Lord of dark places - Hardcover

Bennett, Hal

4.45

297 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0393086038 ISBN 13: 9780393086034

Publisher: Norton, 1970

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A detective story, a black comedy, a tragedy, and thirty years out of print, it's a dissertation on history/stereotypes that man/unman black Americans.

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Review:

[The protagonist] Joe's transitions are always linked by Bennet's dark satire that seats Joe's sexuality as his identity comfort zone that eventually turns back on itself. America's fear, lust, and loathing of Black male sexuality and humanity drives Joe mad. At different times he is able to theorize his presence in the middle of his misery coated by a marijuana addiction. Joe's absurd mirrors make you laugh and stare at the pages while you ask yourself about all the possibilities of autobiographical fiction.
- Cups, the cafe culture magazine, Tamara Harris.

Bennet whips his readers with religion, mocking biblical teachings that ask for obedience and stoical reserve, penning merciless scenes of molestation, rape and orgies and refusing to back away from the ugly consequences of racial injustice. The stereotypes - black man as uncontrollable sexual brute, black woman as blindly faithful sap - only make Joe's role as a warped Candide more grotesque.
- Time Out New York, Marie Elsie St. Leger.

From Library Journal:

In Bennett's novel, "Perverse sex and inverse Christianity are combined to provide an account of a young man finding his way to madness" (LJ 11/1/70). Though it might be a bit strong for some readers, it remains "an excellent statement of black consciousness."
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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