The Trees

For me, this book was unexpected and original in its style and tone. It deals head-on with hard issues but manages to entertain the reader at the same time. Quite a feat.

The story explores the history of black lynchings in America, particularly the murder of Emmett Till in 1955, and its unresolved ongoing impact. However, the book unfolds as a clever satire, also comedy caper, also detective novel, also zombie apocalypse genre.

It has cops, academics, witch doctors, wary locals, rednecks and reappearing cadavers. Stereotypes are employed without apology and the dialogue is skilful and hugely entertaining. The injustice… show more.

I hesitate to describe The Trees — in fact, I recommend you avoid reading any reviews, or even the back cover, because the book is so full of surprises that it would be a sin to spoil any of them. I’ll only say that of all the recent books dealing with the intractable shame of racial struggles, this is my favorite, hands-down. Prepare yourself to be alternately sick with laughter or sick with horror — which is exactly the experience of the protagonists, and of their real-life compatriots. Afterward, like me, you’ll want to read everything else Percival Everett has… show more.