A review by adamcarrico91
Amiable with Big Teeth by Claude McKay

3.0

This novel is super nerdy and very interesting. I knew absolutely nothing about the historical context of Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia and certainly didn’t know the response among Harlemites during that time. The plot can be a bit dry; it’s hard to stay fully engaged with the intricacies of organizational conflicts. I still loved the environment painted by McKay; he’s so good at bringing this specific corner of Harlem / NYC alive. It would be hard for any author to make this subject matter worth reading, but I kept wanting to know what would happen next. The ending may have been a bit melodramatic, but it was incredibly satisfying. It might not be my favorite book, but I’m glad people finally uncovered this novel.