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A review by nglofile
Birth of a Nation: A Comic Novel by Aaron McGruder
3.0
3.25 stars. A smart, searing satire that reverberates, perhaps all the more so because even sixteen years after its publication, the points are sadly just as salient.
There is a great deal I admire in this book: inventive premise, slice-of-life detail, interesting character choices, unflinching calling out of societal ills, and willingness to take on the very serious by framing as madcap, zany episode. I've been thinking for days about the dichotomy between leans into stereotype and subtle interrogations from where they stem.
Many will stop right there at the praise (and have), but where this loses me is the crudity. I do not say that with any judgment. I recognize the audience, but whereas that is a draw for some, it is when I personally began to detach.
illustration note: Admittedly, as a fan of Kyle Baker's distinctive technique, I was partly drawn to this work because of his involvement. His stylized art might seem discordant with the weighty themes, but it is precisely that contrast that makes it work. Colorful caricature plays off biting commentary in a way that throws each into fascinating contrast and communicates message all the more effectively.
There is a great deal I admire in this book: inventive premise, slice-of-life detail, interesting character choices, unflinching calling out of societal ills, and willingness to take on the very serious by framing as madcap, zany episode. I've been thinking for days about the dichotomy between leans into stereotype and subtle interrogations from where they stem.
Many will stop right there at the praise (and have), but where this loses me is the crudity. I do not say that with any judgment. I recognize the audience, but whereas that is a draw for some, it is when I personally began to detach.
illustration note: Admittedly, as a fan of Kyle Baker's distinctive technique, I was partly drawn to this work because of his involvement. His stylized art might seem discordant with the weighty themes, but it is precisely that contrast that makes it work. Colorful caricature plays off biting commentary in a way that throws each into fascinating contrast and communicates message all the more effectively.