My review of My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson…
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From the book's blurb:
"Tough-minded, vulnerable, and brave, Jocelyn Nicole Johnson’s precisely imagined debut explores burdened inheritances and extraordinary pursuits of belonging. Set in the near future, the eponymous novella, “My Monticello,” tells of a diverse group of Charlottesville neighbors fleeing violent white supremacists. Led by Da’Naisha, a young Black descendant of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, they seek refuge in Jefferson’s historic plantation home in a desperate attempt to outlive the long-foretold racial and environmental unravelling within the nation."
My Review:
I read this book completely the day it arrived; it was that engrossing. Some of these short stories will make White readers uncomfortable. Some of them will make Black readers uncomfortable. My hope is that the stories make all of us stop and think and maybe see the world as it is and not as we wish it to be. Miss Johnson has a beautiful way of writing; it is descriptive, clear and concise. The title story, My Monticello, drew me in completely and reminded me of Alas Babylon and The Stand. The first story, Project Negro, left me wanting more. I am thrilled that I was given the opportunity to read this collection of Ms. Johnson’s short writings, and I highly recommend this collection.
