Understand This (Magill’s Literary Annual 1991-2005)
At a glance:
- Author: Jervey Tervalon
- First Published: 1994
- Type of Work: Novel
- Time of Work: The 1990’s
- Setting: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz, California
- Principal Characters: Francois, Margot, Mr. Michaels, Ann, Tommy, Ollie, Rika, Sally
- Genres: Long fiction
- Subjects: African Americans, North America or North Americans, United States or Americans, Murder or homicide, California, West, U.S., Substance abuse, Inner cities or inner-city life, Drug addiction or addicts, 1990’s, Guns
- Locales: Los Angeles, CA, Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Cruz, CA
The characters of Understand This, Jervey Tervalon’s first novel, move between the drug-infested neighborhoods of South Central Los Angeles, the similarly infested mansions and discotheques of Santa Barbara, and the utopia of Santa Cruz, where everything seems right. This is a novel of contrasts, between its settings and between its characters. Though Tervalon often employs humor to good effect, his purpose, it becomes clear, is a serious attempt to portray what has been for many people the best road out of the most troubled areas of Los Angeles.
The novel begins with a...
[The entire page is 1804 words long]
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