Erasure by Percival Everett is a sharp, satirical novel about Thelonious "Monk" Ellison, an acclaimed Black author whose experimental work is ignored in favor of stereotypical "ghetto literature". Outraged, he writes a parody novel under a pseudonym that unexpectedly becomes a massive hit. The story balances this biting critique of the publishing industry with Monk's personal struggles, including his mother's Alzheimer's and family tragedy.