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Seduction by Light: A Novel by Al Young |
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Monday, 06 February 2006 04:59 |
Seduction by Light
A Novel by Al Young
Delta Flction/Seymour Lawrence
By John Sinclair
Former Detroiter Al Young is a native of Mississippi's brief Gulf Coast who came of age on the Motor City's west side before busting out to world fame via the University of Michigan, the University of California, and his brilliant first novel, Snakes.
Five books of poems, three exquisite collections of "musical memoirs," and four more novels have followed, capped by this recent release from Delta Flction by way of Seymour Lawrence. Al has also worked on Hollywood screenplsys, edited literary magazines, written for Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor, and generally made an honest living writing, teaching, and reading his works for audiences all over the world.
Seduction by Light is a masterful work of fiction by a mature novelist at the height of his considerable powers. Set in modern-day Hollywood, the story is delivered by former jazz singer cum movie bit player Mamie Franklin, a remarkable woman with clairvoyant powers who is as closely in touch with the spirits of her beloved Ben Franklin and her dear departed husband, Burley Cole, as she is with living characters like ex-husband Chance Franklin (a Cab Calloway figure), her son Benjie, his new girlfriend Tree, and Benjie's long-unidentified father, movie producer Harry Silvertone.
Seduction by Light is a rollicking, often side-splitting tale filled with Mamie's folk wisdom, Burley Cole's adventures in the spirit world, and Benjie's shady activities with his pal Nomo Dudu as they finance a prospective career in the film industry by hustling bootlegged videotapes. Mamie is particularly well drawn and should, in the words of Ishmael Reed, "become one of the most memorable characters in American fiction."
The book is loaded with hilarious moments and unforgettable episodes. The characterizations are finely executed, and the involuted plot line moves things along very nicely. One of my favorite literary moments of the year begins when Chance Franklin mentions that he's just shot a commercial for the United Negro College Fund.
"A mind is a terrible thing to lose," Nomo broke in.
"Isn't that the truth? I lost mine years ago."
Benjie said, "I believe the line is 'A mind is a terrible thing to waste.'"
"Either way," said Nomo, "my mind is gone, thank God."
"Thank God?" [Mamie] said. "Is that anything to be thankful for?"
Nomo winked at [her] and said, "In this society it is. I feel sorry for anybody got some sense and tryna function over here in North America."
Seduction by Light is as fresh and funny as an early Richard Pryor routine or Robert Townsend's Hollywood Shuffle, and so tellingly written that, were it to be filmed, the movie could be shot directly from Al Young's novel. And like all great African-American humor, it's not just funny--it's true, too!
Get your copy today, and while you're at it, pick up some of Al's Musical Memoirs at the same time: Bodies & Soul, Kinds of Blue, and Things Ain't What They Used to Be. These unique works, written on or around Al's memories associated with a particular song or musical artist, exemplify the extreme musicality of Al Young's life and writings. They're the greatest!
--Detroit
November 1989
(c) 1989, 1997, 2006 John Sinclair. All Rights Reserved.
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