Pym Mat Johnson Review

I wanted to love this novel.

Pym mat johnson review. Edgar allen poe has inspired many authors but mat johnson has the inspired audacity to both honor and discredit the man often in the same sentence. If we can identify how the pathology of whiteness was constructed the narrator chris jaynes proposes early in pym mat johnson s relentlessly entertaining new novel then we. Pym is the third novel by american author mat johnson published on march 1 2011 a satirical fantasy inspired by the narrative of arthur gordon pym of nantucket edgar allan poe s only novel the book explores racial politics and identity in america and antarctica. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users.

Soon the odd professor has established the account s authenticity and even secured poor dirk s skull from a distant descendent. Read this book now. Pym is an adventure a satire and a bracing political debate all rolled into one brilliant novel. In pym mat johnson sails the rim between crazy brilliant and crazy out of control.

The novel was written over a period of nine years and has been well received by critics who have praised its lighthearted and. And yes it really is about a black professor who has a meltdown when he doesn. The title pym might resonate with e a. The narrative of arthur gordon pym of nantucket was the only full length novel written by edgar allen poe.

Marvelous satire and a post modern literary play on the life of words pym is the best time i ve had between the covers of a book in ages. In mat johnson s pym a professor of african american literature who explores the blatant racism in poe s novel takes the reader on an unexpected retelling of the story through adventure and satire. Pym is an ambitious novel which as described by johnson himself is really multiple books within a book. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for pym.

Poe s novel was a master text of anxious. The book is an alternative version of poe s only novel the narrative of arthur gordon pym of nantucket a disjointed 1838 adventure novel that has long been the target of accusations of racism. Taking on everything from poe to toni morrison s playing the dark johnson writes a tale at once absurd laugh out loud funny ironic and broadly satirical.