No Easy Place to Be

by Steven Corbin

Velma, Miriam, and Louise, three Black sisters living in New York during the Harlem Renaissance, are influenced by Langston Hughes, Marcus Garvey, and the Cotton Club

Genres: Fiction

448 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1989

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book but felt that occasionally there were parts that didn't move the story along or add new depth to the characters. However, the period when the book takes place, and the setting of Harlem are fascinating. Complex plots, and a wealth of interesting characters to identify with.

[Helen Azar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when it was first published (in fact, a little before it came out - as an advanced reader's copy) and was very impressed! Wonderful on so many levels... I am surprised that this book and its author did not make a bigger "splash" in the African American fiction world. This was Corbin's first effort, an excellent novel which took place in the post WWI Harlem Renaissance era. The author went on to write 2 more novels (which I have not read), but remained more or less in obscurity... It's a shame that books like these don't get more attention, while some others - shall we say less than quality material, do so much better... That will always remain a mystery to me, although I have a feeling it has something to do with marketing and nothing to do with content or talent.

[Ray Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

great read about friendship and family set in harlem in the early 20th century.