Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention, Marable's last book takes an in-depth look at one of American History's most polarizing figures. A magnum opus, the death of Marable nearly eclipsed the publishing date. What Marable did was write an amazingly complex book about an amazingly complex man and made it so easy to read that it almost physically hurt to put it down.
To start, I was introduced to The Autobiography of Malcolm X when I was taking an African American literature class in college. We read the book, but it always left me unsatisfied. It always seemed like Malcolm was creating his own mythos. He spoke about his rise from abject poverty and drug abuse to a powerful political figure in superhero like terms. X designed his autobiography to draw more people to his cause. It left me with more questions about him than answers. Marable's book attempts, and succeeds in a great degree, in answering these questions.
A few points of criticism on the book, the job of a historian is to get out of the way of a story. Especially in the case of a man like Malcolm X, the story tells itself. It felt like, at certain points, Marabel was projecting. There were moments where X felt more like a caricature than an actual person. Second, I understand how important X's marriage was, but it felt like Marable went too far. It delved into gossip not historical fact.
Walking away from this book, I feel like I understand Malcolm X on a deeper level. Autobiography is a book that has changed many lives, and this book would make a wonderful companion to it.
(Image by Justseeds)
My next read is The Phantom Tollbooth. My brain needs a gear switch.
To start, I was introduced to The Autobiography of Malcolm X when I was taking an African American literature class in college. We read the book, but it always left me unsatisfied. It always seemed like Malcolm was creating his own mythos. He spoke about his rise from abject poverty and drug abuse to a powerful political figure in superhero like terms. X designed his autobiography to draw more people to his cause. It left me with more questions about him than answers. Marable's book attempts, and succeeds in a great degree, in answering these questions.
A few points of criticism on the book, the job of a historian is to get out of the way of a story. Especially in the case of a man like Malcolm X, the story tells itself. It felt like, at certain points, Marabel was projecting. There were moments where X felt more like a caricature than an actual person. Second, I understand how important X's marriage was, but it felt like Marable went too far. It delved into gossip not historical fact.
Walking away from this book, I feel like I understand Malcolm X on a deeper level. Autobiography is a book that has changed many lives, and this book would make a wonderful companion to it.
My next read is The Phantom Tollbooth. My brain needs a gear switch.
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