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Crossroads Blues
A dark blue love story coloring the crossroads of the world.
Andrew, Charlie, and Michelle have known each other since high school. And it’s no secret, at least to Charlie, that Andrew’s love for Michelle is the main reason his friend wound up in New York City. But on September 11, 2001, as the Twin Towers' collapse rattles the entire City’s very foundations… everything changes.
With friends lost and other friends losing, Andrew retreats into his own world. Falling apart at the seams, he struggles to hold everything together even amidst New York City’s own suffering. Come down to the crossroads. Fall down on your knees. Ask the Lord above to have mercy and save you if He’ll please.
Content Warning: violence, drug use, derogatory language, suicide, suicidal ideation, graphic sexual content
Andrew, Charlie, and Michelle have known each other since high school. And it’s no secret, at least to Charlie, that Andrew’s love for Michelle is the main reason his friend wound up in New York City. But on September 11, 2001, as the Twin Towers' collapse rattles the entire City’s very foundations… everything changes.
With friends lost and other friends losing, Andrew retreats into his own world. Falling apart at the seams, he struggles to hold everything together even amidst New York City’s own suffering. Come down to the crossroads. Fall down on your knees. Ask the Lord above to have mercy and save you if He’ll please.
Content Warning: violence, drug use, derogatory language, suicide, suicidal ideation, graphic sexual content
417 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2012
About the author
Israfel Sivad
17 books11 followersThis author is also published under Michael Anthony Adams Jr..
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 30, 2013
Splendid 9/11 fiction with well-developed characters and a deep, emotional narrative.
This is a story that’s so beautiful, literary, and unique, it cannot be overlooked. Andrew, Charlie, and Michelle have known each other since high school. Andrew is a struggling writer living in NYC for the culture and for Michelle, an actress/director/temp. Charlie helps struggling artists in the city make rent and beer money through his temp agency, Heavenly Staffing. The stage for the story is engaging. The reader is made to feel as if they are in the midst of the city; among its elegance and imperfections. Sivad infuses this novel with characters so rich and connected with each other; it’s impossible to avoid becoming enveloped in their emotions and relationships. Andrew, although too shy in the past to make a pass at Michelle, has finally become involved with her. After a rather successful date, Andrew assumes that he knows what’s inside of Michelle’s mind and ditches her for an entire weekend to keep her on her toes; he doesn’t want to seem too enthusiastic. Realizing he could have handled things differently when Michelle becomes upset, he promises himself that he will correct his error; right after her first day on a new job in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. As far as a love story goes—this one is comparable to Swan Lake—it’s dark, beautiful, and torturous. The author has captured humanity at its finest and at its worst. At first, the attack on the Trade Center seems like something so unreal that it can’t possibly be more than “an interesting show” or “something to be part of.” However, it quickly becomes apparent that it is, in fact, very real; and doesn’t make for a grand spectacle when looking at the city and imagining the death toll. Characters are shown in many facets of natural emotion; anger, sadness, numbness, and complete rage are shown within the pages of this play-like novel. Crossroads Blues is a literary must-read; the characters are unforgettable, Sivad has written about them honestly, just as they are. The dialogue is completely real, and in a way, humorous. Be prepared for a lasting impression and a story that will stay with you.
This is a fast-paced, heated read. An emotional novel that will leave you with real connections to the characters and honest writing.
This is a story that’s so beautiful, literary, and unique, it cannot be overlooked. Andrew, Charlie, and Michelle have known each other since high school. Andrew is a struggling writer living in NYC for the culture and for Michelle, an actress/director/temp. Charlie helps struggling artists in the city make rent and beer money through his temp agency, Heavenly Staffing. The stage for the story is engaging. The reader is made to feel as if they are in the midst of the city; among its elegance and imperfections. Sivad infuses this novel with characters so rich and connected with each other; it’s impossible to avoid becoming enveloped in their emotions and relationships. Andrew, although too shy in the past to make a pass at Michelle, has finally become involved with her. After a rather successful date, Andrew assumes that he knows what’s inside of Michelle’s mind and ditches her for an entire weekend to keep her on her toes; he doesn’t want to seem too enthusiastic. Realizing he could have handled things differently when Michelle becomes upset, he promises himself that he will correct his error; right after her first day on a new job in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. As far as a love story goes—this one is comparable to Swan Lake—it’s dark, beautiful, and torturous. The author has captured humanity at its finest and at its worst. At first, the attack on the Trade Center seems like something so unreal that it can’t possibly be more than “an interesting show” or “something to be part of.” However, it quickly becomes apparent that it is, in fact, very real; and doesn’t make for a grand spectacle when looking at the city and imagining the death toll. Characters are shown in many facets of natural emotion; anger, sadness, numbness, and complete rage are shown within the pages of this play-like novel. Crossroads Blues is a literary must-read; the characters are unforgettable, Sivad has written about them honestly, just as they are. The dialogue is completely real, and in a way, humorous. Be prepared for a lasting impression and a story that will stay with you.
This is a fast-paced, heated read. An emotional novel that will leave you with real connections to the characters and honest writing.
September 18, 2013
Israfel Sivad's Crossroads Blues opens with a description of New York
City that will leave you feeling as if you are right there, down among the
tall buildings, living and breathing the city whole. It is an opening that
brings the reader in fully, sets you right there and ready. In fact, through-
out the entire novel, Mr. Sivad's descriptive powers allow you to be a part
of the story in much the same way that Dostoyevski so memorably did. It
is dynamic writing, heated and forceful.
We have here the story of Andrew Christian, a twenty something writer
struggling to make it in the world, in the big city. The tale takes place over
a very specific period of time: six months and six days, September 7th,
2001, thru March 13th 2002. Andrew is surrounded by an excellent cast
of characters, people on the move, struggling and humorous and dire.
Most vivid of all of them, outside of Andrew, is probably Michelle. Coming
to know her in these pages will break your heart.
The great tragedy and struggle of this book may just be the lives of the
young people in it, starting on the road that will take them God knows
where. The tragedy of the human species is brought alive in the all too
real drama of 9/11, the horrendous occurrence that brought down the
World Trade Center buildings and killed so many. The whole work
tumbles forward in a manner that makes the story extremely real. You
feel these people; you know them as much as you might know anyone
in your life. That is the art of the author coming forward. Israfel Sivad
has the power to do this and that is the gift given to us
In Crossroads Blues there is a love story and a tragedy and a night-
mare. We have a New York in all its glory and hardness. It is a book
that flows from beginning to end, powering us through dark things. The
writing is powerful. The tale is full. I would not call the ending a happy
one. Happy endings though, are overrated. Here we get a full, forceful,
unnerving and utterly alive bit of wonder. It will leave you in its grip. If
you look hard, there may even be some hope. Regardless of that, the
journey of Crossroads Blues is too well wrought to be ignored. Enter
into it. You will not be disappointed.
City that will leave you feeling as if you are right there, down among the
tall buildings, living and breathing the city whole. It is an opening that
brings the reader in fully, sets you right there and ready. In fact, through-
out the entire novel, Mr. Sivad's descriptive powers allow you to be a part
of the story in much the same way that Dostoyevski so memorably did. It
is dynamic writing, heated and forceful.
We have here the story of Andrew Christian, a twenty something writer
struggling to make it in the world, in the big city. The tale takes place over
a very specific period of time: six months and six days, September 7th,
2001, thru March 13th 2002. Andrew is surrounded by an excellent cast
of characters, people on the move, struggling and humorous and dire.
Most vivid of all of them, outside of Andrew, is probably Michelle. Coming
to know her in these pages will break your heart.
The great tragedy and struggle of this book may just be the lives of the
young people in it, starting on the road that will take them God knows
where. The tragedy of the human species is brought alive in the all too
real drama of 9/11, the horrendous occurrence that brought down the
World Trade Center buildings and killed so many. The whole work
tumbles forward in a manner that makes the story extremely real. You
feel these people; you know them as much as you might know anyone
in your life. That is the art of the author coming forward. Israfel Sivad
has the power to do this and that is the gift given to us
In Crossroads Blues there is a love story and a tragedy and a night-
mare. We have a New York in all its glory and hardness. It is a book
that flows from beginning to end, powering us through dark things. The
writing is powerful. The tale is full. I would not call the ending a happy
one. Happy endings though, are overrated. Here we get a full, forceful,
unnerving and utterly alive bit of wonder. It will leave you in its grip. If
you look hard, there may even be some hope. Regardless of that, the
journey of Crossroads Blues is too well wrought to be ignored. Enter
into it. You will not be disappointed.
June 8, 2013
This novel carried me through many emotions, as the main character deals with the tragedies of 9/11. The author is descriptive and unapologetic as the story unfolds. I think that if you live or have lived in NYC then this book will speak to you.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews