THE SELLOUT

by Paul Beatty
 
The Sellout has been on my reading list for a while now, not only by recommendation, but also because it won Beatty the Man Booker Prize, the first time an American had done so.  I began with high expectations and was nearly stopped in my tracks by the prologue.  Here Beatty’s roots as a slam poet are on full display, and without much plot to grab onto, the reader is thrown hundreds of references in a giant swirl of politics.
 
But I persisted, and although it is not my favorite book of all time, I am glad I did.  The larger ideas in this book are what stuck with me long after finishing, and I find myself considering them still.
 
The plot basically follows a young man who lives in a neighborhood in Southern California that used to be primarily Black, but is now more mixed with Latino and Asian families.  His father was a psychologist who experimented on his son to the point of what could easily be called torture.  After his death, our protagonist takes over their small farm, and decides to save the neighborhood.  But not in any way I might have expected.
 
He conducts a series of experiments of his own, such as painting a line around the perimeter of the town, and hanging “Black, Latino and Asian Only” signs in the windows of stores.  Surprisingly, the residents react to the demonstrations of segregation by taking pride in their identities, in being singled out.
 
There any many other threads woven into this story, which many have labeled satire, though I found it much too disturbing to laugh.  Beatty has a unique voice and tells a fascinating story about race in America.  He won those awards for a reason, but this is not an easy read. (Lily)
 
**NOTE: Liz reviewed this book in April 2017 as a “Not My Cup Of Tea” book.