Thelonius Ellison (Monksie) writes experimental literary fiction but, as a black man, is accused as 'not being black enough' in his work. Disgusted by the critical acclaim awarded to a black trashy novel, he responds by writing a 'ghetto-talk' parody under an assumed name which becomes a runaway success. Sharp and funny, this is savage satire with a compelling and moving sub-plot of a family struggling with old age, illness and death.
'I don't know what to tell you,' Yul said. 'If you could just write something like Second Failure again.' ...
Second Failure: My 'realistic' novel. It was received nicely and sold rather well. It's about a young black man who can't understand why his white-looking mother is ostracized by the black community.
