pat loughery

A short while ago, there was a meme going around TikTok, where women were asked what they would do if men no longer existed. And many of them expressed longing for freedom and safety.

In a similar vein, this novel is an interesting and engaging magical realism that begins with the event of all white people walking into the nearest body of water and drowning. From there, we see an exploration of Blackness in America as a variety of characters adapt to this new world. 

As I was reading, I heard echoes of 

 Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, Chain Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, and Percival Everett’s James. 

I don’t think this book is as good as any of those three – each of those is more deft and complex. There are some awkward plot points, a few themes raised that would be very intriguing to follow up on, but go nowhere, and at least one caricature-y character. 

But the whole thing is challenging, and should discomfort white folks.  In this, it’s not perfect, but it is good art.

I read this via audiobook. It’s well narrated, with multiple voices for multiple POV’s.