You know, because I was trying to finish this up in the library (and also because it's quite a page-turner) I rather rushed through the last part, which I think did a disservice to the book -- I need to go back and read that part with more care, I think.
But I actually do like office politics, which is why I picked the book up (I'd seen a blurb about it as an office politics book) and then was totally shocked by the plot! :D
I agree it's a really interesting metaphor for assimilation, especially because of this:
What if, you were told, that's the way for your people to advance? What if never getting angry and always saying the thing that made white people feel cool and being "my Black friend" and never fulfilling any one of the bazillion stereotypes (often contradictory!) and generally being perfect in the eyes of white society was the only way?
...which (in my non-Black-but-also-with-some-experience-being-the-minority) IS what people are told, at least subliminally, and why those early scenes with Nella and Hazel are just so painful, because Hazel can do it and Nella won't, and and and.
(I think it's fair not to call this a mystery novel, and while I think I'd call it a suspense novel, I can see that a voter in this milieu might not think so.)
But yeah, I think "too weird" was the key issue.
That is so strange to me! But then I like weird :)
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But I actually do like office politics, which is why I picked the book up (I'd seen a blurb about it as an office politics book) and then was totally shocked by the plot! :D
I agree it's a really interesting metaphor for assimilation, especially because of this:
What if, you were told, that's the way for your people to advance? What if never getting angry and always saying the thing that made white people feel cool and being "my Black friend" and never fulfilling any one of the bazillion stereotypes (often contradictory!) and generally being perfect in the eyes of white society was the only way?
...which (in my non-Black-but-also-with-some-experience-being-the-minority) IS what people are told, at least subliminally, and why those early scenes with Nella and Hazel are just so painful, because Hazel can do it and Nella won't, and and and.
(I think it's fair not to call this a mystery novel, and while I think I'd call it a suspense novel, I can see that a voter in this milieu might not think so.)
But yeah, I think "too weird" was the key issue.
That is so strange to me! But then I like weird :)
ALSO. SHARTRICIA.