In "Erasure" Thelonious Monk Ellison, a college professor and writer of obscure, hard to read books that just don't fit what the public expects from a BLACK writer. Instead, the masses want books like the best-selling book, "We lives in Da Ghetto" a book written by a young African American women after she spent two days in the quote, unquote ghetto. Monk Ellison is outraged by the idea that this book depicts the typical African American. In his anger Ellison writes "My Pafology" under the pseudonym of Stagg R. Leigh, a parody on the Richard Wright novel, "Native Son." Monk is surprised to find out that "My Pafology" is loved by all, publishers and critics alike and is hailed as the next great African American literary work. Monk is made rich by the book but now he is faced with a dilemma. If he accepts the success of "My Pafology" and comes out from behind the Stagg R. Leigh pseudonym his artistic integrity will be compromised. This newfound success comes right in the midst of family problems that Ellison is forced to deal with.
The parody throughout the novel is clever and a number of folks and organizations are the brunt of Everett's wit. Kenya Dunston (Oprah Winfrey type personality) is featured in the book and Everett his self, who served as a judge for the National Book award in 1998, uses his experience to poke fun in the novel. When Monk Ellison is selected as a judge for the Book Award and “My Pafology”(named changed to F**k) is considered for the Book Award it is the last straw that breaks the literary camels back for Monk Ellison.
Aside from the parody on the literary world, “Erasure” shows Monk dealing with family problems and true to life when things are going good misery and hardship are just around the corner. The dysfunctional elements of Ellison's family is surprisingly normal in the times we live in and it's refreshing to see a African American male character dealing with family issues that are usually reserved for women characters in fiction.
Initially, the imagined dialogues used within the novel move the story along however; there are times when the story slows only for brief moments when figures like Wilde, Joyce, Pollack and Rothko hold their conversations. “Erasure” also ends abruptly leaving a sense that something is missing. Aside from these minimal irregularities, “Erasure” highlights the talent of a fine writer. Sadly, Percival Everett is in that group of under recognized but extremely talented African American writers with John A. Williams, William M. Kelley, Albert French and Albert Murray. These writers don't get near the recognition that their work warrants. Perhaps "Erasure" will raise an eyebrow or two and shine some light on the literary jewels produced by this writer and other African American writers.
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