Drop: A Novel

Chris Jones has a gift for creating desire-a result of his own passionate desire to be anywhere but where he is, to be anyone but himself. Sick of the constraints of his black working-class town, he uses his knack for creating effective ad campaigns to land a dream job in London. But life soon takes a turn for the worse, and Chris finds himself back in Philly where his only job prospect is answering the phones at the electric company. Surounded by the down-and-out, Chris hits rock bottom. Only a stroke of inspiration and faith can get him back on his feet. The funny and heartfelt tale of a young black man who, in the process of trying to break free from the city he dispises, comes to terms with himself. 'Nuanced, elegant and witty' -Publishers Weekly 'A very humorous debut novel... Johnson's poetic reflections recall the work of James Baldwin....Wonderfully written.' -Library Journal A passionate and original new voice of the African-American literary tradition. Mat Johnson... "Chris Jones has a gift for creating desire - a result of his own passionate desire to be anywhere but where he is, to be anyone but himself. Determined to break free from the constraints of his black working-class town, he uses his knack for creating effective ad campaigns to land a gig in London. Now, after having spent his twenties taking care of his dying mother, he has finally cut loose from his Philly roots.". "But life takes a turn for the worse, and unexpectedly Chris finds himself back where he started, forced to return to Philadelphia. Surrounded by his brethren, the down and out, the indigent, the hopeless, Chris hits bottom. Only a stroke of inspiration and faith will get him back on his feet."--BOOK JACKET. Me: poor and broke, alone, thirty-one-years-old and only just finishing as an undergrad at a third-rate Pennsylvania state college, no work experience except comforting my mom before she passed.