Understand This

by Jervey Tervalon

An unsentimental novel depicts true-to-life characters in a south central Los Angeles community who struggle for integrity and self-respect in an environment of gangs, guns, drugs, and death

Genres: Contemporary

271 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Donna’s Book Addiction · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was struggling to finish this book. Only because I read "Dead Above Ground" and it's sequel "Lita" first, I wanted to go back and read his debut novel. Tervlon has definately grown as a writer. It might have been strengthened by sticking with fewer narrators. A strong start for Tervalon, who has since moved into period fiction about New Orleans. The story is tragic and hopeful and insightful and sad all at once. The book, like life, has its melodramatic moments, but also moments of humor and lots of sympathetic insight into a host of interesting people trying, with varying degrees of success, to make the best of their lives. The most interesting character in the book was Crackhead Rika, and is shown to have quickly shed her privileged background to become be a hardened femme fatale figure. Unfortunately, her backstory feels rather incomplete, and as she's a pivotal figure in the narrative, it's a pity Tervalon didn't devote a little more time to her story.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a powerful book. The point of view rotates between characters, making each compelling and sympathetic. It's been five days since I finished this book and I still find myself thinking about them. Such a good book.

[Fleur Philips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Occasionally funny, but mostly sad, Understand This is a compelling read. Just be prepared to struggle at times with reading and deciphering a very difficult dialect that left me, at times, gritting my teeth with frustration.

[Greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jervey Tervalon tells a story that is contemporary, urban, full of 'coming of age' conflict among young African Americans in Southern California. Well written, interesting to read, if you are someone like me who loves a fresh perspective.

[Denitra Letrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romeo and Juliet meet South Central. I thought it was a beautiful (but doomed) love story.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tervalon grew up in South Central LA and taught high school in Watts, so it should come as no surprise that his 1994 debut novel set in the same milieu is a gripping polyphonic work that rings with authenticity. Eight different narrators alternate over fifteen chapters to bring to life the problems of growing up in the 'hood in story bookended by shootings. The book starts with teenage football player Francois tossing a football in the street with his old friend turned dealer Doug, who is promptly gunned down by his girlfriend Rika. The first three chapters follow Francois and his tough-as-nails, straight-talking girlfriend Margot, as he struggles to deal with the murder and avoid Doug's brother Ollie, who's intent on revenge.

Chapter four shifts to Francois and Margot's English teacher Michaels, a figure who appears to be modeled on Tervalon and provides the first adult view on these struggling kids. Next chapter is Ollie, whose efforts to step into his big brother's shoes as player/dealer are quickly squashed. Francois's mother Ann steps in to provide the perspective of a long-despairing mother trying to keep her kids on the right path, but without a too much conviction. Crackhead Rika appears next, and is shown to have quickly shed her privileged background to become be a hardened femme fatale figure. Unfortunately, her backstory feels rather incomplete, and as she's a pivotal figure in the narrative, it's a pity Tervalon didn't devote a little more time to her story.

The story then shifts back to Francois and Margot, whose stormy relationship appears to be destined to wreck upon the imminent shores of Margot's departure for college at UC-Santa Cruz. She details a one-week orientation trip up there that might as well be to a foreign country for its strangeness. Meanwhile, Francois dabbles in the drug trade up in Santa Barbara with his shady friend Tommy, who narrates the next chapter. Tommy isn't a particularly distinctive figure, and his voice feels somewhat similar to the braggadocio of Ollie. Francois returns to Los Angeles, where Ann picks up the story again, having decided to move to Atlanta. She struggles with Francois' inexplicable (to her) depression and refusal to go to school and graduate.

Ann calls in Michaels, who half-heartedly tries to convince Francois to finish school up in the subsequent chapter. in the latter part of this, Michales meets up with Margot and shares an awkward dinner with her. He has a weird, uneasy attraction to Margot the whole book which is never fully articulated and feels kind of forced. Francois returns to explain his new setup as the manager of a check-cashing store for another dealer and his final date with Margot, escorting her to Michaels' wedding. Things take a turn for the melodramatic when Ollie's sister Sally appears to reveal the discovery of Rika as a pregnant homeless woman. Sally is a fierce Christian who doesn't take any backtalk from Ollie and comes across as a younger, firmer version of Ann. She and Ann attempt to help Rika out, until a final climactic shooting. The coda is provided six months later by Michaels, who has left to go to law school, but returns to meet up with Margot after her first semester of college.

Overall this is a very impressive debut, although it might have been strengthened by sticking with fewer narrators. Michaels could have been fleshed out a bit more too--as the former insider, now an outside observer, he could have offered a more interesting perspective. Still, for the most part, the dialogue sparkles with reality as we see these kids struggling to operate within their highly constrained environment. A strong start for Tervalon, who has since moved into period fiction about New Orleans and is now embroiled in legal problems with his publisher.

[Marlon Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a boy who really goes threw some stuff. In the first part hes friend got shot by his own girl friend after a fight they had had.He wasnt the same after that and he never change back to his self after what happen to his mom.


I recommend this to people who like drama books with no cliff hanger. This book will probally make you cry because its a couple sad parts in it It will also make you think about the things you have in life that some people dont like friends and family.