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geoforreal's review
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
fee_jay's review
3.0
Surreal and mundane at the same time. I'm fascinated by the hypermetropolis that Lagos seems to be.
titilayo_ak's review
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
balletbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
This book fell at the wrong time for me, I think. I really liked the writing, the idea of using themes from Kafka's Metamorphosis to look at race and culture in Nigeria, but something just wasn't clicking. I don't know if I was expecting more biting satire (Furo just made me feel frustrated, particularly at the end of the book) or was missing some social cues or if I just didn't have the patience for this right now. I'd like to revisit Blackass in the future, to see if it reads better at a different time - Barrett does have an excellent style so I'll definitely keep an eye out for his next book.
ariya1's review
4.0
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and I'm so glad I won. Although it's taken me a while to write this review, my delay had nothing to do with how much I enjoyed reading this book. I read this book shortly after reading some epic tomes set in medieval times so I was a bit cautious about how I would be able to switch to such a different format. Make no mistake about the potency of this book based on its relatively slim size. It packed so much character development within such a short space without overwhelming me or confusing me. By the time I reached the end, I was a bit surprised but not really given how well Barrett really set the scene of the book and let the reader get to know the protagonist. This novel provides an interesting perspective into one man's journey through identity, culture, and socialization and is witty to boot. I highly recommend this book!
tasharobinson's review
4.0
I was expecting more of a metaphor in this Metamorphosis-esque story about a Nigerian man who abruptly wakes up white one day, but it's bluntly straightforward about its magical switchover, which is just a plot enabler. And the fact that the protagonist, Furo, still has black buttocks after the change feels significant, as a sign of how his origins still follow him when he abandons his past, but the author doesn't really touch on it except as a practical question involving skin-lighteners and sexual choices.
But the book is still a fascinating look at life, work, and especially language and culture in Nigeria, as the protagonist navigates being white, and all the social benefits that come with it. And it's an interesting character study, watching as he abandons his family out of a fear they won't understand, and goes on to use anyone he can to get ahead. There's a large sideline in the book about his sister, and how she becomes a social-media queen after going online to enlist help in finding her missing brother, and I wound up wanting her to become more relevant, and for the story to loop back to her and suggest some kind of closure or purpose in her arc. As it is, her story feels like a terrific short story inserted into the middle of this novel. The conclusion wasn't terribly satisfying — it's narrated by someone other than the protagonist, and we lose his POV as he makes some key decisions — but I still found this book mesmerizing in the "what could possibly happen next" way.
But the book is still a fascinating look at life, work, and especially language and culture in Nigeria, as the protagonist navigates being white, and all the social benefits that come with it. And it's an interesting character study, watching as he abandons his family out of a fear they won't understand, and goes on to use anyone he can to get ahead. There's a large sideline in the book about his sister, and how she becomes a social-media queen after going online to enlist help in finding her missing brother, and I wound up wanting her to become more relevant, and for the story to loop back to her and suggest some kind of closure or purpose in her arc. As it is, her story feels like a terrific short story inserted into the middle of this novel. The conclusion wasn't terribly satisfying — it's narrated by someone other than the protagonist, and we lose his POV as he makes some key decisions — but I still found this book mesmerizing in the "what could possibly happen next" way.
foreverfree's review
3.0
I selected this book from a library display of works by African authors. The writing was great, the characters were well developed, but I definitely missed to point. Maybe it will come to me in a few days.
to_ilektraki's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
eowyns_helmet's review
3.0
I agree with some of the other Goodreads reviewers -- great premise, skillfull writing, wonderful evocation of Lagos and Nigerian culture -- then a pretty dramatic stall. I was reminded of Jose Saramago's [b:Blindness|2526|Blindness|José Saramago|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1327866409s/2526.jpg|3213039], which has a similar mechanism -- start with a singular, strange event that changes everything then see what happens. Saramago goes deeper and deeper, surprising us with every new twist. ut Barrett seems to stall on a pretty predictable revelation of white privilege. That's fine and rings true -- but then what? What new aspect of race relations or Nigerian culture or Furo's family does the story reveal? Barrett doesn't seem to have that much to say other than the obvious. Also, I didn't get a deeper sense of Furo's humanity -- he seemed a vehicle to explore a racism we (should) already know about.