ccmik's review
4.0
This was a really smooth and thought-provoking read. The main character, Melvin Ellington, has such a poetic stream-of-consciousness and a very interesting perspective the way he ponders themes of masculinity and the expectations surrounding him as a young black man in America who ends up serving prison time for refusing induction in the Vietnam war. The book interweaves events of his life leading up to that, his experience in prison, and reuniting with family and some old friends the day he gets out, and all the clashing perspectives and ideals he encounters throughout. It paints a lively picture of 1970s NYC and I personally enjoyed that there were quite a few classic movie references too.
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