Harry Sylvester Bird

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Harry Sylvester Bird is a 2022 Novel by Chinelo Okparanta. [1] The story is set in the future and provides commentary on racism. The book follows Harry, who leaves his hometown to move to New York City and starts a relationship with Maryam, who is from Nigeria. [2] The book uses contains elements of satire, romance, and speculative fiction, beginning in 2016 and ending in 2026. [3]

Contents

Harry Sylvester Bird
Harry Sylvester Bird.jpg
AuthorChinelo Okparanta
LanguageEnglish
GenreFiction
PublisherMariner Books
Publication date
July 12, 2022
Publication placeNigeria
ISBN 0-358-61727-8

Plot

Harry Sylvester Bird follows the journey of its character, Harry, as he navigates a childhood marked by the racist environment of his hometown, Edward, Pennsylvania, characterized by racism, xenophobia, and financial instability embodied by his parents, Wayne and Chevy. Desperate to escape this suffocating atmosphere, Harry moves to New York City, seeking a place where he can truly be himself.In the vibrant chaos of New York, Harry finds love and solace in Maryam, a Nigerian woman. However, their relationship becomes strained as Maryam begins to distance herself, prompting Harry to confront his own identity and the societal forces that have shaped him. [4]

Harry, a white man with a profound belief that he's imprisoned in the wrong racial identity and yearning to become black. Chinelo Okparanta weaves a rich description around Harry, exploring not only the fantasy driving his desires but also the painful reality animating them. The novel peels back the layers of racism, exposing its insidious presence in Harry's life and examining the deep-seated social dysfunction underlying his yearning for racial transformation.

The narrative opens with a satirical lens on Harry's troubled childhood, marked by parental neglect and racial prejudice. Set against the backdrop of a safari resort in Zanzibar, where Harry's family attempts to live out a colonial fantasy, the dysfunction within the family unit is starkly evident. As the story progresses to a struggling community in Philadelphia,economic collapse, mirroring the broader societal tensions in a politically divided United States on the brink of civil unrest. His romanticized notion of blackness becomes a distorted reflection of power and entitlement, echoing the dynamics of white supremacy. [4]

Characters

Themes

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References

  1. "Chinelo Okparanta: books, biography, latest update". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  2. OKparanta, Chinelo (July 12, 2022). Harry Sylvester Bird. Mariner Books. ISBN   978-0358617273.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. "Racism Through the Eyes of Love and Desire | Review of Harry Sylvester Bird by Chinelo Okparanta". brittlepaper.com. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  4. 1 2 Whittaker, Nicholas (2022-07-12). "'Harry Sylvester Bird' Is a Satire of Antiracist Art". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  5. Okparanta, Chinelo (2022-07-12). Harry Sylvester Bird. HarperCollins. ISBN   978-0-358-62232-1.
  6. Noble, Barnes &. "Harry Sylvester Bird|Paperback". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  7. Tribune, Angela Ajayi Special to the Star. "Review: 'Harry Sylvester Bird,' by Chinelo Okparanta". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2024-05-12.