I Am Not Sidney Poitier
(Author) Percival EverettI Am Not Sidney Poitier is an irresistible comic novel from the master storyteller Percival Everett, and an irreverent take on race, class, and identity in America I was, in life, to be a gambler, a risk-taker, a swashbuckler, a knight. I accepted, then and there, my place in the world. I was a fighter of windmills. I was a chaser of whales. I was Not Sidney Poitier. Not Sidney Poitier is an amiable young man in an absurd country. The sudden death of his mother orphans him at age eleven, leaving him with an unfortunate name, an uncanny resemblance to the famous actor, and, perhaps more fortunate, a staggering number of shares in the Turner Broadcasting Corporation. Percival Everett's hilarious new novel follows Not Sidney's tumultuous life, as the social hierarchy scrambles to balance his skin color with his fabulous wealth. Maturing under the less-than watchful eye of his adopted foster father, Ted Turner, Not gets arrested in rural Georgia for driving while black, sparks a dinnertable explosion at the home of his manipulative girlfriend, and sleuths a murder case in Smut Eye, Alabama, all while navigating the recurrent communication problem: "What's your name?" a kid would ask. "Not Sidney," I would say. "Okay, then what is it?"
Percival Everett
Percival Everett is an American writer known for his diverse body of work that includes novels, poetry, and short stories. He is known for his experimental and genre-defying writing style that often challenges conventional narrative structures and explores themes of race, identity, and language.
Some of his most notable works include "Erasure," a satirical novel that critiques the publishing industry and explores issues of race and representation, and "I Am Not Sidney Poitier," a comedic novel that follows the misadventures of a young black man named Not Sidney Poitier.
Everett's contributions to literature include his exploration of complex and nuanced characters, his use of humor and satire to address serious social issues, and his willingness to push the boundaries of traditional storytelling.
His impact on the literary genre can be seen in his ability to blur the lines between genres, blend literary forms, and challenge readers' expectations. One of his most famous works, "Erasure," has been praised for its sharp social commentary and inventive narrative structure.
Overall, Percival Everett's work is characterized by its intelligence, wit, and willingness to confront difficult truths, making him a unique and influential voice in contemporary literature.
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