Sag Harbor, Colson Whitehead’s last novel, is a delightful romp down memory lane; specifically, his adolescent summers at Sag Harbor, NY — a beachfront retreat from the city where his brother and he broke out of their “Cosby Kid” existence for a few carefree months. On the surface, it is a reflection of the coming-of-age awkwardness and dilemmas that come with a boy’s life: dating/girls, clothing, fitting in, parties (particularly getting into them), and establishing his own identity amid the pursuit of “coolness.” Benji, the protagonist, and his brother, Reggie, were left at the beach home virtually all summer where for the most part, they fended for themselves; surprisingly there was minimal adult supervision. Their guardian angels were working overtime because despite the obvious recipe for disaster there were only a few close calls (one involving a BB gun) and no major calamities. Being close in age to the author, I reminisced and enjoyed the 1980’s pop culture flashbacks in his references to music, language, television shows, clothing fashion, etc. I also enjoyed that he delved into deeper themes on race, class, and identity, providing interesting and sometimes painful perspectives as one of the few Blacks in his private school, encounters with an abusive, angry father, and a seemingly submissive, non-confrontational mother. These extremely personal, often funny, and thoughtful episodes no doubt shape the man he eventually becomes.

While well-written and wonderfully rendered, my rating is 3.5 because there were some rambling passages in a book that ends as abruptly as it starts; perhaps this is only “Volume 1″ with more to follow? Recommended for the author’s fans and those interested in another perspective of the African-American experience.

Reviewed by Phyllis
APOOO BookClub

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