Hunting in Harlem: A Novel [Paperback]

Mat Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 19, 2004

Horizon Realty is bringing Harlem back to its Renaissance. With the help of Cedric, Bobby, and Horus-three ex-cons trying to forge a new life-Horizon clears out the rubble and the rabble, filling once-dilapidated brownstones with black professionals handpicked for their shared vision of Harlem as a shining icon for the race. And fate seems to be working in Horizon's favor: Harlem's undesirable tenants seem increasingly clumsy of late, meeting early deaths by accident. As an ambitious reporter, Piper Goines, begins to investigate the neighborhood's extraordinarily high accident rate, Horizon's three employees find themselves fighting for their souls and their very lives-against a backdrop of some of the most beautiful brownstones in all of Manhattan.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set against the historically rich geography of Harlem, Johnson's smart thriller offers fine writing, a sometimes wacky but compelling story, and an absorbing social history of "the most romanticized ghetto in the world." Three ex-cons are invited to join Horizon Realty's Second Chance Program by becoming interns at the real estate office: Cedric Snowden, who has served time for manslaughter; arsonist Bobby Finley; and tough thug Horus Manley. After a year learning the secrets of the real estate business, one member of this trio will be rewarded with a free historic brownstone to remodel on his own. In the meantime, their day-to-day job is to move desirable African-American tenants (read: professionals) into the apartments of various impoverished lowlifes who have recently met with untimely fatal accidents. Sexy local crime reporter Piper Goines helps Snowden see that these are not accidents--they're part of Horizon's secret plan for revitalizing Harlem. Johnson, who probed the advertising world in his first novel, Drop, uses offbeat characters, zany humor and historical information to examine the ethics of gentrification and the problems of poor urban neighborhoods. Think James Baldwin channeled through T. Coraghessan Boyle. Johnson salts the rich narrative with popular and intellectual references (Jackson Pollock, Waiting for Godot, Eliza Doolittle). The ending may seem ambiguous and over-the-top to some, but it is certainly thought provoking.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Wildly escalating real-estate prices and the presence of Sony corporation and former president Bill Clinton all fuel concern by Cyrus Marks and Lester Baines that Harlem is in the grips of a land grab by greedy whites. Their answer is to form Horizon Realty and its Second Chance program, which seeks to rehabilitate ex-convicts and apartment buildings as well. Three recruits, Cedric, Bobby, and Horus, compete to win Marks' favor and a Harlem brownstone. But they become ensnared in Marks' maniacal vision of how to reform and transform Harlem as troublesome tenants fall victim to every manner of suspicious accident, clearing the way for more promising owners and tenants. The children whisper of Chupacabra, an urban myth about a monster that stalks residents, while Piper, a sharp reporter for the miserable little local newspaper, sees a story about the disproportionate number of accidents in Harlem as the springboard for her own ambitions. Johnson combines sharp analysis of contemporary race and social issues with finely drawn characters, a fast-paced plot, and wicked humor in this fine novel about urban gentrification and social justice. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA; First Edition edition (June 19, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582344086
• ISBN-13: 978-1582344089
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,336,901 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By Any Means Necessary, June 10, 2003

By 

Phyllis Rhodes (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hunting in Harlem: A Novel (Hardcover)

I must say I was impressed with Mat Johnson's latest novel, Hunting In Harlem. I had not read his debut novel, Drop, or any of the press releases surrounding his latest work, so I blindly opened the book and began reading. I soon found myself laughing aloud and engrossed by the author's clever imagination, mature writing style, and original characters. Johnson builds a story that is both interesting and thought provoking - a true challenge for a tough and controversial topic such as gentrification.

Hunting In Harlem is the story of Horizon Realty's vision to revitalize Harlem one brownstone at a time; hoping to eventually return it to the booming community it once was during the Renaissance. The realty company is also a sponsor of the Second Chance Program and subsequently employs three ex-convicts as part of a real estate training program. Snowden (convicted of manslaughter for killing his father), Bobby (an arsonist), and Horus (a former gangbanger) are handpicked to participate in this prestigious, cutting edge, year-long program. As they study the ins-and-outs of real estate, they also perform extra assignments, such as clearing out Horizon apartments of tenants who happen to perish in freak accidents. The suspense begins when Snowden mentions the number of accidental deaths to his love interest who happens to be a reporter. She investigates and discovers a pattern which leads Snowden to confront his mentor. He soon learns that it is Horizon Realty's plan to dispose of "undesirables" (people who discredit Harlem) and is blackmailed into supporting their plot to meticulously remove the offenders (prostitutes, pick pockets, child abusers, drug dealers, etc). Conflict arises as the three convicts must determine how to handle the truth, come to terms with their direct involvement in the murders, and think of a way to escape blackmail.

This book challenges the intellectual to revisit the classic debates surrounding "sacrifices for the greater good of society" and infamous "by any means necessary." Johnson also educates by sharing the history of Harlem and provides an explanation of how and why it is in its present condition. Throughout the book were subtle lessons in gentrification, discussion of the African-American socio-economic condition, and even a discussion of DuBois's Talented Tenth theory. These topics and other ethical dilemmas were skillfully crafted in the dialogue and thoughts of the colorful, strong, wacky characters. It can also be said that this novel is an examination on human nature as we follow the central characters' development and watch them wrestle with moral issues.

This is an intriguing, suspenseful, well-written novel. The author's writing style, social messages, and storytelling ability makes this a book worth picking up. In the hands of others, this book would have been a disaster, but Johnson has mastered his own technique and it works really well. Be warned, this book is only for the serious reader.

Phyllis
APOOO BookClub, The Nubian Circle Book Club

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and compelling, April 25, 2003

By 

Serena - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hunting in Harlem: A Novel (Hardcover)

Wonderful characterization and page-turning plot. Mat Johnson's way with words makes the outrageous seem perfectly natural and the normal seem ridiculous. I enjoyed this book almost as much as his excellent first novel, 'Drop.'

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some of the Best Fiction in Years, June 2, 2004

By 

"packmac1" (White-Bread, Philly) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hunting in Harlem: A Novel (Hardcover)

I've never been a fan of the mystery/thriller genre and this book encompases neither genre. What 'Hunting in Harlem' is is one of the strongest pieces of fiction writing/literature in the last 30 years. Johnson's novel is strong on characters who keep you pulleld into the book and you're very happy to stay there. What makes this novel so good is Johnson's ability to weave words with the ease of the Modernists and the grace of post-modern writers. Never one to hold himself above language, Johnson's second novel is nothing short of brilliant, and I say this after reading it 3 times. Can't wait for his next novel to come out...Get a move-on, Johnson!