Blacktop_Wasteland

<i>Blacktop Wasteland</i>

Blacktop Wasteland

2020 noir mystery novel by S. A. Cosby

Blacktop Wasteland is a noir mystery novel written by S. A. Cosby and published in July 2020 by Flatiron Books.[1][2][3][4][5]

Quick Facts Author, Country ...

Plot

Beauregard "Bug" Montage is a hardworking Black mechanic with a remarkable talent for driving. He has a checkered past, but has chosen instead the path of the straight and narrow. He lives in rural Virginia, but is now struggling to keep his family afloat, and his auto shop is failing, His sons need braces and glasses, and his mother faces eviction. Desperate, Beauregard plans a final heist to solve his problems. Ironically, returning to crime feels strangely comfortable. However, the heist goes wrong, plunging Beauregard into a dangerous situation, and Beauregard gets caught up in the chaos that follows.[1]

Analysis

A means to an end

Gabino Iglesias, reviewing this book for NPR, says that S.A. Cosby, the author, shows himself to be empathetic to the allure of crime. Through the depiction of Bug, the audience sees that Cosby gets how financial hardship can push even good people to make bad choices.[2] Through Bug, we see that Cosby recognizes the sacrifices that people sometimes make, believing their actions are ultimately for noble reasons.[2] Furthermore, Cosby ably expresses this sentiment through Bug, a complex character burdened by the legacy of his now absent criminal father − who was also a driver. Bug has to contend with the conflicting emotions of guilt and intense excitement that come with a criminal escape. Despite past imprisonment, the pressure to take care of his family - from preserving his business to his children's well-being and his daughter's college dreams - offsets the terrifying concern of returning to jail. The desire to offer his children a better future surpasses the personal risk.[2]

Racial prejudice

Iglesias says that this book serves as a strongly effective criticism of racial prejudice, starting in Appalachia and resonating throughout the country. While violence is present, the most lasting impact comes from the sadness and yearning for a better life that permeates the story.[2] Additionally, Iglesias says that Blacktop Wasteland directly confronts racism. Author S.A. Cosby, a Black man from the American South, brings his own experiences to life in the story. He portrays the various realities of being Black in areas where symbols of racial hatred are still present, such as the Confederate flag.[2]

Awards

In 2021, this book won the Anthony Award.[6][7] It also won the 2020 Los Angeles Times Book Prize.[8][9] And it was chosen as a New York Times Notable Book.[10]

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See also

References

  1. [1]
    Nieh, Daniel (July 17, 2020). "A Roaring, Full-Throttle Thriller, Crackling With Tension and Charm" – via NYTimes.com.
  2. [2]
    "Take A Dangerous Ride Through 'Blacktop Wasteland'". NPR.org.
  3. [3]
    "Review: The Thrill of Speed On a Blacktop Wasteland". AllAfrica.com, Washington D.C. July 7, 2021. 2549277569. Retrieved April 7, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  4. [4]
    "The best recent crime and thrillers – review roundup". the Guardian. August 22, 2020.
  5. [5]
    Cogdill, Oline H. "Mystery review: 'Blacktop Wasteland' one of the best of the year". sun-sentinel.com.
  6. [6]
    "2021 Anthony Award Winners". Novel Suspects. August 31, 2021.
  7. [7]
    "2021 Anthony Awards Winners". Locus magazine. August 31, 2021.
  8. [8]
    "Winners of the 2020 L.A. Times Book Prizes announced". Los Angeles Times. April 17, 2021.
  9. [9]
    Garner, Dwight (September 5, 2021). "S.A. Cosby, a Writer of Violent Noirs, Claims the Rural South as His Own". New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  10. [10]
    "100 Notable Books of 2020". November 20, 2020 – via NYTimes.com.
  11. [11]
    "The Barry Award Winners 2022". Deadly Pleasures – Mystery Magazine. September 12, 2022. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  12. [12]
    "Barry Awards 2022". Poisoned Pen Press. September 10, 2022. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.

Further reading
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