Colored Television: A Novel By Danzy Senna

Colored Television by Danzy Senna is a sharp and witty exploration of love, ambition, and identity in contemporary America. The novel follows Jane, an aspiring writer whose life appears to be on the verge of transformation. After years of unstable living conditions, she and her family land a luxurious house-sitting opportunity in the hills above Los Angeles, perfectly timed with Jane’s sabbatical. This setup offers Jane the chance to complete her much-anticipated second novel, an ambitious project her artist husband, Lenny, humorously labels “mulatto War and Peace.”

However, Jane’s plans take an unexpected turn. Faced with the pressure to secure her future, she shifts her focus to Hollywood, seeking new opportunities in the entertainment industry. A promising meeting with Hampton Ford, a prominent producer, leads to the development of a project Jane envisions as a groundbreaking biracial comedy. As excitement builds, so do the challenges, and Jane soon finds herself entangled in a series of comedic and poignant missteps.

Senna’s Colored Television is celebrated for its humor, incisive social commentary, and engaging narrative. The novel critiques the racial-identity-industrial complex while offering a fresh perspective on the struggles of success and reinvention. With its clever dialogue and satirical edge, it’s a testament to Senna’s ability to blend entertainment with insightful reflection, marking it as one of her most ambitious and rewarding works to date.