Sitting With Big Thoughts
Have you ever finished a massive book and felt completely lost on how to put your thoughts into words? You let it sit for weeks, but it lingers in the back of your mind because you know just how much work and detail the author poured into every page.
That was my exact experience with The Occidental Book of the Dead by T. Geronimo Johnson. It’s by no means a bad book—in fact, it’s quite impressive—it’s just a lot to take in and process. The novel unfolds as a long, deeply engaging conversation about race and policing in America, spanning several years as the characters’ lives evolve in complex, realistic ways. What impressed me most was Johnson’s ability to capture genuine growth: every character feels strikingly authentic, their shifting perspectives reflecting the real weight of lived experience.
The social discourse woven throughout is fascinating, offering thoughtful reflections without ever coming across as preachy. Given today’s political and social climate, this felt especially timely—making it such an important book to be written and read right now. Thanks to a heavily dialogue-driven narrative, the story feels remarkably intimate and immediate, almost like you’re sitting in the room listening to these conversations take place. I loved the unique presentation and format—it would actually make a phenomenal docuseries!
My advice: If this is on your radar, go in completely blind and let yourself experience it without outside opinions coloring your view.
Seeing “speculative nonfiction” on the copyright page definitely sparked my curiosity about the author and the rest of his work.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
