Lost in the City

Rating:
Summary: Just enough for the city
Review: It seems as though some of my favorite books of all time had a strong emphasis on the setting in which they took place. Rainelle Burton ingeniously incorporated Detroit into her novel, The Root Worker. Zora Neale Hurston's writings were all heavily emphatic on the southern setting in which her characters resided. Not unlike these, Edward P. Jones' collection of short stories entitled LOST IN THE CITY not only uses Washington, DC as its backdrop, but the city's intricacies and nuances are woven together with each storyline he presents. He uses this setting so competently that we are led to the notion that the city of Washington itself is the protagonist as it jumps out as a recurring character in all of the pieces.

There truly wasn't one story that I felt lukewarm toward, however, some of them do stand out among the rest because of both their plots and characters. One of my favorites, entitled "The Night Rhonda Ferguson Was Killed", was a day in the life of Cassandra, a tough teen who also happens to be the local vocal starlet's best friend. Throughout the course of the story, Cassandra's personality came to the forefront, allowing the reader to walk with her through her adolescent journey.

Jones is a great writer, and an excellent storyteller. His characters are the folks you know from next door, from down the street, or from the church choir. Emblazoned with universality, even those who have never been to Washington will know how it feels to be lost in its grandeur. Edward P. Jones has a novel due out this year as well. You can trust that I will be reading it.

Reviewed by CandaceK
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Rating:
Summary: Just enough for the city
Review: It seems as though some of my favorite books of all time had a strong emphasis on the setting in which they took place. Rainelle Burton ingeniously incorporated Detroit into her novel, The Root Worker. Zora Neale Hurston's writings were all heavily emphatic on the southern setting in which her characters resided. Not unlike these, Edward P. Jones' collection of short stories entitled LOST IN THE CITY not only uses Washington, DC as its backdrop, but the city's intricacies and nuances are woven together with each storyline he presents. He uses this setting so competently that we are led to the notion that the city of Washington itself is the protagonist as it jumps out as a recurring character in all of the pieces.

There truly wasn't one story that I felt lukewarm toward, however, some of them do stand out among the rest because of both their plots and characters. One of my favorites, entitled "The Night Rhonda Ferguson Was Killed", was a day in the life of Cassandra, a tough teen who also happens to be the local vocal starlet's best friend. Throughout the course of the story, Cassandra's personality came to the forefront, allowing the reader to walk with her through her adolescent journey.

Jones is a great writer, and an excellent storyteller. His characters are the folks you know from next door, from down the street, or from the church choir. Emblazoned with universality, even those who have never been to Washington will know how it feels to be lost in its grandeur. Edward P. Jones has a novel due out this year as well. You can trust that I will be reading it.

Reviewed by CandaceK
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Rating:
Summary: Amen.
Review: The previous two reviews are absolutely on target, and it is criminal indeed that this is out of print. (for New Yorkers: I saw one remaining copy at Strand Book Store) I would only add that this book was listed for the National Book Award in 1992 and won the PEN-Hemingway Foundation Award for best first fiction. These are moving stories that capture a time and place but transcend both, and reach beyond ethnic boundaries to larger truths. Maybe it's not a stretch to say that Jones does for D.C. what Joyce did for Dublin in "Dubliners."

Rating:
Summary: Criminally out of print
Review: This book of stories is one of the treasures of the 1990's, and it's a sad commentary that it is out of print. Jones hasn't helped himself by not publishing a follow-up, but Lost in the City is good enough to stand on its own. If you can find it second hand, buy it.

Rating:
Summary: The Federal City
Review: This book was a fascinating look into the underside of urban life, specifically from the African American perspective. The stories have common threads. The most powerful of these threads explores the interpersonal relationships between those who are neglected by the mainstream. No matter where the people of Lost in the City are on their life journeys - old women on social security to young men beginning life - each relies on the caring and compassion of others. It is also interesting that the stories take place in our national capital. The social conditions in DC are emblamatic of conditions around the country. The problems and joys are universal.

This is a great selection of stories that have the power to open your mind and expand your horizons. Get it and enjoy!