Erasure Audiobook By Percival Everett cover art

Erasure

A Novel

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Erasure

By: Percival Everett
Narrated by: Sean Crisden
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.19

Buy for $17.19

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

Percival Everett's blistering satire about race and publishing, now as the Oscar-nominated film, American Fiction, directed by Cord Jefferson and starring Jeffrey Wright and Tracee Ellis Ross.

Thelonious "Monk" Ellison's writing career has bottomed out: his latest manuscript has been rejected by seventeen publishers, which stings all the more because his previous novels have been "critically acclaimed." He seethes on the sidelines of the literary establishment as he watches the meteoric success of We's Lives in Da Ghetto, a first novel by a woman who once visited "some relatives in Harlem for a couple of days." Meanwhile, Monk struggles with real family tragedies—his aged mother is fast succumbing to Alzheimer's, and he still grapples with the reverberations of his father's suicide seven years before.

In his rage and despair, Monk dashes off a novel meant to be an indictment of Juanita Mae Jenkins's bestseller. He doesn't intend for My Pafology to be published, let alone taken seriously, but it is—under the pseudonym Stagg R. Leigh—and soon it becomes the Next Big Thing. How Monk deals with the personal and professional fallout galvanizes this audacious, hysterical, and quietly devastating novel.

©2001 Percival Everett (P)2023 Tantor
African American Fiction Literary Fiction Satire Comedy Witty Funny
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Erasure

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    367
  • 4 Stars
    84
  • 3 Stars
    28
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    11
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    398
  • 4 Stars
    44
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    329
  • 4 Stars
    82
  • 3 Stars
    29
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    13

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Rollercoaster That Never Descends

Though at times it was challenging to follow, I couldn’t put it down once I found the rhythm of the writer, This book touches on so many important, nuanced topics: racism, classism, elder care, identity, infidelity, homophobia… meticulously highlighting the insidious nature of erasure. I just needed more chapters to flesh it all out. Hopefully the movie gives me the closure I so desperately desire lol…

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A crazy ride

The book was good but not great! My friends loved it so read and take a chance on the crazy!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Where am I being taken?

Somewhat complex. Kept my attention. This book left me wondering what to think of it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliantly Meta!

Ironic, sardonic, and so smart. The bookwork on so many levels. And it speaks to the richness and complexity of life. It does take the banal and make it somehow riveting and enjoyable, despite touching on some of life’s great pains.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

The dichotomy of story. A literary intellectual dumbing down for the money.

I did not like the ending. No question.
I liked the family and the story thereof. The paper he presented at the conference lost me.
I think it is sad that the only way to sell a story is to write to the general perception of the masses, true or not.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Narration was superb

Having seen the movie I wasn’t sure what to expect. But the way it was narrated on top of the variations from the movie kept it fresh for me. The main character was very complex and I think had challenges in his mind that we all do. So in that way it was very relatable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great characters

Can’t say enough about this book. Big themes—art, race, family. And lacing it all together is terrific and funny dialogue. That said, I must admit I did not listen to all of the novel within a novel and my reasons may become apparent when the book is read. Still, I found this one of the best books I have listened to this year.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great art

A great mind writes great art.
Irony, sarcasm, dark humor, gallows humor, metaphysical nihilism, whatever you want to call it, handled by a master.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great performance of a great book

The vocal performance is perfect and the satire is hilarious. I highly recommend this book before you see the movie…

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Authentic Storytelling

Erasure was thoughtful, funny, and sensitive. I enjoyed how the writer shared the balancing act he has navigating his expected and desired life and the lives of his loved ones past and present.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!