Hell of a Book (2021) by Jason Mott

American author Jason Mott

Book Review

Hell of a Book (2021)

by Jason Mott

   This National Book Award finalist nomination  win for Hell of a Book was a huge break through for American author Jason Mott, who has previously authored more or less conventional works that traverse genre fiction, the bestseller list, and literary fiction.   Mott almost uncannily combines a book tour milieu reminiscent of recent Pulitzer winner Less by Andrew Greer with the sharp edged satire of Booker winner Paul Beatty to produce Hell of a Book, the 2021 National Book Award winner for fiction.   Mott's protagonist is a best-selling author on a book tour of America's great and not-so-great cities.  Originally, from North Carolina, he is haunted by the ghost (or is he?) of a murdered African American child from his home town.   The great achievement is Mott's troubled protagonist who manages to be deeply feckless in the midst of a very meaningful plot, like something you would expect from Martin Amis.  Mott's narrator protagonist has deep bouts of almost disassociative imagination, something he describes almost as an occupational hazard of a writer.   It gives the most prosaic moments unexpected panache, and helps the plot leap free of the mundane realities of a 21st century book tour by a succesful author of "serious" literary fiction. 

    And it is again worth pointing out that Mott has several works in different genres and areas of literary fiction that have sold well, so kudos for him for making the leap to major prize winner mid career.