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Didn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta

A novel
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( 3,148 ratings, 612 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Didn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta by James Hannaham follows the story of Carlotta, a woman finally released from prison after 20 years. As she navigates the chaotic and gentrified landscape of Brooklyn, she faces the challenge of reintegrating into society. Striving to reconnect with family and reclaim a sense of normalcy, Carlotta's journey is as humorous as it is poignant, highlighting resiliency and the complexities of identity.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate stories that delve into the complexities of identity and societal challenges. With a vibrant protagonist navigating life after a long incarceration, it's perfect for those drawn to narratives rich with humour, resilience, and social commentary.

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The humorous and heart-wrenching story of a woman's re-entry into life on the outside after twenty years in incarceration, told over one whirlwind Fourth of July weekend.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

"There's no one quite like Carlotta Mercedes, the transgender Black Colombian heroine - no, star - of the second novel by Hannaham." -THE OBSERVER

When Carlotta Mercedes was pulled into a robbery gone wrong, she still went by the name she was born with. But not long after her conviction, she began to live as a woman, an embrace of selfhood that prison authorities rejected, keeping Carlotta trapped in an all-male cell block, abused by both inmates and guards.

Over twenty years later, Carlotta is granted conditional freedom and returns to a much-changed Brooklyn, where she struggles to reconcile with a family reluctant to accept her identity, and to avoid any minor parole infraction that might get her consigned back to lockup.

Didn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta sweeps the reader through seemingly every street of Brooklyn, much as Joyce's Ulysses does through Dublin. Hannaham introduces a cast of unforgettable characters even as it challenges us to confront the glaring injustices of a society and prison system that continues to punish people long after their time has been served.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Hannaham's novel presents Carlotta as an unforgettable character, sparking intense emotion and charm. The book is lauded for its vibrant depiction of Carlotta's experiences and the author's deep empathy for her journey. Set in a rapidly changing New York, the narrative is described as an energetic and thought-provoking exploration of identity, bursting with both humour and humanity.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781787704930

Publisher: Europa Editions (UK) Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 July 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Europa Editions (UK) Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 304

About the Author

James Hannaham is the award-winning author of Delicious Foods, winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award. It was selected for the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Program, the New York Times’s and Washington Post’s 100 Notable Books of 2015, and was a finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize. His debut God Says No, was honoured by the American Library Association’s Stonewall Book Awards.

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  • Didn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta
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