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Blackass
White skin, green eyes, red hair...
Furo Wariboko – born and bred in Lagos – wakes up on the morning of his job interview to discover he has turned into a white man. As he hits the city streets running, still reeling from his new-found condition, Furo finds the dead ends of his life open out before him. As a white man in Nigeria, the world is seemingly his oyster – except for one thing: despite his radical transformation, Furo's ass remains robustly black . . .
Funny, fierce, inventive and daringly provocative – this is a very modern satire, with a sting in the tail.
Furo Wariboko – born and bred in Lagos – wakes up on the morning of his job interview to discover he has turned into a white man. As he hits the city streets running, still reeling from his new-found condition, Furo finds the dead ends of his life open out before him. As a white man in Nigeria, the world is seemingly his oyster – except for one thing: despite his radical transformation, Furo's ass remains robustly black . . .
Funny, fierce, inventive and daringly provocative – this is a very modern satire, with a sting in the tail.
262 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2015
142 people are currently reading
6721 people want to read
About the author
A. Igoni Barrett
10 books127 followersAdrian Igoni Barrett was a winner of the BBC World Service short story competition for 2005. His first book, a collection of short stories entitled From Caves of Rotten Teeth, was first published in 2005 and reissued in 2008. In 2014 he was named on the Africa39 list of writers aged under 40 with potential and talent to define future trends in African literature.
His father is the Jamaican poet and novelist Lindsay Barrett.
His father is the Jamaican poet and novelist Lindsay Barrett.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 365 reviews
March 8, 2016
I read this book because I am trying to read new releases for 2016 and because the premise of the book really intrigued me. The main character, Furo wakes up one morning at his home in Lagos to find out he is white, except for his ass which remained black. I really wanted to see where Barrett was going to take this premise, spoiler alert: nowhere interesting.
The idea for the book while unique was not thoroughly executed. There are so many places Barrett could have taken this plot but we were mostly shown Furo’s new white privilege. I literally kept wondering, “What else?”. Yes, he is white, yes now he has all this privilege open to him but what else?! This cannot be the entire story right?
Aside from the stagnant plot development, I also found that Furo as a character was all over the place, not memorable, and most times very shallow. There was nothing particularly unique about him that I can remember and I just finished the book.
I am scoring this low because I’m peeved that Barrett came up with such an interesting premise but butchered it.
The idea for the book while unique was not thoroughly executed. There are so many places Barrett could have taken this plot but we were mostly shown Furo’s new white privilege. I literally kept wondering, “What else?”. Yes, he is white, yes now he has all this privilege open to him but what else?! This cannot be the entire story right?
Aside from the stagnant plot development, I also found that Furo as a character was all over the place, not memorable, and most times very shallow. There was nothing particularly unique about him that I can remember and I just finished the book.
I am scoring this low because I’m peeved that Barrett came up with such an interesting premise but butchered it.
April 19, 2017
Fascinatingly propulsive Kafka parody that doesn't pause for a second - the fundamental concept, a body switch with a titular twist, feels expected, but Barrett accomplishes a great deal with his local writing about Nigeria. I've always liked string-of-coincidence novels in which a character keeps on falling up, and this never stopped being fun or sharp.
I was less convinced of the novel's gender politics (the female characters are all either fairly angelic or awful), and the transgender twist in the book seems shoehorned in - you have to read twice to make sure you haven't missed it, and the quick pan over trans identity questions, particularly with a crude punchline at the end of the novel, do the subplot no good.
Despite these issues, I just plain liked reading this book; I flew through it, and I greatly admired Barrett's use of technology, especially Twitter, which works quite well in the Kafka register.
I was less convinced of the novel's gender politics (the female characters are all either fairly angelic or awful), and the transgender twist in the book seems shoehorned in - you have to read twice to make sure you haven't missed it, and the quick pan over trans identity questions, particularly with a crude punchline at the end of the novel, do the subplot no good.
Despite these issues, I just plain liked reading this book; I flew through it, and I greatly admired Barrett's use of technology, especially Twitter, which works quite well in the Kafka register.
August 1, 2015
There are several ways to read Blackass: as a satirical novel about decolonization; as a contemporary novel that maps modern Lagos and, by extension, Nigeria; as a contemporary novel about social media, alter egos and the subtle transformations they bring about in us; as a post-modern novel blurring the lines between fiction and reality; as a retelling of Kafka’s The Metamorphosis in contemporary Lagos. - See more at: http://www.olisa.tv/2015/07/29/fake-o...
March 31, 2016
It reminded me a lot of Franz Kafka's The Trial & The Metamorphis, along with Nikolai Gogol's The Nose, which means I read a lot of Russian lit and perhaps the author does too. It was enjoyable right up until the end. I was a bit confused by the protagonist's last decision, not enough that a sequel is needed, but an explanation would be great.
Read
June 2, 2019Furo is a Nigerian struggling to survive in Lagos, his costly education worthless in the face of the jobs crisis amd endemic corruption. Then, one day, he wakes up white (except for his bum, which stays black) and his life changes. A lot.
This is...odd. It's a great satirical premise, but the author doesn't do a huge amount with it. Furo benefits hugely from whiteness--people fall over themselves to offer him jobs, are ready to loan him money, women throw themselves at him. But that's about as far as it goes. He reacts rather timidly, whereas what the concept needed was some big, brash action. And the bum-colouration issue is barely used at all, it wouldn't change the story if he'd been completely transformed. I suppose it indicates an essential part of the self he couldn't shake off, but...I don't know, it's in the title, it opens up wild potential for satire. What we mostly get is this rather self-centred, limited guy being swept along by the system's/other people's willingness to do him favours--which in itself says a lot about white privilege, but in a kind of negative way.
What is absolutely superb is the description of Lagos. Wonderful writing, intensely powerful, vivid descriptions and characters. All that was tremendous, I just wanted a bit more oomph to the story.
This is...odd. It's a great satirical premise, but the author doesn't do a huge amount with it. Furo benefits hugely from whiteness--people fall over themselves to offer him jobs, are ready to loan him money, women throw themselves at him. But that's about as far as it goes. He reacts rather timidly, whereas what the concept needed was some big, brash action. And the bum-colouration issue is barely used at all, it wouldn't change the story if he'd been completely transformed. I suppose it indicates an essential part of the self he couldn't shake off, but...I don't know, it's in the title, it opens up wild potential for satire. What we mostly get is this rather self-centred, limited guy being swept along by the system's/other people's willingness to do him favours--which in itself says a lot about white privilege, but in a kind of negative way.
What is absolutely superb is the description of Lagos. Wonderful writing, intensely powerful, vivid descriptions and characters. All that was tremendous, I just wanted a bit more oomph to the story.
September 27, 2015
After setting off with a great start, the journey stalls because the black man turned white is a shallow character, and this doesn't change throughout the tale. but given the opportunity to exploit others, using his white skin, that's exactly what Furo does. It's a tale of prejudice and the power white skin confers, and the ease with which white men exploit their skin color to secure sex, money and career development.. and of course the willingness with which many Africans are willing to let white people do so. Still, I think Igoni could have done more with the premise.
July 14, 2016
I enjoyed this book, but found it a bit underwhelming. I definitely enjoyed being immersed in the vibe of Lagos, and I liked the writing style. I just didn't walk away feeling like the gimmick was adequately explored. It holds up, but it could have been a lot better.
March 28, 2016
Rating 2.5
I don't know what to say about this book. I had high hopes but it just wasn't for me. Although there were some metaphoric themes scattered here and there, overall I felt it was a bunch of words that went no where.
The premise of Furo, a young Nigerian man waking up to discover that he's now white however his "ass" remains black sounded intriguing but the story fell flat. Although Furo believes his whiteness will afford him many special opportunities in Lagos, he soon learns that being a white Nigerian leads him to make poor decisions and stand out in ways he did not imagine.
"I was finding out that appearances would always be the point of conflict. Male or female, black or white, the eye of the beholder and the fashion sense of the beholden, all of these feed into our desire to classify by sight." - Furo Wariboko
I don't know what to say about this book. I had high hopes but it just wasn't for me. Although there were some metaphoric themes scattered here and there, overall I felt it was a bunch of words that went no where.
The premise of Furo, a young Nigerian man waking up to discover that he's now white however his "ass" remains black sounded intriguing but the story fell flat. Although Furo believes his whiteness will afford him many special opportunities in Lagos, he soon learns that being a white Nigerian leads him to make poor decisions and stand out in ways he did not imagine.
"I was finding out that appearances would always be the point of conflict. Male or female, black or white, the eye of the beholder and the fashion sense of the beholden, all of these feed into our desire to classify by sight." - Furo Wariboko
April 2, 2016
The idea for the story is very unique. But overall, it has left too many questions open for my taste. At times, I found the author touched various storylines while I would have preferred one straight-forward attempt, focusing on Furo only. All in all, it was a bit of a challenging read, but it did not touch me as much as I had hoped.
February 22, 2016
i love the fact that this book is not written for non-nigerians, that the rich language and textures are not explained. there is no shortage of great dialogue. however the story is not plausible and there are too many holes to ignore. the ending didnt resolve the story and too many characters, interesting yet aimless, spoiled the broth. great idea marred by a shaky execution.
June 10, 2016
Enjoyed this, as much for living in Lagos for a few days as for the satire.
March 8, 2016
Furo, a 33-year-old, unemployed Nigerian man who still lives at home with his parents and younger sister, wakes up one morning to find that he has experienced a Kafkaesque transformation: he is an oyibo, a white man. Mystified and frightened of what his family will think, he runs away from home before they can see him.
And thus begins Furo's journey to find himself and his place now as a white man who speaks like a native-born Nigerian in Nigeria's preeminent city, Lagos.
Blackass is more than just the story of a physical transformation. As a white man, Furo is seen and comes to see himself as a radically different person, and Furo's personality undergoes a metamorphosis as significant as--if not more than--that of his skin color.
Blackass may be viewed by some as an extended parable or fable, but I don't think it really tells us anything we didn't already know about human nature and our ideas about race and identity--though as a white American, I was surprised to see that white privilege exists even in Nigeria. Instead, I simply enjoyed Blackass as a story qua story. It's fascinating to see Furo transform himself from a somewhat shy, quiet, submissive man to someone very different by the novel's end.
The pacing of the novel was a bit inconsistent: beginning with Furo's transformation, the novel immediately transfixes the reader's attention, but in the middle sections, it does seem rather slow in places; however, the last quarter of the book is fantastic. I was extremely disappointed in the ending of the novel not because it ended badly but because it ended without answering all of our questions and because .
Besides the issues surrounding race and skin color, there is also an interesting side plot with a transgendered character. Thus, Blackass thematically focuses on questions of race, gender, and identity. And it does so with a narrative thread that, although a bit uneven in some parts, is a great story in and of itself apart from these issues.
And thus begins Furo's journey to find himself and his place now as a white man who speaks like a native-born Nigerian in Nigeria's preeminent city, Lagos.
Blackass is more than just the story of a physical transformation. As a white man, Furo is seen and comes to see himself as a radically different person, and Furo's personality undergoes a metamorphosis as significant as--if not more than--that of his skin color.
Blackass may be viewed by some as an extended parable or fable, but I don't think it really tells us anything we didn't already know about human nature and our ideas about race and identity--though as a white American, I was surprised to see that white privilege exists even in Nigeria. Instead, I simply enjoyed Blackass as a story qua story. It's fascinating to see Furo transform himself from a somewhat shy, quiet, submissive man to someone very different by the novel's end.
The pacing of the novel was a bit inconsistent: beginning with Furo's transformation, the novel immediately transfixes the reader's attention, but in the middle sections, it does seem rather slow in places; however, the last quarter of the book is fantastic. I was extremely disappointed in the ending of the novel not because it ended badly but because it ended without answering all of our questions and because .
Besides the issues surrounding race and skin color, there is also an interesting side plot with a transgendered character. Thus, Blackass thematically focuses on questions of race, gender, and identity. And it does so with a narrative thread that, although a bit uneven in some parts, is a great story in and of itself apart from these issues.
March 14, 2016
Aside from the main character (you know, the one with the black ass) being kind of an asshole, this book was really good. It's narrative flits between our title character and another person he meets on his 2nd day of being white, someone who is going through their own personal transformation. This sort of parallel story is a great lens in which to view Furo's journey (and vice-versa, which is probably the way you are supposed to).
When Furo wakes up as a white man on the morning of a job interview, he freaks out (naturally) and makes a lot of questionable decisions that he is constantly trying to justify to himself, including breaking all communication with his family (he's very concerned they will reject the new pale him). While the protagonist is not very sympathetic (did turning white also turn him into a jerk or was he before the book started, too?) the author does a fantastic job of showing the perks and the perils included in being either a white man *or* a black man in contemporary Nigeria.
I found the pidgin dialogue hard to follow (because I don't speak pidgin) and it was prevalent enough that I think I probably missed some good moments, but that did not detract from the story too much. I feel that it was a great book, with great writing, a great idea, and a kind of dumb ass-hat for a protagonist. Would have been 5 stars if I could have rooted for Furo's success a little more emphatically.
When Furo wakes up as a white man on the morning of a job interview, he freaks out (naturally) and makes a lot of questionable decisions that he is constantly trying to justify to himself, including breaking all communication with his family (he's very concerned they will reject the new pale him). While the protagonist is not very sympathetic (did turning white also turn him into a jerk or was he before the book started, too?) the author does a fantastic job of showing the perks and the perils included in being either a white man *or* a black man in contemporary Nigeria.
I found the pidgin dialogue hard to follow (because I don't speak pidgin) and it was prevalent enough that I think I probably missed some good moments, but that did not detract from the story too much. I feel that it was a great book, with great writing, a great idea, and a kind of dumb ass-hat for a protagonist. Would have been 5 stars if I could have rooted for Furo's success a little more emphatically.
January 3, 2017
What happens when you wake up one day to another skin colour? To another race! what changes for you?
BlackAss is the story of main character, Furo Wariboko, a thirty three years old Nigerian Male, who wakes up one morning to find himself a white man! The text is set in present day Lagos, Nigeria; and follows the life of Wariboko, as he wakes up to this change. It explores majorly the idea of racial superiority, stereotypes, gender classification, identity crisis, and the woman question.
In a way, Barrett's writing in this work, reminds me fondly of that of Mongo Betis', with his use of biting satire, and wicked humour, to explore important, prevalent issues, in his works.
One of the other things that contribute in making BlackAss such a wonderful read, is the fact that it does not take itself too seriously.It is ridiculously funny, and an absolute page turner!
Highly Recommended!
BlackAss is the story of main character, Furo Wariboko, a thirty three years old Nigerian Male, who wakes up one morning to find himself a white man! The text is set in present day Lagos, Nigeria; and follows the life of Wariboko, as he wakes up to this change. It explores majorly the idea of racial superiority, stereotypes, gender classification, identity crisis, and the woman question.
In a way, Barrett's writing in this work, reminds me fondly of that of Mongo Betis', with his use of biting satire, and wicked humour, to explore important, prevalent issues, in his works.
One of the other things that contribute in making BlackAss such a wonderful read, is the fact that it does not take itself too seriously.It is ridiculously funny, and an absolute page turner!
Highly Recommended!
January 4, 2020
The story of Blackass followed Furo Wariboko who is a Nigerian man through and through; born and raised in Lagos. One day, he wakes up to discover that his skin is white, his eyes are green, and his hair is red. But, his ass is still black. Turned into a white man, he hits the streets of Lagos and discovers a world ripe with opportunities he did not have as a black man.
This premise is incredible; it is super intriguing. But unfortunately, I found it very underwhelming. One of my biggest critics is the stagnant plot. Throughout the story, I was constantly thinking, "where is this going?", "what are we doing?", "what is this leading up to?", and I never got any answers. The entire plot of this story is basically showing all of the new white privileges that Furo has now, after his transformation. Like, okay, yes, he's white. Okay, yes, he now has all this privilege. Now what?? What does Furo learn? What does he do with this privilege? How and why was he even transformed? What is the message of this story? That white people have privilege just because of their skin color? That white people have more opportunities than black people? I didn't need to read a 300-page book to learn that!
I also really did not like our main character, Furo. Along with not being very memorable, what he was memorable for was being shallow, very forward/pushy, and honestly like a jerk. He adjusted to his privilege real quick and wielded it. I could see that kind of being the point of the story but nothing was every justified or even tried to be justified. The message of this book almost felt like, "well, if you got the privilege, use it for selfish gain". And that is not a message we should be preaching.
Furo was also very forward in the sexual relationships that he had. For example, he pushed a woman into having unprotected sex with him. On another occasion, he pushed a different woman into kissing him when she said no multiple times. None of those situations were ever talked about again or justified.
There was also this subplot of a similar transformation happening to another character, but we got so little of that, that I honestly don't even know what was going on with that person or why it was significant to the story.
The only things that I enjoyed about this book were being able to learn and experience a bit more of Nigerian/Lagos culture. And the very clear depiction of white privilege and the different ways the world reacts and interacts with a white person vs a black person.
Overall, super disappointed by this book. I was really interested in the premise and thought it would be a good platform to discuss some really important topics in a humorous way, but it did not.
This premise is incredible; it is super intriguing. But unfortunately, I found it very underwhelming. One of my biggest critics is the stagnant plot. Throughout the story, I was constantly thinking, "where is this going?", "what are we doing?", "what is this leading up to?", and I never got any answers. The entire plot of this story is basically showing all of the new white privileges that Furo has now, after his transformation. Like, okay, yes, he's white. Okay, yes, he now has all this privilege. Now what?? What does Furo learn? What does he do with this privilege? How and why was he even transformed? What is the message of this story? That white people have privilege just because of their skin color? That white people have more opportunities than black people? I didn't need to read a 300-page book to learn that!
I also really did not like our main character, Furo. Along with not being very memorable, what he was memorable for was being shallow, very forward/pushy, and honestly like a jerk. He adjusted to his privilege real quick and wielded it. I could see that kind of being the point of the story but nothing was every justified or even tried to be justified. The message of this book almost felt like, "well, if you got the privilege, use it for selfish gain". And that is not a message we should be preaching.
Furo was also very forward in the sexual relationships that he had. For example, he pushed a woman into having unprotected sex with him. On another occasion, he pushed a different woman into kissing him when she said no multiple times. None of those situations were ever talked about again or justified.
There was also this subplot of a similar transformation happening to another character, but we got so little of that, that I honestly don't even know what was going on with that person or why it was significant to the story.
The only things that I enjoyed about this book were being able to learn and experience a bit more of Nigerian/Lagos culture. And the very clear depiction of white privilege and the different ways the world reacts and interacts with a white person vs a black person.
Overall, super disappointed by this book. I was really interested in the premise and thought it would be a good platform to discuss some really important topics in a humorous way, but it did not.
March 10, 2016
Barrett's satirical debut novel has been described as the "Nigerian spin on Kafka's Metamorphosis", which is not untrue--the protagonist, a Nigerian Kalamari man Furo Wariboko wakes up as a white man, and eventually re-makes himself as 'Frank Whyte'--but this sharp novel does diverge from Kafka's Metamorphosis in many ways, enough to say that while Barrett uses the basic premise, Furo is no Gregor Samsa.
Furo wakes up in this strange body, goes for a job interview and finds doors opening for him that would otherwise have not even exist for him, all because to be a white man in Nigeria (an oyibo, as we are told again and again) is to wield this tangible power. He uses his skin, the people he meets, and the job opportunities that are thrown at him to "transcend" his station in life, just as the people around him do the same. There is no accident in this world.
Furo/Frank is ruthless in his exploitation of others, while at the same time remaining befuddled at how easily he is able to get people to do what he wants--moments where the text almost winks at us, with this beautiful recurring sentence "It is easier to be than to become". This being/becoming dichotomy is further explored via a character that bears the author's name, a trans woman who after a chance encounter with Furo decides to air her true self, which was a fantastic parallel to see*.
My only gripe with the book is the constant tongue-in-cheek commentary, which kept us at a distance from the action unfolding. In the Furo sections, there is so much malice and passive resentment towards female characters who want to transcend, want to move beyond--whatever that beyond may be--from Furo's mother in her government job, to Syreeta, a "kept woman" who wants to enter the club of trophy wives of rich foreign nationals, to even the now-trans Igoni, almost as if this desire to move beyond is a deceit of some sort. The same regard is not afforded to Furo (duh!), nor another male character who constantly talks of moving abroad, or the passport official etc etc. The Igoni sections were full of heart, empathy and are decidedly not-sexist in the same way, which makes me think Furo was written in that specific way, and that attitude makes sense, especially post his "metamorphosis". BUT, because of the wry, satirical tone, I can't entirely tell whether this was the case.
Satirical novels work best when they have a backdrop of fully fleshed out characters with well-drawn out emotional lives. Poking fun at Furo's expense (and the reader's expense) at Nigeria, at Lagos in this very intimate in-joke, nudge-nudge way made the last third go a bit slack. Go for the Kafka influences, stay for the pidgin fun.
---------
*Not flagging this as a spoiler. A character's identity isn't a "spoiler" or worse, a plot device.
Furo wakes up in this strange body, goes for a job interview and finds doors opening for him that would otherwise have not even exist for him, all because to be a white man in Nigeria (an oyibo, as we are told again and again) is to wield this tangible power. He uses his skin, the people he meets, and the job opportunities that are thrown at him to "transcend" his station in life, just as the people around him do the same. There is no accident in this world.
Furo/Frank is ruthless in his exploitation of others, while at the same time remaining befuddled at how easily he is able to get people to do what he wants--moments where the text almost winks at us, with this beautiful recurring sentence "It is easier to be than to become". This being/becoming dichotomy is further explored via a character that bears the author's name, a trans woman who after a chance encounter with Furo decides to air her true self, which was a fantastic parallel to see*.
My only gripe with the book is the constant tongue-in-cheek commentary, which kept us at a distance from the action unfolding. In the Furo sections, there is so much malice and passive resentment towards female characters who want to transcend, want to move beyond--whatever that beyond may be--from Furo's mother in her government job, to Syreeta, a "kept woman" who wants to enter the club of trophy wives of rich foreign nationals, to even the now-trans Igoni, almost as if this desire to move beyond is a deceit of some sort. The same regard is not afforded to Furo (duh!), nor another male character who constantly talks of moving abroad, or the passport official etc etc. The Igoni sections were full of heart, empathy and are decidedly not-sexist in the same way, which makes me think Furo was written in that specific way, and that attitude makes sense, especially post his "metamorphosis". BUT, because of the wry, satirical tone, I can't entirely tell whether this was the case.
Satirical novels work best when they have a backdrop of fully fleshed out characters with well-drawn out emotional lives. Poking fun at Furo's expense (and the reader's expense) at Nigeria, at Lagos in this very intimate in-joke, nudge-nudge way made the last third go a bit slack. Go for the Kafka influences, stay for the pidgin fun.
---------
*Not flagging this as a spoiler. A character's identity isn't a "spoiler" or worse, a plot device.
May 23, 2016
When I read the synopsis of this book, I was eager to read it to see where the story would go. On reading it, I was disappointed.
The book started out well. Furo's was an interesting character at first. Then it started going all over the place. Too much happened in the book and story felt flat. I really hoped it would pick up, so I continued to struggle through it. I got to the end and was annoyed that I made myself struggle through it.
The Twitter bits annoyed me and slowed me down because I had to struggle not to skim through but properly read it. I don't see the point of adding pages of a Twitter feed into the book.
threw me off balance and I did not see the point of including it in the story. Except for the shock factor. Maybe.
The story had a great premise but it was disappointing in the end. Asides the fact that he woke up one day with white skin and a black ass, Furo (the main character) is forgettable (and annoying).
The book started out well. Furo's was an interesting character at first. Then it started going all over the place. Too much happened in the book and story felt flat. I really hoped it would pick up, so I continued to struggle through it. I got to the end and was annoyed that I made myself struggle through it.
The Twitter bits annoyed me and slowed me down because I had to struggle not to skim through but properly read it. I don't see the point of adding pages of a Twitter feed into the book.
threw me off balance and I did not see the point of including it in the story. Except for the shock factor. Maybe.
The story had a great premise but it was disappointing in the end. Asides the fact that he woke up one day with white skin and a black ass, Furo (the main character) is forgettable (and annoying).
June 18, 2016
Great satire on race, identity and life in Nigeria told through this riff on The Metamorphosis by Kafka. From the time Faro wakes up as a black man who has inexplicably become a white man through the last page of the book he is trying to both shape his new place in the world and scrub all traces of his old standing. It's written almost at a thriller pace as he tries to build a new life out of nothing and all the manipulation that goal implies. Within that story, though, are all the rich details of life in Nigeria, from the food stands and the taxi etiquette to the larger issues around race, city governments, working the system and a system that's failing so many. A great story but also a clever way to look at the larger social and political issues of a country. Couldn't put this one down.
August 1, 2016
I like this story. It's an experiment in "otherness". It does not pretend to be what it's not; it's so straightforward, it's startling.
As I think of Furo Wariboko, victim-of-a-strange-circumstance-turned-master-manipulator, I remember the quote that says, "Character is revealed under pressure/in a crisis".
As I think of Furo Wariboko, victim-of-a-strange-circumstance-turned-master-manipulator, I remember the quote that says, "Character is revealed under pressure/in a crisis".
February 14, 2020
«Tutti noi siamo solo costruzioni narrative.»
Furo Wariboko, trentenne nigeriano di Lagos, una mattina si sveglia e scopre di avere la pelle “d’alabastro”, gli occhi acqua marina e i capelli rosso carota.
Il nigeriano, come il Gregor Samsa Kafkiano, sobbalza incredulo per la metamorfosi.
Ma il suo sbigottimento tocca punte altissime quando, osservandosi nudo allo specchio, scopre di essere tutto bianco ad eccezione del suo sedere che resta ostinatamente di un “gagliardo nero”.
Furo fugge per non essere visto dalla sua famiglia e si immerge nella caotica folla della città di Lagos, diventando immediatamente oggetto di sguardi sospettosi e iniziando la sua avventura in una nuova pelle e identità.
Tra mille peripezie Furo si costruirà una nuova vita, facilitato dalla metamorfosi in uomo bianco.
Incontrerà anche lo stesso autore che diventa un personaggio del libro e subisce a sua volta una metamorfosi in donna procace e affascinante.
Una scrittura brillante e dal ritmo serrato rende la lettura molto veloce.
La storia di Furo ci fa scorgere una realtà, quella di una città africana, e ci permette di fare quelli che io chiamo "esercizi di empatia”, invitandoci a metterci nei panni, anzi, nella pelle dell’Altro.
Furo Wariboko, trentenne nigeriano di Lagos, una mattina si sveglia e scopre di avere la pelle “d’alabastro”, gli occhi acqua marina e i capelli rosso carota.
Il nigeriano, come il Gregor Samsa Kafkiano, sobbalza incredulo per la metamorfosi.
Ma il suo sbigottimento tocca punte altissime quando, osservandosi nudo allo specchio, scopre di essere tutto bianco ad eccezione del suo sedere che resta ostinatamente di un “gagliardo nero”.
Furo fugge per non essere visto dalla sua famiglia e si immerge nella caotica folla della città di Lagos, diventando immediatamente oggetto di sguardi sospettosi e iniziando la sua avventura in una nuova pelle e identità.
Tra mille peripezie Furo si costruirà una nuova vita, facilitato dalla metamorfosi in uomo bianco.
Incontrerà anche lo stesso autore che diventa un personaggio del libro e subisce a sua volta una metamorfosi in donna procace e affascinante.
Una scrittura brillante e dal ritmo serrato rende la lettura molto veloce.
La storia di Furo ci fa scorgere una realtà, quella di una città africana, e ci permette di fare quelli che io chiamo "esercizi di empatia”, invitandoci a metterci nei panni, anzi, nella pelle dell’Altro.
June 14, 2016
What a unlikable protagonist! Furo is selfish, shallow, and a bit of an asshole and has no redeeming qualities. Which makes me not very interested in him as a character. As many other reviewers here have mentioned, this novel has a great premise but it seems like a good idea gone to waste. I had hoped the novel would Being white gives him privileges and apparently an endless stream of job offers; this makes all the surrounding characters seem shallow and also a little mean at some points. While this may be reality, it doesn't explore the issue of white privilege beyond that.
It also barely scrapes the surface of the issue of transgenderism, so I wish the author would have just left it out altogether because it seemed like just a "just for fun" mention, without truly tapping into the potential that it had to explore the issue.
It also barely scrapes the surface of the issue of transgenderism, so I wish the author would have just left it out altogether because it seemed like just a "just for fun" mention, without truly tapping into the potential that it had to explore the issue.
Read
September 6, 2016An interesting novel. Left me wanting more... the ending, like the light just went out. Abrupt. Full review will be on my blog soon. freduagyeman.blogspot.com
January 12, 2020
Starts out as a Kafka pastiche, quickly expands to cover a lot more - the lingering effects of colonialism in society and culture, gender politics, etc etc. The problem, while it does all of that with both verve and sharpness, is that it doesn't really have time to dig into all the various things it sets up, and the plot never really knows where to go; the kind of book where I suddenly look up and realise I only have 12 pages to go and there is no way it can tie everything up. Which it can't. But the way there is still fascinating.
November 7, 2019
This book majorly slapped tbh. Kafka whomst?!?!?!
August 11, 2016
Blackass by A. Igoni Barrett is pretty hilarious at times, I will admit. Barrett begins with what is very clearly a parody of Kafka’s The Metamorphosis with the line “FURO WARIBOKO AWOKE this morning to find” which clearly mirrors Kafka’s work quite closely. The central conflict of Kafka’s story is how Gregor Samsa will be perceived by the world around him after he has been transformed into a giant insect. Whereas Samsa has been transformed into something loathsome, Barrett’s character Furo has suddenly gone from being a black man in Nigeria to being a white man in Nigeria. He’s movin’ on up, so to speak. The book concerns how his new skin color will lead to unwarranted and unearned opportunities and, in turn, a certain white man’s arrogance. The transformation has left Furo with one reminder of his former state. “The world, it seems, is his oyster – except for one thing: despite his radical transformation, his ass remains robustly black.”
If you can accept the magical realist premise of this book, then you’ll be interested to learn about Nigerian life, stereotypes that are part of that culture, and the white privilege that informs the actions of many of the characters. Likewise, you will be entertained by the author’s firm grasp on the language as he explores storytelling through a few different literary personae. The trope of transformation is explored through Furo and also through a transgendered character who narrates a few of the chapters. In this book we start to see identity as essentially malleable as nature becomes more important than nurture.
What keeps this book from a 5 star review for me was the tedious descriptions of Furo’s everyday life. Barrett is trying to capture the surreal tone of Kafka’s original work by describing what Furo does while he’s at the office or doing mundane tasks while he’s out in the world. The narrative moves a bit too slowly as a result as demonstrated by this passage: “At long last Tetsola announced his duty ended and exited the office. Alone with the laptop, Furo opened a browser and signed into his Yahoo mailbox. It was over two weeks since he’d last been online, and though he suspected – or, rather, knew – what awaited him there, he still had to see for himself that he was right. He was, of course: there was indeed something to see: a digital influx of panic and grief. His mailbox had three hundred and seventeen unread emails” Blackass (Kindle Locations 2358-2361). Why Barrett bothers with these details is clear to me on a cerebral level, but it makes for boring reading as there is not enough conflict to drive the plot forward.
For a book with a plot this outlandish, I expected Blackass to be funnier. It has moments of comedy, but mostly it’s a serious mediation on power and race.
Barrett, A. Igoni (2015-07-09). Blackass (Kindle Locations 2358-2361). Random House. Kindle Edition.
If you can accept the magical realist premise of this book, then you’ll be interested to learn about Nigerian life, stereotypes that are part of that culture, and the white privilege that informs the actions of many of the characters. Likewise, you will be entertained by the author’s firm grasp on the language as he explores storytelling through a few different literary personae. The trope of transformation is explored through Furo and also through a transgendered character who narrates a few of the chapters. In this book we start to see identity as essentially malleable as nature becomes more important than nurture.
What keeps this book from a 5 star review for me was the tedious descriptions of Furo’s everyday life. Barrett is trying to capture the surreal tone of Kafka’s original work by describing what Furo does while he’s at the office or doing mundane tasks while he’s out in the world. The narrative moves a bit too slowly as a result as demonstrated by this passage: “At long last Tetsola announced his duty ended and exited the office. Alone with the laptop, Furo opened a browser and signed into his Yahoo mailbox. It was over two weeks since he’d last been online, and though he suspected – or, rather, knew – what awaited him there, he still had to see for himself that he was right. He was, of course: there was indeed something to see: a digital influx of panic and grief. His mailbox had three hundred and seventeen unread emails” Blackass (Kindle Locations 2358-2361). Why Barrett bothers with these details is clear to me on a cerebral level, but it makes for boring reading as there is not enough conflict to drive the plot forward.
For a book with a plot this outlandish, I expected Blackass to be funnier. It has moments of comedy, but mostly it’s a serious mediation on power and race.
Barrett, A. Igoni (2015-07-09). Blackass (Kindle Locations 2358-2361). Random House. Kindle Edition.
August 25, 2017
Second Read Review:
Exactly one year ago I first read Blackass . In the days since, I've seldom gone a week without thinking of this book. It remains the only book to have had such a long-standing effect on me. Having read it a second time, it paled slightly to my memory. I suppose this is normal, seeing as how I hyped it up to myself. Still though, the writing drew me in and the strange plot and narrator sucked me down. I really love this book and it means so much to me.
Original Review:
I hesitated to give this five stars because of the numerous bad reviews it got. Then, I realized I didn't want to be a person who edited his opinion of something due to another's.
I absolutely loved this book. I had anticipated liking it, but not nearly to the extent I did. The premise - a black Nigerian awaking one morning to discover he's now white, was intriguing, and the end product, in my opinion, was better than I could have hoped for.
I found Furo to be an exceptionally well developed character, one that surprised me and challenged me. His voice and struggles were unique, and his arch, shocking to me in the end, was masterfully crafted. While I agree with readers that the plot was full of unbelievable events and irresolution, they enhanced the novel for me. On the first page Barrett invites his readers to, like Kafka's, believe without questioning, a commitment I made that paid off.
Speaking of Barrett, his writing is utterly delicious. Like any good creator, Lagos is breathtakingly captured on the page and I so enjoyed walking the streets alongside Furo. His prose is beautiful and stunning. I was hooked from the very first page, a rare occurrence for me, and the credit lies equally with the story as it does with the way in which it is told.
Blackass is challenging, breathtaking, honest, and necessary. Who are we, any of us, really? A. Igoni Barrett sets out to find the answer, and its both less and more surprising than we would ever think it was.
Exactly one year ago I first read Blackass . In the days since, I've seldom gone a week without thinking of this book. It remains the only book to have had such a long-standing effect on me. Having read it a second time, it paled slightly to my memory. I suppose this is normal, seeing as how I hyped it up to myself. Still though, the writing drew me in and the strange plot and narrator sucked me down. I really love this book and it means so much to me.
Original Review:
I hesitated to give this five stars because of the numerous bad reviews it got. Then, I realized I didn't want to be a person who edited his opinion of something due to another's.
I absolutely loved this book. I had anticipated liking it, but not nearly to the extent I did. The premise - a black Nigerian awaking one morning to discover he's now white, was intriguing, and the end product, in my opinion, was better than I could have hoped for.
I found Furo to be an exceptionally well developed character, one that surprised me and challenged me. His voice and struggles were unique, and his arch, shocking to me in the end, was masterfully crafted. While I agree with readers that the plot was full of unbelievable events and irresolution, they enhanced the novel for me. On the first page Barrett invites his readers to, like Kafka's, believe without questioning, a commitment I made that paid off.
Speaking of Barrett, his writing is utterly delicious. Like any good creator, Lagos is breathtakingly captured on the page and I so enjoyed walking the streets alongside Furo. His prose is beautiful and stunning. I was hooked from the very first page, a rare occurrence for me, and the credit lies equally with the story as it does with the way in which it is told.
Blackass is challenging, breathtaking, honest, and necessary. Who are we, any of us, really? A. Igoni Barrett sets out to find the answer, and its both less and more surprising than we would ever think it was.
February 25, 2018
“E poi il chiasso, il suono grossolano dei soldi, di persone intente a tirare sul prezzo, adescare clienti, arringare la folla, di voci che si accavallavano sopra il frastuono del traffico. La fermata dell'autobus era un vortice di teste, braccia, gambe, mentre veicoli di ogni sorta - carretti arrugginiti, motorini color caramella e camion grandi come dinosauri - si facevano largo sulla strada contendendo la precedenza ai pedoni. Unica faccia bianca in quel mare nero, Furo imparò in fretta. A camminare con la schiena dritta e il passo regolare, a tenere gli occhi bassi e l'espressione assente, a ignorare gli sguardi fissi, le battutine mordaci, la curiosità sfacciata. E imparò come ci si sente ad essere considerato un capriccio della natura: vulnerabile allo stupore, invisibile alla comprensione.”
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La fuori c’è una generazione di nuovi autori africani di grandissimo talento. Una generazione che ha molto da raccontare e sa farlo molto bene. Non parlano solo di miserie perché l’Africa non è solo miseria, è molto, molto altro.
Per chi vuole conoscere una storia di metamorfosi incompiute, di identità, di affermazione sociale, di opportunismo e di scelte, ambientata nella caotica Lagos, capitale della Nigeria, terza città più popolata al mondo, BLACKASS (CULO NERO) di A. Igoni Barret è davvero una bella occasione.
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La fuori c’è una generazione di nuovi autori africani di grandissimo talento. Una generazione che ha molto da raccontare e sa farlo molto bene. Non parlano solo di miserie perché l’Africa non è solo miseria, è molto, molto altro.
Per chi vuole conoscere una storia di metamorfosi incompiute, di identità, di affermazione sociale, di opportunismo e di scelte, ambientata nella caotica Lagos, capitale della Nigeria, terza città più popolata al mondo, BLACKASS (CULO NERO) di A. Igoni Barret è davvero una bella occasione.
April 4, 2016
What a wild book! Furo Wariboko is a black Nigerian who wakes up white, except for his 'blackass,' as the title says. He spends the book having adventures with his new racial identity, in getting jobs, choosing languages, meeting women, trying to whiten his ass, and just walking down the street. Interestingly, going back to being black is not an option for him, and also interestingly, one of the characters has the same name as the author. The book dwindles at its conclusion - the author didn't seem sure how to gather his themes together, and transgendering enters the plot suddenly in the last few chapters - but this is an astonishing book that held my interest all the way through.
April 23, 2016
3.5 stars
I ordered this book because the premise interested me - the story of a young Nigerian who awakes one morning to find himself white. It was a satire about race, but one that didn't feel the need to hammer you by overdoing it. Though I've read reviewers that feel otherwise, I liked that the story didn't really conclude and tie up the loose ends, but rather just leaves us wondering how everything will work out. I was also really intrigued by the narration of the book, as it changed between a third person narration of the main character, a first person narration by his sister (via Twitter posts), and narration by the author him/herself as a character in the tale.
I ordered this book because the premise interested me - the story of a young Nigerian who awakes one morning to find himself white. It was a satire about race, but one that didn't feel the need to hammer you by overdoing it. Though I've read reviewers that feel otherwise, I liked that the story didn't really conclude and tie up the loose ends, but rather just leaves us wondering how everything will work out. I was also really intrigued by the narration of the book, as it changed between a third person narration of the main character, a first person narration by his sister (via Twitter posts), and narration by the author him/herself as a character in the tale.
August 19, 2016
Enter your review (optional)A Very Nigerian book masterfully written. Now, while Furo Wariboko wasn't an exciting character through and through, the rich narratives of almost every other character more than made up.( Its a book set in a Lagos, of course characters are almost always going to have rich narratives)
Oh and did the book seem to have an unnerving thirst for intricate descriptions of anything and everything?
The Infusion of Twitterverse, Igoni's (sudden) transformation, Furo's unbelievable luck among other plot lines, made for a good read.
In a whole, its hard not to give full stars for the writing style, which was suave and intended.
Oh and did the book seem to have an unnerving thirst for intricate descriptions of anything and everything?
The Infusion of Twitterverse, Igoni's (sudden) transformation, Furo's unbelievable luck among other plot lines, made for a good read.
In a whole, its hard not to give full stars for the writing style, which was suave and intended.
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