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South by South Bronx
“Powerful. . . . A redemptive and absorbing work.”— The New York Times Book Review , on Spidertown
“Scary, sexy, exuberant. . . . Rodriguez has seized a truth of our times . . . and given us a crackling good read.”— Los Angeles Times Book Review , on Spidertown
“Rodriguez uses the repetitiveness of life in the ghetto itself to make the tension and desperation of Spidertown achingly palpable.”— People , on Spidertown
“A joy to read! Rodriguez’s writing has never been more accomplished, more lyrical, more trenchant, or more humane. In these pages you will find marvels, but also a young man writing with the ferocity of life itself.”—Junot Díaz, on The Buddha Book
When Puerto Rican ladies’ man Alex awakes one morning to find a mysterious woman in his bed, he assumes he’s suffered another embarrassing blackout. He soon learns, however, that Ava is no one-night stand—in fact, he’s never met her before. As her story begins to unfold and her reason for appearing in his bed emerges, it is not just Alex’s life that she risks, nor her own, but the entire character of the South Bronx.
Abraham Rodriguez, Jr. was born and raised in the South Bronx. His first book, The Boy without a Flag , was a 1993 New York Times Notable Book of the Year. His novel Spidertown won a 1995 American Book Award and was optioned by Columbia Pictures. His most recent novel, The Buddha Book , was published by Picador in 2001. He currently lives in Berlin, Germany.
“Scary, sexy, exuberant. . . . Rodriguez has seized a truth of our times . . . and given us a crackling good read.”— Los Angeles Times Book Review , on Spidertown
“Rodriguez uses the repetitiveness of life in the ghetto itself to make the tension and desperation of Spidertown achingly palpable.”— People , on Spidertown
“A joy to read! Rodriguez’s writing has never been more accomplished, more lyrical, more trenchant, or more humane. In these pages you will find marvels, but also a young man writing with the ferocity of life itself.”—Junot Díaz, on The Buddha Book
When Puerto Rican ladies’ man Alex awakes one morning to find a mysterious woman in his bed, he assumes he’s suffered another embarrassing blackout. He soon learns, however, that Ava is no one-night stand—in fact, he’s never met her before. As her story begins to unfold and her reason for appearing in his bed emerges, it is not just Alex’s life that she risks, nor her own, but the entire character of the South Bronx.
Abraham Rodriguez, Jr. was born and raised in the South Bronx. His first book, The Boy without a Flag , was a 1993 New York Times Notable Book of the Year. His novel Spidertown won a 1995 American Book Award and was optioned by Columbia Pictures. His most recent novel, The Buddha Book , was published by Picador in 2001. He currently lives in Berlin, Germany.
- GenresFiction
350 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2008
11 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 21, 2016
What happened? Abraham is usually an incredible writer. Could some cranky publisher have demanded that he write about a plot that didn't interest him in the slightest, perhaps? The book is completely inchoate, than annoying progressive genre where every chapter sounds as if it's belonging to the chapter 3 chapter behind it, so it's impossible to remember any details, or even to want to remember any details. A white gal climbing up a fire escape and entering an open kitchen window without permission, and then a chapter about a police officer searching around for someone who has nothing to do with any of the plots. Keep writing, Abraham, and stay away from this mode of style, which is nauseating in its trendiness, please!!
October 14, 2012
The last 100 pages or so came together nicely but it was a positive slog to get through the rest, not enough energy or coherent language to make me want to keep picking it up. The editing was so awful and the stylistic choices made by the author were painful.
August 13, 2009
so far, I don't like it very much, it's taken this many pages and I'm still not that into it. I hope that in the next 50 pages I'll like it, if not it's going back to the library.
August 18, 2008
Abraham Rodriguez has created a novel that harkens back to classic noir. He writes, as one reviewer has suggested, with a "syntax all his own." Without a doubt, this unusual syntax, makes South by South Bronx an engaging, if at times, difficult read. The general plot (beware of spoiler), is that a white womyn who turns out to be a rogue agent, climbs into the bed of an alcoholic womanizer. From there, her presence turns South bronx upside down: causing the upstanding detective in the book to turn his back on his shield, unblocking the writers block of a promising author, and ending the painting lull of a brillant South Bronx painter.
I enjoyed a few of the character sketches, the detailed descriptions of smoking, and the language that Rodriguez uses to dramatize what could seem mundane. I found several sentences throughout the novel that were stunning to read - their structure compelling, and inventive. Overall, however, I found that the plot was too disjointed to be enjoyable. That, combined with the innovative, but too often unclear syntax, made reading this book a chore. I was ready to be done with the book, even as I appreciated the author's slick integration of clues and repetitive language. While I found this clever, the ultimate design of this noir book, never really deviated from noir cliches.
I also find it quizzical that though race is centralized in the book, there is no discussion, hint, or acknowledgement of what it means that it is a white womyn who changes the South Bronx for these four men. Perhaps the reader is expected to undertsand the subtext - which I took, optimistically, to suggest that it's the first time these four men, meet a rogue or outsider, who one would assume would be "in." The alternative, would lessen my appreciation fo the novel.
I think my review has more to do with me as a reader - in other words, what I like and connect with and to, than it does to the talent exhibited by Rodriguez. I do think that other readers might enjoy the book more than I did. The writing is unique and I will say that I think its important, for me as a reader, to read things outside of my comfort zone and mainstream literature.
I enjoyed a few of the character sketches, the detailed descriptions of smoking, and the language that Rodriguez uses to dramatize what could seem mundane. I found several sentences throughout the novel that were stunning to read - their structure compelling, and inventive. Overall, however, I found that the plot was too disjointed to be enjoyable. That, combined with the innovative, but too often unclear syntax, made reading this book a chore. I was ready to be done with the book, even as I appreciated the author's slick integration of clues and repetitive language. While I found this clever, the ultimate design of this noir book, never really deviated from noir cliches.
I also find it quizzical that though race is centralized in the book, there is no discussion, hint, or acknowledgement of what it means that it is a white womyn who changes the South Bronx for these four men. Perhaps the reader is expected to undertsand the subtext - which I took, optimistically, to suggest that it's the first time these four men, meet a rogue or outsider, who one would assume would be "in." The alternative, would lessen my appreciation fo the novel.
I think my review has more to do with me as a reader - in other words, what I like and connect with and to, than it does to the talent exhibited by Rodriguez. I do think that other readers might enjoy the book more than I did. The writing is unique and I will say that I think its important, for me as a reader, to read things outside of my comfort zone and mainstream literature.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Currently reading
April 29, 2008Still on the fence about this one. Not so sure I like his style of writing. However, as the story unfolds I find myself becoming intrigued with the interconnecting characters storylines.
Want to read
May 10, 200805/09/08 purchase at MOTB
November 19, 2008
Great modern noir mystery set in the South Bronx told from multiple perspectives.
March 4, 2009
Rodriguez spills poetery across the page in loving sprinkles.
Not only is this a stellar Noir mystery novel, it's a beautiful piece of writing,
Not only is this a stellar Noir mystery novel, it's a beautiful piece of writing,
June 3, 2009
South Bronx a place where Monk faced with a drug dealer who he knows stole money and is being chased. does he wrong from right or good vs evil?
June 10, 2009
Clever & enjoyable contemporary noir.
July 7, 2016
loved, loved, loved. rodriguez' prose style has left me speechless. different, refreshing, challenging.
Want to read
May 3, 2019Synopsis: when Puerto Rican ladies’ man Alex awakes to find a mysterious woman in his bed, he asks himself, Blackout? But he's never met her!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews