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Comments (38)

What did you think about this title?
1 to 25 of 38 items
Mar 01, 2024jimg2000 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 08, 2016: Agree with all the comments that it is a dense and original satire on current state of race relations based on an African American living in an isolated LA enclave (near West Inglewood? Mexican & African American…
Jun 21, 2023
From a list of funniest books In The Atlantic
Feb 27, 2023sgcf rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Paul Beatty has written a flippant, satirical novel about a protagonist in post-racial America who wants to re-introduce slavery and segregate education and public transportation. He speaks of Nigger-whispering in the same vein as…
Oct 12, 2022susanatdotcom rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
The richness of the language is wonderful.
May 05, 2022katjespin rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Very, VERY mixed feelings on this one. On one hand, it had several absolute gems of hilarity - lines that I want to memorize and revisit because they were so perfect. On the other hand... there were sentences that had to be read,…
Nov 28, 2021losalvarez rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
The prologue and maybe some of chapter one make the book a bit difficult to get in to because the entire premise is outrageous and it might take the reader a minute to realize that; after that, it is absolutely hilarious. I audibly…
Jul 28, 2021
A work of satire that takes a sharp and biting look at modern issues such as race and politics in the U.S. The premise may be considered incendiary by some: a young black man makes it his mission to resegregate part of his now…
Apr 28, 2021
Really smart, well-written satire. Rightfully award winning.
Apr 28, 2021ryner rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
As the novel opens, the narrator, an African American suburban farmer, is in the midst of proceedings with the U.S. Supreme Court. We learn that his transgressions, which have escalated to this highest court in the country, involve racial…
Oct 10, 2020rlauer rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I listened to this on tape during a two-drive. Great humor and story.
Mar 30, 2020JCLDevinB rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
"The Sellout" is a perfect read for those who love dark, witty satire; but reader beware this dense comedy is not for someone looking for an easy laugh or a quick read. The layers of humor, history, and commentary in this masterfully…
Nov 28, 2019meviousmaddie rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This book is easily one of the sharpest and wittiest books I've ever read; every page is armed to the teeth with satirical quips and biting one-liners. "The Sellout" is a deeply funny and introspective work about race in America's current…
Oct 24, 2019RyMac92 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Disappointing because it starts out seeming like a really fresh and interesting story, but just devolves into too much needless despair and gets boring. It's hard to explain because I was hoping it would be a new perspective on modern day…
May 20, 2019jontalk rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Similar to some who've commented, I felt Beatty's take on racism in America is brilliant as is the manner of storytelling. The plots are fascinating, characters outlandish, humor the laugh out loud type. The vocabulary of a PhD, wit beyond…
May 01, 2019empbee rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Good satire of race and a father-son relationship.
Dec 02, 2018writermala rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Set in the L.A. suburb of Dickens, "The Sellout" is a darkly funny satire of race, racism, and the myth of the post-racial dream of the Obama era. It's a book in which the narrator tries to re-segrregate schools and bring back slavery. .…
Oct 14, 2018dgalusha rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This is a superbly written book. One of the best American authored novels I've read in a long long time. It's witty and brilliant, clever and insightful. The author has captured current American culture and suggested a discussion that…
Sep 06, 2018pjds1989 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This book was hilarious, great writing, great social commentary. It's definitely vulgar but, you should be used to it if you're familiar with the works of Dave Chappelle, Richard Pryor, and Paul Mooney. The book reads similar to satirical…
Jun 24, 2018LSK898 rated this title 0.5 out of 5 stars
WASTE of TIME , + the BOOK's PROMO comments = 3 useless pages , ALSO absolute B.S.
Nov 28, 2017
vulgar from the very first few pages, and with a vengeance, plus with too many derisive comments about people, I had an uncle like that, not especially impressive, despite some erudition - couldn't get past page 4
Sep 02, 2017mmontserrat rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
You have to get a copy of this book and read it NOW! The Sellout is by far and away the BEST book I've read all year. Paul Beatty is brutally funny; I had to read this almost straight through and there were many times that I'm sure the…
Aug 10, 2017Blue_18 rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
Wow. Did you guys get the same book I did? The cover looks the same but I'm fighting my way through the Prologue (which is 24 pages long) and it's like sitting in Latin class in high school. I'd rather be anywhere but here.
May 31, 2017WolfPine rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Brilliant! Prose that crackles, metaphors that'll blow your head off, a story that spirals like a wobbling top. What Hunter Thompson did for drugs and DFW did for America's obsession with amusement, Beatty does for race--in the most…
May 08, 2017Chapel_Hill_KrystalB rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
I was ready to love this one but alas... I found the premise intriguing but the characters flat, despite how truly interesting they are. With that being said, there is no denying that Beatty is a skilled (and humorous) writer, and I…
May 07, 2017Waterdoggle rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
An African-American farmer in southwest Los Angeles County decides to put his town back on the map with the help of his slave, who was one the lesser known Little Rascals. Open a 7-ounce bottle of Coke, peel a Satsuma and take a seat on…