B is not a child of his time. As an outsider, he hides his secrets well. Freedom is all he dreams of. But when it comes at last, it is in the most unexpected way – and at a considerable cost.
When I first started reading The Emancipation of B I was counting down the pages, waiting for a more engaging plot to arise. Around page 50 I stopped. It was hard to figure out where the story was headed because it’s presented differently than my usual read – ones that guide you along events that are full of action or mystery. But it was a great break from that, almost a meditative read. It focuses on B, a character I found myself, as an introvert, relating strongly to, as he figures out what sort of life he wants to lead and how to get there in a world not made for him. As his world becomes filled with mindfulness you become mindful of each word you’re reading. It’s a great read between action packed page turners if you’re looking for something that is a little different and a little spiritual. It deals with death, family, and becoming an adult. It also tackles racism gracefully, something I found very refreshing considering my recent reads.
. Or just look forward to me chattering on about it in my tweets. I’ve already taken a look at the first 20 or so pages. It doesn’t seem to be a dialogue driven book, but rather a series of flash backs. What I already know of B – whose name we don’t know – has me really interested in his backstory.
Bookish Boo 