Reviews with content warning for Cursing - Το σβήσιμο

This book was incredible. Some portions were challenging to read, as they dove into philosophy and linguistics in a way I haven't had to read since college, but everything rewarded you. Deeply human, complicated, heartbreaking, enraging.

The ending is incredible, and I hear it's very different from the movie.

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katewhite77's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I don't usually like novels that mess around with form

However, this is brilliant. We follow Monk through a crazy time in his life by reading his notebook and journal. We are also privvie to his latest literary offering.

Here, Everett uses humour to mercilessly critique the presence of institutional racism mainly in the publishing industry, but elsewhere, too. He does this by publishing the racism to extreme to see where it might land.

The greatest compliment I can give this book is that one day, I would like to write something similar around disability.

There is also a sweet subplot about how to grow old gracefully.

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asimenia's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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zara89's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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spenar's review against another edition

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dark funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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amiegold's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Erasure is definitely one of the best books I've read this year. This book took me by complete surprise. I immediately connected with Monk, our African-American main character who is well educated and comes from a loving and stable home. Monk reminisces on how he has strived and given his all to his literature, which he calls his art, and how it has not been received well. Specifically, the feedback is that nobody wants to read it and it isn't 'black' enough. In his frustration, as he is dealing with very real and relatable problems in his personal life., monk pens a work of fiction under the name 'My Pafology' that is offensive, ridiculous, and shocking. I have to admit that I only read a few pages of 'My Pafology' as Percival Everett includes it in this book and its entirety. But even having read that gave me plenty of background to enjoy the rest of the novel. I felt Monks disgust with himself and our culture throughout this book as his satirical work is applauded as some of the best fiction ever released in African American literature. Monk is offended, and I'm offended for him. This book made me laugh and cry, sometimes on the same page. It has definitely has earned a place on my shelf.

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