Hell of a Book, a novel written by Jason Mott, tells a story about an author who is on his way to tour the US promoting his work. The novel unfolds in various directions: contemplation of oneself, the narrator’s self-reflection and sense of unease in being a black man in America, and a story about a young black boy who is nicknamed Soot by bullies in his rural hometown.
There is also an element of metafiction in the story, reflected in the narrator’s title of his bestselling novel, which is also the title of this book. The novel also introduces a plot about a young black boy being shot by police, which makes the narrator reflect on the frail existence of being a black man in America, and consequently starts imagining conversations with the black boy Soot.
The novel explores themes of racism, grief, one’s identity and coming to terms with loving oneself despite the world trying to convince you otherwise. It was published in 2021 and crashed bestseller lists, as well as winning the National Book Award.
