“Narrator Steven Taylor’s portrayal of the cocky, intelligent Marcus Hayes is arrestingly natural…Taylor matches the rhythm of Smyer’s conversational prose and hits all the humorous, shocking, and ultimately touching notes with ease.” AudioFile
Description
In Knucklehead we meet Marcus Hayes, a black law student who struggles, sometimes unsuccessfully, with the impulse to confront everyday bad behavior with swift and antisocial action. The cause of this impulse is unknown to him.
When Marcus unexpectedly becomes involved with the brilliant and kind Amalia Stewart, her love and acceptance pacify his demons. But when his demons return, he is no longer inclined to contain them.
Praise
“Narrator Steven Taylor’s portrayal of the cocky, intelligent Marcus Hayes is arrestingly natural…Taylor matches the rhythm of Smyer’s conversational prose and hits all the humorous, shocking, and ultimately touching notes with ease.” AudioFile
“By setting his novel in the ’90s, Smyer, who lives in Oakland, has crafted some brutal deja vu. As [protagonist] Marcus reflects on Rodney King, the Million Man March, and the Oklahoma City bombing, we think of Freddie Gray, Black Lives Matter, and school shootings that have become a way of life. And when Marcus laments San Francisco’s dwindling black population, here we are more than twenty years on, and it’s only gotten worse. We should all be furious.” San Francisco Chronicle
“A whole lot of guns, violence, and rage, as well as plenty of love and sadness.” Literary Hub
“This book is bold in how it treats the reader as an insider to the reality of American blackness. It can be, in turns, lyrically poignant, cynical, hilarious, and infuriating.” Foreword Reviews (starred review)
“Marcus is an intelligent, acerbic, and often hilarious narrator, bringing a fresh, biting perspective to the social and racial tensions of the time.” Library Journal
Details
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Release Day | Feb 28, 2018 |
| Release Date | March 1, 2018 |
| Release Date Machine | 1519862400 |
| Imprint | Urban Audiobooks |
| Provider | Urban Audiobooks |
| Categories | Literature & Fiction, Humor & Satire, Genre Fiction, Literary Fiction, African American, Fiction - All, Fiction - Adult |
Author Bio
Adam Smyer is an attorney, martial artist, and mediocre bass player.
Narrator Bio
L. Steven Taylor is a New York actor who has played on Broadway as both Mufasa and Scar in Disney’s The Lion King. In addition to being very active in the commercial and voice-over world, working for such names as McDonalds, Bounty, Burger King, and Nickelodeon, he is also an avid spoken-word artist—penning his own spoken-word series: Perspective. He can also be seen on television in Madam Secretary, Elementary, Person of Interest, and The Electric Company.
Overview
In Knucklehead we meet Marcus Hayes, a black law student who struggles, sometimes unsuccessfully, with the impulse to confront everyday bad behavior with swift and antisocial action. The cause of this impulse is unknown to him.
When Marcus unexpectedly becomes involved with the brilliant and kind Amalia Stewart, her love and acceptance pacify his demons. But when his demons return, he is no longer inclined to contain them.
Reviews
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