Sent for You Yesterday
Sent for You Yesterday
Book Brief
216
Novel • Fiction
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • 1970s
1983
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Sent for You Yesterday by John Edgar Wideman follows Albert "Doot" Wilkes as he returns to the Homewood neighborhood in Pittsburgh after seven years on the run for killing a white police officer. Through conversations, Doot learns about events and memories involving friends and family in Homewood, unveiling interconnected stories from the 1920s to the 1970s, highlighting the complexities of freedom, family, and community. The novel includes themes of systemic racial violence and death.
Contemplative
Melancholic
Nostalgic
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
346 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
John Edgar Wideman's Sent for You Yesterday captures the essence of Pittsburgh's Homewood community through rich, poetic language and vibrant characters. Critics praise its lyrical prose and deep emotional resonance. However, some find its nonlinear narrative challenging. Overall, it stands out for its evocative storytelling and cultural insights, despite occasional complexity.
Who Should Read Sent for You Yesterday?
Readers who enjoy Sent for You Yesterday by John Edgar Wideman typically appreciate richly woven narratives exploring African American history and identity. They are drawn to the depth of character and place found in works like Toni Morrison's Beloved and James Baldwin's Go Tell It on the Mountain.
346 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Sent for You Yesterday is part of John Edgar Wideman's acclaimed Homewood Trilogy, which follows the lives of African-American families in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Homewood across different generations.
John Edgar Wideman drew inspiration from his personal experiences and family history in Pittsburgh to create the vivid setting and rich cultural backdrop of Homewood in the trilogy.
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Wideman is known for his masterful use of language and innovative narrative style, which combines elements of jazz music and oral storytelling traditions in Sent for You Yesterday.
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216
Novel • Fiction
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • 1970s
1983
Adult
18+ years
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