Cover Image: Black Buck

Black Buck

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Unexpected and sometimes emotionally difficult to read. The abusirdity in the novel rings true and ampilifies the craziness of black experiances.

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Darren "Buck" Vender, the valedictorian of Bronx Science, was content with his life working at a Starbuck's, had a beautiful girlfriend, and lived with his mother. Rhett Daniels, a start-up CEO of Sumwun, recognized Darren's potential and invited him to join his company as the only black salesperson.

This life-changing encounter changed Buck's trajectory forever as he developed a ruthless ambition for money and power. The once kind and present person in his family and community, now turned into someone no one recognized or wanted to be around. Being the only black salesperson in the cutthroat, cult-like atmosphere gave Buck an idea to change it. He starts training other black men and women on how to sell themselves to get better jobs. This idea spins out of control until his life starts to implode.

Black Buck was completely different than I was expecting and the audiobook was fantastic. I was hooked right away. The novel is relevant, fast-paced, and made me laugh and reflect often during the transformation and rollercoaster journey of the characters. Matteo Askaripour's satirical novel infused sales philosophies and lessons while exposing the injustices and lack of diversity in the workforce.

Thank you for NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for giving me the opportunity to read the book for an honest review.

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The unique thing about this book was that the narrator broke the 4th wall with the reader. It was part story-telling, part sales manual. Buck, our main character, is given a golden opportunity. He is a changed man, and it puts a strain on many relationships in his life. He takes that opportunity to help the BIPOC community learn skills so they are successful in sales at various startups. He faces adversity for it from white people, who claim “reverse racism” (FYI - reverse racism is not real!).
I’m not sure what to rate this one as I’m still wrapping my head around it. I definitely tore through it, and I was immediately hooked. I would recommend this book to others.

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Darren was the valedictorian of his class at one of the best public schools in the nation but is now working as a supervisor at a Manhattan Starbucks. He is content with his life: living with his mom in Bed-Stuy, spending time with his girlfriend Soraya, and working his no stress job. He is very unambitious. Then a impresses a startup CEO with his coffee sales skills and is offered a job in sales at Sumwun. Darren is the only Black employee at the company and gets some flack from his boss and some definite profiling. Darren goes through an intense week of training and during training is dubbed "Buck". Darren tries to live up to his new role as Buck, the hotshot sales person. The company has a scandal and Buck thinks its all over, but can things turn around? He comes up with a plan to help educate other down on their luck BIPOC to become hotshots in sales.

This was a fun read! It was satirical and witty with observations aplenty about today's society AND today's corporate society. This was a very clever and well written book. I related to so much that was going on and laughed at times. The sly observations about today's world were on point. This was Askaripour's debut novel but I am really hoping to read more by this author in the future.

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I’ve given myself a chance to reflect on this book some because I still am not sure how I feel about it. My ratings were all over the place at different points of the book. It’s is definitely different than anything else I’ve read in awhile-and that’s good and it’s not good. There’s a lot of satire, which I’m in favor of, but there were also a lot of points where the story just didn’t work for me, and the main character, Buck-nicknamed because they found him working at Starbucks and said that he was going to make them millions of bucks-his development was so fast paced that it didn’t resonate. I get that in the tech start up world things move faster, but Buck went from being a loving family guy to someone who would sell his brother to make a dollar in the blink of an eye. The story points out the vast racial divide and white privilege to the max, which is important, and even as a white woman, I got it. It was somewhat disjointed at times, but it was broken into sections of his life, so that made it a littler easier to put together.
That being said, as long as it was, it was a fairly quick read and it’s worth going along for the roller coaster ride.

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2.5 STARS (increased to 3) - I requested this book after hearing Mateo Askaripour speak at a session at the Ontario Library Super Conference a couple of weeks ago. His plot sounded interesting and he was quite engaging as he spoke about his debut novel.

This is a story about a Black barista who is suddenly recruited by a big wig and thrown into the hectic pace of a corporate sales within a company that is the antithesis of diversity. I enjoyed the first quarter of the book - Darren's drive to do better, his family support and the diversity of the characters. I also liked that Askaripour was tackling concepts of racism, tokenism, sales culture, microaggressions ... but these issues were glossed over, and I think this book was trying to be too many things, giving the story a disjointed feel.

In the remaining three-quarters of the book, the story lags considerably and becomes melodramatic with odd self-help/business blurbs added in, stiff dialogue and cringeworthy phrases with 'drier than a nun's vagina' being the low point. I ended up putting this book down several times and was disappointed with the character development and its far-fetched ending. I'm new to satire and perhaps it's simply a 'it's me, not you' thing so please read my comments with that in mind.

This is an ambitious debut that had its ups and downs for me, and I went into it wanting and expecting to like it a lot more. I appreciate what the author was going for and I realize that it is purposefully over-the-top, but this disjointed combo of satire and self-help/business how-to didn't work for me.

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

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4.5/5
Raw, original, honest & with a rhythm that makes it extremely binge-able. Being described as a cross-over between Sorry to Bother You and The Wolf of Wall Street was painfully accurate, even though I'd say that it carries some elements from The Circle as well with the glorification of the start-up/tech cult mentality and the idolisation of CEO figures.

Very poignant and satyrical when it comes to addressing racism, bigotry, representation, perpetuation of stereotypes (black man as a thug) and diversity politics in modern professional environment, which is why it's a highly recommended read. Another theme that stood out for me was mental health among black communities as we see the protagonist struggling with anxiety and suppressing his feelings but struggles to open up to people and address them.

The ending was surprising to say the least and thus definitely memorable, even though the freedom in captivity point (vs the demands of the modern world on humans) requires a separate conversation.

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Buck is suddenly offered a job in sales at Sumwun a tech startup. Buck endures a psychologically brutal training period and working environment. He also faces many personal losses. He emerges from these trials with an insight and understanding of himself.
I found myself wishing I could advise, warn or shake some sense into Buck.

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This book was a fast-paced story that kept my attention through the end. It's an entertaining satirical story depicting everything wrong with our society.

This book is being hailed as a cross between the Wolf of Wall Street and Sorry To Bother You, so you already get the sense that there will be huge shifts that happen throughout and Darren will experience extreme personal change. When we meet Darren, he lives with his mom, has plenty of time to hang out with his girlfriend, works at Starbucks, and is mostly satisfied with his life even though he's not tapping into his true potential. However, all that changes rapidly one fateful day, and the story unfolds from there.

But the story left me with a lot of questions. Questions like who's Cassandra? Did Darren go to a university and if so what happened there? Why could he never tell his mom about that? What happened to Darren after being the Bronx Science valedictorian? It was like the author dropped crumbs into the story and then forgot about them.

In spite of the holes, I did mostly enjoy the story right up to the end. Why did I go through this journey with the character just to end up where we did - and this is the reason why I gave it 3 stars. I felt let down and was not a happy camper!

But please don't go by me. You may very well be satisfied with the ending. I would still very much recommend it since it does have some drops of wisdom written throughout that one should always keep in mind. The audio's narrator is also remarkable and captures Darren's voice perfectly!

Thank you to Netgalley, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Mateo Askaripour.

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This book started out really strong for me but fell flat. I didn’t like any of the characters, especially Buck/Darren. The cover was beautiful! This book just was not for me.

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I really liked this book up until part 4. I was really enthralled in this audiobook which was amazing since I have been having a hard time reading for a while. Once it got to part 4 the book moved a lil slower for me and I wont lie, I did not like part 5. It was just a bit too much. There were a few things I did not like about this book and it reminded me why I really don't read books written by men. Overall this book was just ok.

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Hilarious, satirical and razor-sharp, Mateo Askaripour’s debut novel is a can’t-miss riot of over-the-top breakdown of the world of corporate America.

Written in the tone of a self-help book and memoir, BLACK BUCK introduces readers to a Black man on a mission. When we meet Darren, he has grown complacent with his role in the world, taking pride in his work at Starbucks and his flourishing relationship with his long-term girlfriend, Soraya, but not rising to the full potential that she and his mother see in him. Once the valedictorian of a prestigious school, Darren is now “waiting for the right opportunity,” which even he can tell you is code for “too afraid to try and fail.” But when he takes a chance hand-selling a new drink to Rhett Daniels, a Starbucks regular, his whole life opens up.

Rhett is the CEO of Sumwun, the hottest new tech startup in New York City. Attractive, hard-partying and charismatic, he prides himself on selling the one thing everyone wants: a vision for the future, an opportunity to live their lives to the fullest. In other words, he sells dreams, and with a little reverse psychology and a killer closer, he gets Darren hook, line and sinker.

Before he knows it, Darren is being trained as a sales representative for Sumwun, which he learns is an app that pairs people who are struggling with “assistants,” untrained and homeopathic aides who help them turn their lives around. As the only Black person in the company, Darren faces the gauntlet of training exercises, hazing and downright racism. He endures brutal mock sales calls, wickedly cruel teasing and, finally, is given the nickname "Buck," as a nod to his lowly beginnings in a coffee shop and a vivid reminder that no matter how high he rises on the corporate ladder, there always will be colleagues who see him as “that Black guy who used to work at Starbucks.” As the only person of color in an office reeking of "old money and blood-splattered gallows," Buck attempts to play the game and finds that he is actually a natural salesman --- for better or for worse.

As Darren molds himself into the perfect salesman, he offers cheeky asides and sales tips, breaking the fourth wall and reminding readers that his dramatic change from a feckless young man you can really root for to a selfish, Jordan Belfort-esque wolf is all an act. Or is it? Using his own brand of know-how and sharp wit, Darren begins to make his mark on Sumwun and the tech world, blind as he is to the ways that corporate America is changing him.

With Rhett’s hold on him deepening, and his beloved mother and girlfriend begging him to remember his roots, Darren --- or Buck, if you will --- turns into a relentless antihero, a man who could sell ice to a polar bear. Although Buck initially seems aware that he is playing the game, it becomes harder and harder to reconcile the “Buck” act with the Darren who loves his mother and cherishes his girlfriend. With his new cynical nature, however, even the terrific support system behind him becomes another career hustle: the mother selling the dream of his potential, the girlfriend selling him love and sex.

In true antihero fashion, Buck soon finds himself begging --- albeit unknowingly --- to be smacked down to reality. But with the draws of greed and wealth fighting double time against the pains of loss and failure, it soon becomes clear that Buck’s freedom and Darren’s liberation will come at a tremendous cost.

BLACK BUCK is a powerhouse of a book, and my feelings about it changed rapidly as I read: I loved Darren, I hated Darren, I wanted him to sell me something, I wanted to turn him down. Mateo Askaripour draws sharply on the highest highs and lowest lows of corporate America, a fascinating microcosm of a world, and uses every insight and encounter to make a comment on the state of America itself. His gaze is unflinching, his prose is “blink and you’ll miss it” sharp, and his observations will be familiar to some but, I’ll wager, horrifying to others, particularly when it comes to his handling of race relations. Beyond skewering corporate America, Askaripour does a superb job of highlighting how painful and terrifying it is be an “other,” especially in a high-pressure environment. Through the gorgeous crafting of Darren’s mother and girlfriend, he highlights how easy it is to be led astray by money and the promise of the future.

The twists and turns of Buck’s career journey are downright dizzying, always thrilling and often so over-the-top that they feel almost supernatural, but this is where Askaripour truly excels. Satire is a difficult genre to master, as the message behind the humor must be clear and clever, but not so much as to distract from the show of it all. He manages to do all of this at once without ever taking a breath.

Whether you are hurting for Darren’s family, rolling your eyes at Rhett or praying for Buck’s freedom, BLACK BUCK will hit you where it hurts, and that’s the best sale of all.

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Reading the synopsis of this book it didn't really catch my eye, but there was so much talk about it that I felt I needed to read it. I am SO happy that I did because it is one of my favorite reads so far this year.

It's hard to know where to start with this one. I felt all of the feelings while reading this book. I was annoyed, I was enraged, I was heartbroken... I laughed, I swore, I cried. Darren, or Buck as we come to know him, is such a complicated character. I was rooting for him and then I quickly went to disliking him, and I was hoping he'd have a redemption story arc. (I'll let you read for yourself to see if he does).

This book is satire, so it's supposed to seem somewhat out there and over the top. At the same time, unfortunately, I don't think some (even most) of the racial inequalities and the blatant racism portrayed in corporate America is that far off. This is such an important book at such a crucial time in this country with everything going on.

I'm purposely not putting many specifics into this review as I really hope you'll be like me, and pick it up even if the blurb doesn't quickly catch your eye. Go in somewhat blindly and I promise you, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the opportunity to read this book.

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Really enjoyed this book! You become very invested in Buck, and the person he is turning into throughout the story. Working in tech and corporate America, a lot of the toxic work place culture is triggering. A reader can absolutely see how Buck becomes sucked into this lifestyle.

The sales tips were a fun a little addition throughout the book.

The ending was the only thing that wasn’t great for me. I understand the writer needed to wrap up some of the gaps, but the ending seemed less than believable to me.

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I loved this book! As a white person, it was sometimes hard to read - seeing the enormous amount of crap Darren had to put up with simply because he was Black, really pissed me off. Because i knew it was true, even if the book was fiction. Askaripour's voice is wonderful. The character and the circumstances felt authentic. I spent a lot of the book really rooting for Darren and part of it tsk-tsking him for the way he treated those closest to him and heartbroken at where he finds himself in the end. BLACK BUCK was entertaining, poignant and ultimately, an incredibly satisfying read.

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Are there awards for audio book actors because Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour has the best narrator in Zeno Robinson. If you can, and if you like audio books I highly recommend listening to this one. I did a hybrid read/listen but I found myself more often listening rather than actually flipping the pages. Black Buck is a darkly humorous and entertaining story the follows the swift rise of a young black man in corporate America. At times, this book is heavy-handed with the satire, but I think it works in this over the top and well paced this story. Although, I am still processing the ending - I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I was not expecting the book to end where it did, and I'll admit I was bit disappointed by the story's conclusion. On the whole, Mr. Askaripour can tell an engaging story and I look forward to his future work.

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"Black Buck," a biting work of satire by Mateo Askaripour, takes aim at the major injustices of modern life (gentrification, the gig economy, poor healthcare) and the everyday injustices faced by people of color, especially Black people, in the workplace. From awful nicknames (Darren Vender becomes "Buck") to weird slights (you remind me of [insert name of random Black celebrity]), our protagonist endures them all. I'd love to reread this back to back with "We Cast a Shadow" by Maurice Carlos Ruffin and "Friday Black" by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. All three are strong works of satire that address racism in the workplace and beyond it. Unlike Ruffin and Adjei-Brenyah, though, Askaripour doesn't set his story in the future or even the near-future. The demented world of Sumwun, the startup where Darren lands a job, is our present day. (Don't believe things are quite that bad? Listen to the recent episodes of Reply All focused on Bon Appétit. Even the most well-intentioned white folks should come away thinking about their unearned advantages at work.)

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Unlike so many others I did not feel the need to attach a list of labels to this novel.

It is a story that was recommended and so I read it and I loved it.

.I enjoyed the method of writing as much as the character. I had no expectations of learning what its like to be a black man in a white world. or being able to solve the race equalities in our society. I wanted a story that kept me engaged and gave me food for thought. This excellent and entertaining brilliant story gave me all that.

Mateo Askaripour has a clear voice and a talent for getting his voice across. I have no doubt we will hear much more from this man, I for one will be reading whatever he choses to put out.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me the electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Reading Between the Wines book review #17/115 for 2021:
Rating: 5 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book 🎧: Black Buck
Author: Mateo Askaripour
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Multicultural Interest
Release Date: Available NOW!!! Released on February 5, 2021

Sipping Synopsis: Follow Darren a charismatic twenty-two-year old on a journey of finding himself trying to make it as a down and out black boy in a world full of white men and women who count him out as soon as they see him. Darren soon becomes Buck who decides to give in to the shuck and jive that the corporate world is asking for just to fit in and pull himself up by his bootstraps. Join the journey of Darren to Buck which is a sad, real, sometimes funny trip of a black man losing himself and his dignity in order to achieve money, status, and acceptance.

Final sipping thoughts: Buck is someone we all know in real life whether you met him as Darren or the transformed, sometimey Uncle Tom-Buck.
Black Buck had so many things I love and things that make me want to scream. It had parts to provoke conversations about being “woke”, humor, twists but it also had racism and prick acting characters that if you met in the real world you don’t know how you would react. All these things combined made this book so thrilling, eye-opening, relatable, emotional, and one that will stick with you after you have read it.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley, @HoughtonMifflinHarcourt, and @AskMateo for an advanced copy of @BlackBuck

#BlackBuck #MateoAskaripour #HoughtonMifflinHarcourt #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #GeneralAdultFiction #MulticulturalInterest

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The author has said that this book wasn't written for white people. As such, I don't know what to say about this book that wouldn't seem out of place or out of my range of speaking. He has also said that it is satire and self help. I will say that I found it uneven story telling that the label of satire doesn't really compensate for, but appreciated the character development by the end. I think the book has a lot to say about the state of the world, and how the deck is stacked against many people--and how hard that it is to "buck" the system.

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