Edgewater Angels

by Sandro Meallet

Set in the projects of Los Angeles, California, Edgewater Angels chronicles the adolescence of Sunny Toomer, a streetwise young man endlessly sandwiched between the right and wrong thing to do. In a neighborhood where an absentminded stare might be mistaken for a silent challenge for turf, and asking someone if they have a problem may cost you your life, Sunny ekes out survival amidst an incomparable cast of characters, including a husbandless mother, violence-prone uncles, and a cadre of strangely endearing men either headed for jail or out on parole. Written in original riff-like prose, Meallet gives us a unique story that is serious yet playful, daring in aim, and absolutely captivating.

Genres: Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 17, 2001

Reviews

[Joan Kirby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be a really interesting view into growing up in a world totaly alien to me. I really identified with the character's struggle to retain his natural goodness in an ugly and evil world. I wished that the seperate anecdotes could have been tied together more effectively however.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Less of a novel that a series of coming of age vignettes, Meallet's debut is an instant classic. The book follows narrator "Toomer" as he makes his way though life in the tough streets of LA's San Pedro neighborhood. Like his friends, Toomer's father is an absent abstraction, and the only men around are the neighborhood thugs, cops, cowards, and those who pass through his mother's bedroom. Even though his environment is a constant menace and a breeding ground for crime, there is some odd sense of community in many ways. And although he is no saint, Toomer is a highly appealing and sympathetic presence, very much like the kid in the 1994 film "Fresh."
Meallet's writing is clean and vivid, with a real writer's ear for dialogue and slang. Toomer's narration carries a number of inventively strung together words which form new descriptive phrases. The only off note is a slightly fantastical section in the middle which attempts to portray his father's life, and doesn't really fit with the rest of the book, but other than that, every note is pitch perfect. Even though the different vignettes aren't directly linked-they read more like someone telling stories-they blend to form an unforgettable portrait of a young man struggling to grow up in the ghetto.

[Bridgette Cude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't like to rate books, but this one, I think, isn't getting the credit it deserves here, and I want to encourage the next person to read it.

These stories bring innocence and violence, naivety and malice, ignorance and wisdom all together on a knife's edge.

Meallet's style is unique and not-easy-to-replicate unless it comes from an authentic understanding of a place and time. This is obvious not only in the precise geographies and history he uses to represent Pedro, but also how he uses it as a metaphor for a place that is at once gritty and breathtakingly beautiful.

You'll root for Toomer, you'll grimace, you'll laugh. It's short, sweet, and worth it.

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ashamed to say that it took me almost a month to finish reading this book, but the way it is written does allow for that kind of thing. As many other reviews have stated, it is more of a set of vignettes rather than a novel. That doesn't detract from it though. The author was able to explore a range of topics and emotions --- often times heavy, but the lyrical sing-song style of his writing made you feel how much hope the narrator has. If anything, it's worth a read for the creative use of language and neologisms.

[Cynthia J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vignettes of growing up in the Los Angeles Harbor area reminiscent of Always Running or Steinbeck shots, without the life lessons. It is very location specific & being a native myself it was nice to revisit places from my youth.

[Thomas McDade · Rating 5 out of 5]

". . .Reads like an unabashed descendent of Huck Finn with a bit of David Lynch's passion thrown in."
- Village Voice

[RB Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sandro is a friend of mine, even though I have not seen him in more than a decade and a half. He's written a terrific book. Six foot eight you know. Remember to tie your shoe laces when you play ball.

[Lacy Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty neat book. It reminds me of a west coast, updated Down These Mean Streets.

[Melliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is almost like a string of short stories strung together into a novel. They're great stories about inner city youth in Los Angeles (San Pedro)--my favorite is the swimming contest.

[Dewayne Stark · Rating 3 out of 5]

the author is right on with his geography. Today many novels contain descriptions taken from Google. This one doesn't.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically a collection of short stories. They were cute, which actually caught me off guard. With a different cover & description this book would be better received I think.

[Lacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty neat book. It reminds me of a west coast, updated Down These Mean Streets.