Jonathan K (Max Outlier) > Recent Status Updates

As stated previously this seemed like it would be a winner in the beginning but it's turned out to be much too long for what it is.. Three stars at best

What began as an engaging story has become a plot that drags on forever.. Could have been 50 pages shorter

Good but very slow moving

I'm finding pacing is a bit slow and the plot dragging it's heels. A fast horse out of the gate is losing steam and the bend and hope there's a plot twist toward the finish line

Unique and engaging though the pacing is a bit slow for my tastes. Classic McBride otherwise

Nearing the end, there's a tinge of the Odyssey, when Not Sidney takes his trip west and were I to have the funds I'd option the story for a film. This remains to be my favorite of all he's written, and while James is terrific, this is much funnier

Absolutely amazing story. And in some ways better than the Everett book, James!

It's hard not to reflect on 'James' by Percival Everett when reading this due to the time period and repeated use of the N word. But the main character of this story is female slave who most believe is an unusual brand of witch. This is James McBride at his best

Far and away the most unique story I've read by this author who is one of my favorites. I had put off reading this for a while but am so glad I checked it out from the library.. Remarkable in all respects

When I read it the first time I did not realize what a great movie this would make though audiences would need to appreciate the insanity. Not Sidney interacting with the parents and friends of his girlfriends white family, getting advice from professor Nonsense and Ted Turner who is as clueless as they come .. What more could you want!

For those of you that have yet to read this, Everett is hilarious playing himself as a professor at Moorehouse college. Obtuse, nonsensical and off the charts, I'm confident he used the archetype for Dr No. This is even funnier the second time around!

I'm noticing a a touch of The Good Lord Bird in this story, it's time period a bit later, the similarity, abolition. And a dab of Everett's, James, as well

Powerful.. Only an author like McBride could engage with a narrative like this. This is the benchmark of great writing

I rarely if ever read a book more than once, but where authors like Everett are concerned, it's pure, unadulterated heaven. The beauty of reading this the second time is learning how others he wrote came to fruition. With this story, he inserts himself in the form of Professor Everett, a whacked out nut case who has no business teaching anything! The character is the basis for' Dr No'.

I have to say that I'm enjoying the second read as much or more than the first and had forgotten some of the wacky characters, plot points and Professor Everett's oddball advising. Ted Turner refers to Not Sidney as Nu Ott, and Bill Cosby reads the riot act to the student body of Moorehouse University, the Harvard of the South!

For those who have yet to read this, Everett inserts himself as a professor at a small college Not Sidney buys his way into and teaches a course titled The Philosophy of Nonsense. This was obviously a precursor to his other book, Dr No which is utter nonsense in itself but definitely worth reading!

There's some pretty strong parallels between this book and James though Not Sidney is meant to be humorous. Regardless this is one of my favorites

Having read this over a year ago, I'd completely forgotten about the dream Not Sidney has when he became a prisoner chained to a redneck while on the run. It's clear the author may have used parts of it when writing James, his most recent best seller due to the slave references and characters in the dream. Fascinating

I've decided to be a tea tottler while reading having forgotten how brilliant the writing was. While I loved James and all his others, there's no doubt this is one of the best he's written. It takes an extremely creative mind to create characters and plot like this!

Leave it to Everett to create a fictional daughter of Jane Fonda called Wanda. Wanda Fonda, Not Sidney and staring at others with a raised eyebrows to Fesmerize them. Not bad Mr Everett, not bad

Absolutely hilarious!

Even better the second time around!

Having read this well over a year ago, I'd forgotten some of the best parts. When Sportcoat and Sausage compare ways to get rid of a curse it's hilarious as are nearly all their interactions. Such a great story. For any of you that were introduced to McBride with the Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, make sure to read this one too

An amazing cast of characters that spout the funniest parables you can find. Such a pleasure to read this a second time. Yo cheese done slip off yo cracker! Sportcoat and Hot Sausage are the black version of Stan and Ollie in the ghetto

When you enjoy reading a book the second time as much as you did the first, it's the benchmark of great writing

Gotta love it!

Reading a favorite book the second time characters like Sportcoat and Hot Sausage bring smiles, Yo cheese done slip off yo cracker! :) Love it!

We have Sportcoat and his blind son, Pudgy Fingers, his best friend, Hot Sausage and Rufus whose home brew King Kong rattles the cages of those who indulge, Hard not to like a story with characters like these!

You always know that when we first encounter characters that break the mold we're in for a great time. Deacon, aka Sportcoat is the sort that leads us on a journey like no other and we're sure his community will do likewise. No mistake this is one of the author's best!

Favorite books like this always deserve a second read!