a bit vague, but journey made it worth it.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: Mat Johnson does a great job character description and plot development. I normally don't even read suspense novels but this one had me from the beginning. There are some hialrious scenes and also some great insight into the mind of male species. I too felt the ending was a bit vague, but journey made it worth it.

Rating:
Summary: What a flop!
Review: The opening paragraph was the best part of this novel. It offered great promise for an engaging story but failed to deliver. The story opens with three ex-cons being recruited by a community development organization to help return Harlem to black folks. As the author clunks along with the story, we learn of the many "accidents" that befall the undesirables in the neighborhood and get a few obviously placed statements about attributes that need to be acquired by African Americans. "Bobby actually believed in what Lester and the congressman were telling him, bought into all of it from the start. Horus was the same way, never questioning, never complaining." This is only one example of the didactic tone of the novel and the author's lack of creativity in trying to make his point. There was more than one instance when I felt that the author was actually trying to trick me into finishing the novel. Using an unsuccessful book, "The Great Work", written by one of the characters, Johnson discusses the mistreatment of black literature and uses this commentary to entice his reader to stick with the book. That ploy simply didn't work on me. After 100 pages into the novel I simply gave up. The writing is dull, the characters are flat and the story lacks any feel of realism. Furthermore, the story seems absent of language that engages the imagination or paints a picture. He dictates each chapter like a witness at a deposition. I'm not sure what other reviewers found in this book that I missed but I certainly can't recommend this one.



Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and compelling
Review: Wonderful characterization and page-turning plot. Mat Johnson's way with words makes the outrageous seem perfectly natural and the normal seem ridiculous. I enjoyed this book almost as much as his excellent first novel, 'Drop.'