Service95 Book Club With Dua Lipa The Trees: Percival Everett on Satire, Justice & America’s Haunted Past
Sep 2, 2025
Dua Lipa chats with Percival Everett, an acclaimed author and professor whose novel 'The Trees' tackles deep issues of racism and lynching through a darkly comedic lens. They discuss the inspiration behind his work, particularly the historical impact of Emmett Till's story. The conversation highlights the power of satire in literature, exploring humorous character names that enhance storytelling. They also reflect on the significance of collective reading and the emotional impact of confronting America’s haunting past through literature.
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Genre Subversion Opens Hard Topics
- Percival Everett subverts genre expectations by making The Trees both a murder mystery and a critique of lynching and racism in America.
- He uses dark comedy and satire to open difficult conversations without preaching.
Emmett Till As Central Historical Anchor
- Percival Everett recounts Emmett Till visiting Money, Mississippi, and being accused after whistling at a white woman.
- He emphasizes Till's stutter, the brutal torture, and his mother's refusal to close the casket so the world could see the crime.
A Ghost That Haunts America
- The recurring corpse resembling Emmett Till functions as a haunting, somewhat supernatural symbol of America’s unresolved racial violence.
- Everett says humor is necessary to make readers ask questions and engage with the horror.
