#readwithLLM: The Mayor of Maxwell Street

Greetings, bookish friends! As #blackhistorymonth comes to a close, I wanted to chat about February’s #readwithLLM pick: The Mayor of Maxwell Street* by Avery Cunningham. Spoiler from my end…I LOVED this book and I genuinely cannot wait to talk about it with you. This book had a little bit of everything - history, intrigue, romance, mystery. Cunningham did an absolutely incredible job drawing readers into the world of the Chicago Black elite who continued to face racism even as they climbed the socio-economic ladder. 

Here's what I envision with these posts. I've come up with a few questions that I would love your thoughts on, but I also want to open up the comments for any questions or thoughts you have. I do reserve the right to remove any comments that are offensive or hateful, because my goal is to foster a community of readers here, where folks are encouraged to share their thoughts and literary experiences. 

So, without further ado, here are my questions and curiosities:

1. This book begins with a note (akin to a trigger warning, though not quite that), warning readers of the language that will be used throughout the novel to keep it true to the era in which the novel is set. How did the use of that language influence your reading experience?

2. One of the important plot points is Nelly’s work as an investigative journalist (it’s how she came to investigate the Mayor of Maxwell Street). What role does investigative journalism play historically in forwarding movements, and what role does it play in the novel. What is the symbolism behind the [SPOILER ALERT] ending, in which her wedding is front page news, instead of her investigative work?

3. Part of the narrative structure is that the book starts and ends with Jimmy/Jay and his perspective, while the rest of the book is told through Nelly’s perspective. What does the bookending of Jay’s perspective offer to the narrative overall? What are readers meant to take from it? 

4. One of the reasons this book has come to such acclaim is the vivid language. The Chicago Review of Books writes, “Cunningham’s prose is rich and opulent–much like the society that surrounds Nelly herself.” Given that, what are your favorite quotes or passages? What makes those quotes/passages stand out?

5. Did you like this book? This is Cunningham’s first novel - do you plan to read any subsequent novels she publishes? (I do. I really, really do.)

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