Bronx Noir

by S.J. Rozan (Editor), Patrick W. Picciarelli (Contributor)

Contents:

White trash by Jerome Charyn
Gold Mountain by Terrence Cheng
Hey, girlie by Joanne Dobson
The woman who hated the Bronx by Rita Lakin
Rude awakening by Lawrence Block
Burnout by Suzanne Chazin
The cheers like waves by Kevin Baker
Jaguar by Abraham Rodriguez, Jr.
Early fall by Steven Torres
Hothouse by S.J. Rozan
Lost and found by Thomas Bentil
Look what love is doing to me by Marlon James
Home sweet home by Sandra Kitt
A visit to St. Nick's by Robert J. Hughes
Numbers up by Miles Marshall Lewis
The big five by Joseph Wallace
Ernie K.'s gelding by Ed Dee
The prince of Arthur Avenue by Patrick W. Picciarelli
You want I should whack Monkey Boy? by Thomas Adcock

Genres: Short Stories, Noir, Fiction, Mystery, New York, Crime, Anthologies

290 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

About the author

SJ Rozan, a native New Yorker, is the author of the Bill Smith and Lydia Chin detective series as well as several stand-alone novels. She has won the the Edgar, Nero, Macavity, Shamus and Anthony awards for Best Novel and the Edgar award for Best Short Story. She is a former Mystery Writers of America National Board member, a current Sisters in Crime National Board member, and President of the Private Eye Writers of America. In January 2003 she was an invited speaker at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In February 2005 she will be Guest of Honor at the Left Coast Crime convention in El Paso, Texas. A former architect in a practice that focussed on police stations, firehouses, and zoos, SJ Rozan was born and raised in the Bronx. She currently lives in Greenwich Village, New York. (from the author's website)"
S.J. Rozan has a B.A. from Oberlin College and M.Arch from SUNY/Buffalo

Reviews

[Nancy]

Posted at Shelf Inflicted

After reading Kemper's review of Kansas City Noir, I was intrigued by this series of books featuring stories that take place in different cities in the US. After exploring the Akashic Books site, I learned that there are quite a few interesting international locations too. So I decided to start with the Bronx, since that was where I spent much of my childhood, and I figured this would be a great opportunity to visit the city without actually having to drive there.

When I borrowed the book from the library and scanned the pages, the first thing I did was look at the author photos in the back and read their bios. Some are well-known writers, others not so much. I was thrilled at the diversity of the authors, much like the city I grew up in.

The Bronx doesn’t disappoint. It is as grimy, unforgiving, noisy and rough as I remember it. The 70’s and 80’s were a particularly bad time to be there, with all the crime, poverty, graffiti, and burnt-out buildings. I’m really hoping the city has changed for the better and will find out this weekend when I visit my uncle in Riverdale. Somehow I can’t imagine that Mott Haven or Hunts Point have become desirable places to live; maybe in another 30 or 40 years.

The stories were suitably bleak and moody, just as I would expect from a noir collection. There were some really terrific stories here. Others were rather forgettable. One of the standouts in this collection was Terrence Cheng’s Gold Mountain, about a Chinese delivery guy and the professor who gives him a good tip. It’s very dark, full of lonely, sad, desperate people looking for a better life. Having only known a few Chinese people when I was living in the Bronx, I appreciated this story told from a Chinese perspective. Think twice before letting someone deliver your supper.

Kevin Baker’s Three Cheers Like Waves made me glad I never lived near Yankee Stadium. It was bad enough seeing and hearing the rumbling graffiti-covered trains while I was standing out on the fire escape of the 5-story red brick walk-up on Walton Avenue I called home. This is a story about young love gone wrong and loud baseball games that cover up a multitude of sins.

S. J. Rozan’s Hothouse takes place at the Botanical Garden during freezing cold and blizzard conditions. The fragile lives of humans and plants are put to the test. This made me sad…and cold…and sympathetic to the bad guy. One of my favorites in this collection.

R.J. Hughes A Visit to St. Nick’s reminded me of the church I used to go to with my friend and the white-haired Irish priest who’d give us each a little sip of Manischewitz wine after mass. This is about family relationships, friendship, the mysticism of the Catholic Church, boys who find creative places to store their stash, and the girls who know their dirty secrets.

Patrick W. Picciarelli’s The Prince of Arthur Avenue was a most unusual gangster story.

All in all, a very worthy collection of stories that brought back a lot of memories of my childhood in the Bronx. I’ve always wanted to visit Alaska and wonder if there are any noir stories set in Fairbanks.

[BookOfCinz Reading Retreat Host]

As far as the Noir series go this one was very on point. Not that I am from the Bronx but I have visited there and spent at least three nights there so I know!0 (lol). Honestly, this collection felt very authentic to Bronx and I loved it. Some of the stories I absolutely loved, others I didnt too care for but overall a great collection.
Side Note: Marlon James is included in this collection and of course I loved his story.

Below are my favorites:
Gold Mountain by Terrence Cheng
Hey, Girlie by Joanne Dobson
The Woman Who Hated The Bronx by Rita Lakin
Rude Awakening by Lawrence Block
Early Fall by Steven Torres
Look What Love Is Doing To Me by Marlon James
Home Sweet Home by Sandra Kitt
The Prince of Arthur Avenue by Patrick W Picciarelli

[Kay]

Definitely one of the strongest in the series.

[Starstuck]

These stories are very well written. I read only maybe 2/3 of the book. I've never been to the Bronx and didn't strongly identify with the place. There's no sense of the mercurial mind of noir that revs from 0 to 60 and then slams into a wall. Liked the story "Burn-out" about a fireman going through a divorce who becomes an insomniac. The ending has a real twist.

[Lisa]

The book had good stories, and not so good stories. The ones which were good was thought provocative and the ones which wasn't I sped through. It's ok

[Kirsten]

Read one here, one there between other things and I think I've finally finished the whole.  I just really don't like these noir collections, but I kept hoping the next location would make it worth it.  Honestly nothing against the authors, noir+short really doesn't work for me.  All stars are for the Bronx!

[Janet]

Like the other books in the "Noir" series, this book contains short stories focused on the dark side of a place, here, the Bronx, my native land. Some are fanciful and some are based on real Bronx subcultures, historical and present-day. But only some of the authors are actual Bronxites despite the talent of so many natives.

[Steve]

I do love this series, and own about 50 of the titles. Something more that one dips into here and there, rather than reads cover to cover. Their usual selection - 2-4 "name" authors, and a bunch of lesser-known writers. Which is a good intro to some unrecognized talent.
3.5 out of 5.

[Mary]

As ever, the Akashic Noir series hits it out of the park. Take a tour of the Bronx with all its history and drama. Dark never felt so light!

[Gail Kennon]

last story i had trouble following but most were enjoyable and a few stand-outs like rozan's 'hot house'.

[Danira]

Best story: City Island

[Harold]

Another good volume of short stories. Recommended.

[Jayne Subwick]

3.5

[Robbi]

I love short stories and this book was filled with rich cultural stories. Highly recommend.

[Denise]

For those who don't know, the Noir series are anthologies of short stories that are set in the same location. The stories explore the dark side of human nature - revenge, jealousy, prejudice, greed, avarice, etc. They are wonderful! Besides the first book in the series, Brooklyn Noir, this one is my favorite. The stories really made really good use of the location, Bronx NY, and were actually believable. My favorite was the story about the young wife who would do anything to get out of the Bronx. A close second was the one involving the teens hanging out around Van Cortlandt Park. They witness something and will never be the same. If you have not read a Noir collection, this is a very good place to start.

[Barbara]

I borrowed this book from a friend, but only had a chance to read one story. I don't remember the exact name -- it's the story that takes place in the Bronx. It wasn't as thought-provoking as I would have expected, but I thought it was incredibly well written and the writer did an fantastic job with the characters and setting.

Kevin Baker is the writer of the story I read. I'd like to read more of his work. I love his writing style -- he knows how to create a very strong visual image of the setting, story, and characters. I also would like to get a copy of this book and read the rest of the stories.

[Lisa]

I'm thinking Noir just might not be my thing, although maybe it's just hard to do without falling back on cliches. It was a bit of an uneven collection, with a lot of so-so pieces and a few really good ones. But the good ones gave me an idea of what's to like about the genre, and I'll be interested to try Boston Noir (doing a little cultural exchange program with a Bostonian friend).

[Tuxlie]

Brand-new stories by: Thomas Adcock, Kevin Baker, Thomas Bentil, Lawrence Block, Jerome Charyn, Suzanne Chazin, Terrence Cheng, Ed Dee, Joanne Dobson, Robert Hughes, Marlon James, Sandra Kitt, Rita Laken, Miles Marshall Lewis, Pat Picciarelli, Abraham Rodriguez Jr., S.J. Rozan, Steven Torres, and Joe Wallace.

[Bruce]

Although some of the stories are less than stellar, this anthology does a beautiful job of capturing the yearning and desperation of the Bronx. A must read for anybody who wants to look below the surface of the deepest borough.

[Judy]

I found this a bit of a depressing read at times, even though I'm usually a fan of hard-boiled crime. It was all a bit darker and bleaker than I'd expected - though, yes, I know that's what noir means. I will look out novels by one or two of the authors featured, though.

[Pamela]

This book was interesting then it got stupid then it got interesting again. However, I will read the other Noir books. It's kind of a disturbing book but not really. Relationship Status: Complicated lol

[Thomas Roth]

So,so.

[Asher]

A great collection of stories, made even better because I know the places.

[Robert Giambo]

I have read several in the series of "your city here" noir. This was the weakest so far but acceptable.

[Armand]

I absolutely loved this book.

[Matthew Schultz]

Having lived in the Bronx for 6 years, I thought I'd give this a read - found it just - dull and formulaic.

[Eric]

a mixed bag for sure

[Rowan]

diverse collection of short noir stories that call the Bronx home.