 September/October 2002
The Emperor Of Ocean Park
by Stephen L. Carter
Despite being labeled in some online book club circles as being a BAB (big awesome? book), The Emperor Of Ocean Park carries with its heft (672 pages) a mix of character and action worthy of song and salutation, especially among the likes of Hollywood and the publishing world. So much so, that Knopf outbid eleven other publishers with a four million two book deal, and moviemakers are salivating over film rights! Adding to the hoopla is Knopf's decision to launch a 500,00 first printing. This type of deal is reserved usually for authors well established with proven track records in garnering sales.
Stephen L. Carter, no stranger to serious literature is also the author of such academic works as Reflections Of An Affirmative Action Baby, The Culture of Disbelief, and The Confirmation Mess, et al, steps outside of well stated non fiction comfort in making an astonishing mature transition to mainstream fiction. Like most thrillers, the storyline, plots, and subplots bear witness to multi-layers of intrigue and mayhem. This book and its theme bodes well for this genre: the hold the past exerts over the present, and for the most part the hold a father has over his son. With that in mind, two mysteries lie within the searing heart of Mr. Carter's work here. One puzzle bears the markings of the conventional murder/mystery. Was a former federal judge murdered, or did he die naturally? The other enigma is deeper and far more provoking – what is the role of the black upper-middle class in a country that is overwhelmingly ruled by members of "the paler nation." as the protagonist of the book calls them?
When I read the first six chapters I had mixed emotions whether this book would live up to the liner notes, but as I progressed I changed my mind to that of new found respect that The Emperor of Ocean Park could even broach such a topical theme that permeates the Black social strata. And it is one of the many elements that set this novel apart from most of the cookie-cutter, brotherman/sistergirl books being churned out in regularity in African-American literature. In doing so, Carter has shed an unblinking eye on an area of race and culture conspicuously absent in popular fiction. We're dealing with subjects within that harkens to compelling sociological, psychological and political machinations that turns out to be a real page turner. It helps tremendously when nearly every chapter ends with you yearning to know what will happen next.
In a nutshell, The Emperor, Judge Oliver Garland a conservative federal judge is denied a Supreme Court seat when it was revealed during his confirmation hearings that he associated with an organized crime figure has suddenly died. This book is involved concerning multi-faceted plots, with a variety of subjects that are intertwined for effect: the intricacies of family relationships; the backstabbing and bullying that dominate academic power politics, liberal and conservative attitudes toward race; the silent acquiescence of both parents when a marriage goes awry; the healing strength of honest prayer in everyday matters; and the impotent rage of a man who on the surface has everything but still doesn't quite feel as if he belongs.
The book does, however have a few flaws, but in my opinion doesn't detract from the authors work at all. For one, too much emphasis was placed on the genealogy of the Garland family which far outweighed interest in the enforced cat and mouse suspense games. Repeated references to "seeing red" grow tiresome, too many chess-related terms, and the soppy ending left more to be desired. In summing up this effort, this may prove to be a complicated and hard read for some, but it very well may be the best summer read of the year. If for no other reason than to disprove the notion to my book buddies that any perceived BAB just might be what is needed to endure the dog days of summer, I'll gladly recommend it! Read this one and dare to be different.
|
