Three-Fifths is an engaging thriller with sophisticated characters, well blended with general fiction, crime, and present time issues. It explores identity, racism, and class stereotypes. It’ll make one ponder on the effect of racism on families, and the appearance of identities.
Bobby, a twenty-two-year-old biracial man, is hiding his identity since his childhood, for the fear of being differently treated or facing hatred for who he is. Bobby’s hesitation says a lot about society, and its behavior towards people with unique backgrounds, towards race, towards acceptance, and cultural conventions.
The narration switches back and forth from Bobby to Robert. Robert is a black doctor who was Bobby’s father. And there is Isabel, Bobby’s single white mother, wishing a better life for her son meantime holding on to her past.
The initial chapters pulled me right away into the book, and then I started turning the pages rapidly, only to reach a heartbreaking end that I didn’t see was coming. It hooked me into the story from the start. It’s a quick thriller read, very much engaging, and enjoyable.
Have you happened to read this book? Or thinking of it lately?
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-Harshita
Title: Three-Fifths
Author: John Vercher
Publisher: Pushkin Press
Publishing Date: October 2020
My Rating: 3.5 stars
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