Customer Reviews

Hunting in Harlem: A Novel

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

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

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.'

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!

Hunting in Harlem is a book that offers brilliant insight into the simplistically complex world of Harlem. His prose is concise and perplexing, his style is always fluid, never allowing the reader a second to question this thought-provoking story. The use of Dark Humor is top notch, unsurpassed in the modern era. I am anxiously awaiting Mat's next novel.

This was a fun read, in part because of the intriguing premise (former convict turned politician turned budding real estate titan hires some ex-cons to assist in his masterplan to transform Harlem into a Black Utopia by ridding it of undesirable elements) and in larger part because of the strong writing of Mat Johnson. The book is populated by colorful characters described in smile to laugh out loud fashion. Two of the three ex-cons are larger than life, so Johnson puts the narrative in the hands of the third since he is the straightest arrow and thus the character readers are most likely to identify with. Snowden ended up in prison basically by unfortunate accident whereas his two colleagues earned their sentences through actions caused by their volatile personalities. One is a brute who operates in brawn over brains fashion, the other an intellectual firebug. The three men start off their new jobs by moving furniture but quickly graduate to creating additional vacancies by killing tenants who are deemed unworthy of the new Harlem they are bringing about. This brings on moral dilemmas for two of the three men, but by then they are in so deep that rather than turning back it makes more sense to keep swimming until they reach the other side, if in fact there is one. Do the ends justify the means when it comes to revitalizing a community? How about when it comes to becoming a Best Selling author? Johnson asks these questions with addictive prose in Hunting in Harlem. I highly recommend it.

After the success of his debut novel Drop, Mat Johnson has returned to the literary scene with his second novel, winner of the 2004 Hurston-Wright Legacy Award for fiction, HUNTING IN HARLEM. This the story of three ex-cons who are recruited by a Harlem real estate company to get a second chance at making good with their lives. Horizon Realty has set a plan in motion to stop the gentrification of Harlem by upper class whites and reinvigorate a sagging economy by re-populating the neighborhood with good, honest, black folk. But like any area suffering from urban blight, you have your unwanted denizens: the pushers, the whores, the child molesters, and the gun runners. It's hard to create a family neighborhood with these types as residents; so when they start to have convenient accidents, it's all good.

Snowden, Bobby, and Horus begin life after incarceration as interns with Horizon, literally working their way from the bottom up. Supposedly, they will be introduced to the world of real estate and trained to be real estate agents. But the trio soon discovers that they were chosen for their new jobs specifically because of their pasts. Snowden's lover, Piper Goines, is a reporter for a local minority owned newspaper, and it isn't long before she senses something foul at Horizon and starts investigating.

Mat Johnson has used his considerable talents to explore current urban social problems, but he also touches on cultural pursuits by subtly raising the topic of popular urban fiction and the lack of love received by black writers who study their craft and spend years writing literate, thought-provoking books only to be outsold by upstarts supplying readers with "melaninized, low-tech versions of their afternoon soaps." Johnson, as usual, is smart, witty, and destined to be one of his generation's best writers. The plot moves quickly once the introductory matter is out of the way. A well-executed example of fine literature, HUNTING IN HARLEM will keep you thinking about contemporary urban issues... and looking over your shoulder.

Reviewed by Kim Anderson Ray
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

I had never heard of Mat Johnson prior to reading this book. But I must say, I enjoyed Mat's dark humor and his breakdown of black folk (could be any race) and their varied perspectives on life, posessions and our obsessions with being of a certain caliber or "stock".
But that is not what the book is about. It's a mystery with a little dark humor thrown in. And no happy endings here but stark realism!!! I appreciate Mat's descriptive and exhaustive narration. I like a book that makes me feel as if I am right there. And the odd situations that the main character finds himself in are just plain funny.
I recommend this book to anyone who reads something other than Eric Jerome Dickey. This is the thinking man's novel and not a cheap dimestore love story...YEAH I said it.

Loved it! This book will keep you enthralled. Never a dull moment here. Mat Johnson is a master of plot, character and humor.

Mat Johnson does a great job character description and plot development. I normally don't even read suspense novels but this one had me from the beginning. There are some hialrious scenes and also some great insight into the mind of male species. I too felt the ending was a bit vague, but journey made it worth it.

The opening paragraph was the best part of this novel. It offered great promise for an engaging story but failed to deliver. The story opens with three ex-cons being recruited by a community development organization to help return Harlem to black folks. As the author clunks along with the story, we learn of the many "accidents" that befall the undesirables in the neighborhood and get a few obviously placed statements about attributes that need to be acquired by African Americans. "Bobby actually believed in what Lester and the congressman were telling him, bought into all of it from the start. Horus was the same way, never questioning, never complaining." This is only one example of the didactic tone of the novel and the author's lack of creativity in trying to make his point. There was more than one instance when I felt that the author was actually trying to trick me into finishing the novel. Using an unsuccessful book, "The Great Work", written by one of the characters, Johnson discusses the mistreatment of black literature and uses this commentary to entice his reader to stick with the book. That ploy simply didn't work on me. After 100 pages into the novel I simply gave up. The writing is dull, the characters are flat and the story lacks any feel of realism. Furthermore, the story seems absent of language that engages the imagination or paints a picture. He dictates each chapter like a witness at a deposition. I'm not sure what other reviewers found in this book that I missed but I certainly can't recommend this one.