Need

by Nik Cohn

SALES * 'Prose that drives the novel along at a cracking pace. . . a wonderfully understanding book. . . Marvellous stuff' - Time Out. * 'A lot of people are going to love this book' - Literary Review. * 'Cohn remains the class player. . . Definitely the hottest read of the summer' - The Times. * Highly respected Guadian correspondent. THE New York is in the grip of a murderous heatwave, the city is full of fires and street corner preachers are proclaiming the Apocalypse. In this burning season, four lives come together at Ferdousine's Zoo, a sanctuary for exotic birds and Kate Root, a reformed psychic who was once a child visionary; Willie D a young Puerto Rican hustler in pursuit of status and repect; Anna, a belly dancer and human telegram; and John Joe, a black Irishman, newly arrived from Donegal. Meanwhile, the city goes on burning and in the subways a sect called the Black Swans has forgathered, awaiting the last days.

Genres: Fiction

297 pages, Paperback

First published February 18, 1997

About the author

Cohn is considered by some critics to be a father of rock criticism, thanks to his time on The Observer's early rock column entitled The Brief and his first major book Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom, first published in 1969. Cohn has since published articles, novels and music books regularly.

Reviews

[James E. Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in an almost hallucinatory style, the book is interesting but frustrating if you are expecting a typical narrative. Good characterization and use of flashbacks, etc. Quite enjoyable.

[Jim Bostjancic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not lots happening from an action angle, but the private detective vibe., cool street prose "that petty, five-timing, car-washing piece of nothing" and introspective desperado's, beckon me into considering checking out some of his other work.