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Heads of the Colored People

By Nafissa Thompson-Spires
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Check link for latest rating. ( 7,915 ratings, 1,215 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
Heads of the Colored People by Nafissa Thompson-Spires is a collection of interconnected short stories that explore the complexities and nuances of Black identity in contemporary America. The narrative delves into the lives of diverse characters, examining themes like racial dynamics, cultural identity, and personal strife. Each story offers a fresh perspective on what it means to navigate and redefine Blackness in today's world.
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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?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy thought-provoking short stories that explore the contemporary experiences of African Americans with wit and sharp social commentary. It's perfect for readers who appreciate narratives that navigate identity, race, and human connection with nuance and a touch of humour.

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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

Heads of the Colored People is a satirical and daring collection of short stories exploring black life from one of America's rising stars.

'Makes you shake your head in delight... Her stories feel simultaneously like the poke of a stick and a comforting balm; a smack followed by a kiss. I'm so into it.' - Bim Adewunmi, Guardian

Heads of the Colored People interrogates our supposedly post-racial era to wicked and devastating effect, exposing the violence that threatens black Americans, no matter their apparent success.

A teenager is insidiously bullied as her YouTube following soars; an assistant professor finds himself losing a subtle war against his office mate; a nurse is worn down by the demand for her skills as a funeral singer. And across a series of stories, a young woman grows up, negotiating and renegotiating her identity.

This electric collection of short stories marks the arrival of a remarkable writer and an urgent new voice.

Shortlisted for the James Tait Black Prize for Fiction 2019

Shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize 2019

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?

Nafissa Thompson-Spires's Heads of the Colored People is widely praised for its smart, witty writing and innovative storytelling. Reviewers commend the book for its fresh, invigorating style, sharp humour, and thought-provoking narratives that blend satire with intense emotion. The stories in the collection are noted for their complexity, emotional depth, and the striking detail with which Thompson-Spires crafts her compelling worlds.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781784706586

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 08 August 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 14.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 159g

Pages: 224

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Nafissa Thompson-Spires Penguin Books

About the Author

Nafissa Thompson-Spires is a prize-winning short story writer. She earned a PhD in English from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Illinois. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in The White Review, the Los Angeles Review of Books Quarterly, StoryQuarterly, Lunch Ticket and The Feminist Wire, among other publications. She is a 2016 participant of the Callaloo Creative Writing Workshop, a 2017 Tin House workshopee, and a 2017 Sewanee Writers Conference Stanley Elkin Scholar. Born in San Diego, California, she now lives in Illinois with her husband where she is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Creative Writing and African American studies at the University of Illinois.

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