Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self by Danielle Evans
By Phyllis Rhodes • Aug 24th, 2010 • Category: Book Review 2010 •
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Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self by Danielle Evans
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Riverhead Hardcover (September 23, 2010)
ISBN-10: 1594487693
ISBN-13: 978-1594487699
Amazon Rating: 3
APOOO Rating: 3
Admittedly, I am typically not a fan of short stories because too often I find myself wanting more at their conclusion; there never seems to be enough closure to satisfy my curiosity or address the unresolved issues and questions raised within the story. Of course, there are some outstanding collections that are exceptions to my dilemma; unfortunately Danielle Evan’s debut offering, Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self, was not one of them. I sadly suffered the same fate with this novel of unrelated short stories although the author does a wonderful job with character development, dialogue, and exploring a wide range of teen/young adult angst: the loss of virginity, broken hearts, dysfunctional families, peer pressure, assimilation, unplanned pregnancy, etc. These topics are meshed in plots/characters/histories of differing and blended racial, cultural, gender, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Overall, this is a notable collection that demonstrates the author’s talent and insight into the human condition and the teen’s heart and mind. For example, the lead story, Virgins, left me pondering the outcome of a dangerous situation involving one of the main female characters. I kept hoping that the subsequent stories would hint or indicate what happened to her so I could attain a bit of closure. Harvest was another story I really enjoyed; it centers on society’s preference towards and the aesthetic appeal of Nordic European features. Its plot revolves around a group of Ivy League collegiate suite mates. The highly intelligent, blue-eyed, blond, attractive, young white women receive generous monetary compensation for their ovum, whereas their black and brown counterparts need not apply as there is no demand for their genetic makeup nor shortage of black/brown babies in the world. A black student’s unplanned and unwanted pregnancy elevates complexity and deepens the social innuendos embedded in the story.
Notably, the stories are original and thought provoking, but I found only a few that really piqued my interest; the others I found a bit too abstract and/or not as engaging. Nonetheless, Evans is an author to watch and I foresee many literary awards in her future. Fans of ZZ Packer‘s Drinking Coffee Elsewhere may enjoy this novel.
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This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes.
Reviewed by Phyllis
APOOO BookClub
August 6, 2010
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Phyllis Rhodes is a systems engineer with a major defense contractor and adjunct professor at two local universities in Orlando, Florida. A lifelong bibliophile, she founded the Nubian Circle Book Club in 2001 and is a freelance book reviewer for the Orlando Sentinel, APOOO Exchange Team, and Amazon.com. As a consummate fan of the arts, she supports local and national theatre, literary events, and Afrocentric festivals, exhibits, and historical tributes. When not traveling, teaching, or reading, she researches her family history and applies her talents across a host of professional organizations chartered to sustain and uplift the African American community
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