The Known World
by Edward P. Jones
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Book Summary Information
Author: Edward P. JonesEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-08-29
ISBN: 0061159174
Number of pages: 432
Publisher: Amistad
Book Reviews of The Known World
Book Review: (3.5): A Solid Outing, But Not Without Its Shortcomings
Summary: 3 Stars
I had really high expectations of a book that many have loved and enjoyed to no end. It's been placed side-by-side with Toni Morrison's "Beloved" and Alex Haley's "Roots" because of its expansive narrative and the way it adds to the canon of American slavery fiction that exists today. That being said, I would say as good a book as it is, it doesn't quite reach those elevated heights and in fact was a little bit of a disappointment for something that received as much acclaim as it did and as many awards as it had.
Jones, who until this novel, was known for his great short fiction (something I think is superior to this, so check out his collections), and it really shows in his writing style. The overarching narrative follows Henry Townsend, or more particularly, his death and the events that precede and follow. The expansive nature of the novel is primarily a result of Jones's going from character to character, generation to generation. My many problems with the novel tie primarily with the unevenness of the different stories and threads and the way that even Jones seems to favor the more interesting storylines over the more dull ones. The strengths lie in Jones's prose, simple and easy to understand, and his gift of understatement - he has a way of conveying emotion in a refreshing manner, one that doesn't leave you feelin overwhelmed by overly emotional words and phrases.
Other than that, a decent book, but there are better Pulitzer's out there.
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