drexedit's review against another edition
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ranadarobinson's review against another edition
Some stories captured me completely, and some just left me wondering what I missed. Overall, I enjoyed the connections between characters. I think I'm too much of a reader who gets attached to characters to fully appreciate short stories. I always want to know more and keep going.
sujata's review against another edition
4.0
I generally don’t like story collections but this had enough that we’re deeply or tangentially connected to keep me engaged.
kaymac_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Witty, compelling & truly unlike anything I’ve ever read.
This collection of short stories centers around black identity and the contemporary middle class. Each character is entirely unique and the stories ranging from heart-wrenching to absurd. The wit and mastery level of writing bring the stories to life.
This book is an absolute wonderful pick for a book club or class assignment.
This collection of short stories centers around black identity and the contemporary middle class. Each character is entirely unique and the stories ranging from heart-wrenching to absurd. The wit and mastery level of writing bring the stories to life.
This book is an absolute wonderful pick for a book club or class assignment.
laurenkd89's review against another edition
5.0
Ahhh. It is so rare to read a collection of short stories where every single one is well-done, where you feel like the author has hit his or her stride with every new chapter. HEADS OF THE COLORED PEOPLE is exactly that for Nafissa Thompson-Spires. Each story is eccentric, darkly funny, realistic, almost satirical portraits of what it’s like to be black in America. Many of Thompson-Spires’ narrators are from a middle or upper-middle class background, which adds an interesting dimension of “outsider-ness” to some of the characters’ inner workings.
There’s a nasty, passive-aggressive letter exchange between the two mothers of the only black girls at a fancy private prep school in Claremont, CA, both of whom have PhDs and are masters at talking shit. There’s a narcissistic young woman obsessed with attention from social media, who posts that she’s going to take her own life on Facebook and puzzles over why it’s not getting enough likes and comments. There’s a girl who develops a fetish for dating handicapped men, specifically men with non-functioning legs. There’s a bursary clerk with uncontrollable anger issues who slept with her foster sister’s husband, yet is a born-again Christian and forces herself to do volunteer work she hates as penitence.
Although the plots of each story are simple, it’s the characters that draw you in. Thompson-Spires has an easy and alluring writing style that you can’t help but devour - with ironic, sarcastic, and darkly funny lines thrown in so rapidly you might miss them. These are a total joy to read, especially for an author’s debut collection, and I look forward to reading what she writes in the future.
There’s a nasty, passive-aggressive letter exchange between the two mothers of the only black girls at a fancy private prep school in Claremont, CA, both of whom have PhDs and are masters at talking shit. There’s a narcissistic young woman obsessed with attention from social media, who posts that she’s going to take her own life on Facebook and puzzles over why it’s not getting enough likes and comments. There’s a girl who develops a fetish for dating handicapped men, specifically men with non-functioning legs. There’s a bursary clerk with uncontrollable anger issues who slept with her foster sister’s husband, yet is a born-again Christian and forces herself to do volunteer work she hates as penitence.
Although the plots of each story are simple, it’s the characters that draw you in. Thompson-Spires has an easy and alluring writing style that you can’t help but devour - with ironic, sarcastic, and darkly funny lines thrown in so rapidly you might miss them. These are a total joy to read, especially for an author’s debut collection, and I look forward to reading what she writes in the future.
veelaughtland's review against another edition
5.0
Book 4 of the Reading Rush 2020 Readathon - Read a book completely outside of your house.
What a fantastic collection of stories. The stories in this collection range from wryly funny to heartbreakingly sad, and the level of hilarious pettiness is through the roof. Thompson-Spires brings us a variety of characters who are struggling not only with their identity in a 'post-racial' America, but also their place in society in general, particularly where class comes into play. And this is so incredibly current and relevant - ASMR and internet fame even get a mention. I would thoroughly recommend Heads of the Colored People to pretty much anyone.
What a fantastic collection of stories. The stories in this collection range from wryly funny to heartbreakingly sad, and the level of hilarious pettiness is through the roof. Thompson-Spires brings us a variety of characters who are struggling not only with their identity in a 'post-racial' America, but also their place in society in general, particularly where class comes into play. And this is so incredibly current and relevant - ASMR and internet fame even get a mention. I would thoroughly recommend Heads of the Colored People to pretty much anyone.
knick_nat's review against another edition
3.0
At first the stories didn’t really capture me. It started off strong with the story of the cosplayer but then the rest didn’t really meet that one. It wasn’t until the story of the narcissist, half way through the book, and then I was interested. I really liked how so many stories connected. You caught names and clues that they tied together. I really enjoyed This Todd followed by the bread story.
flipphonegay's review against another edition
3.0
this was a short story collection and like a lot of short story collections, i had mixed feelings. some of the stories in here had super interesting creative concepts while others just felt a little pointless.