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Marioninyc · 08-13-2010, 10:10 PM

Just got a great review from Larry Harrison, the author of one of my favorite books! This is from the Amazon UK site:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loisaida, 15 Aug 2010
By Larry Harrison "woldsedge" (Yorkshire) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Loisaida -- A New York Story (Kindle Edition)
Marion Stein's stunning new novel, set in New York's Lower East Side (Loisaida) in the 1980s, is largely based on the real life murder of Monica Beere, whose body was rendered into soup and fed to the homeless in Tompkins Square Park. This is noir at its best, a dark tale that explores human frailty among those who pursue justice, as well as among the perpetrators of horrific crimes. In her psychological insights, as well as in the quality of her writing, Stein is a worthy heir to Raymond Chandler.

New York is more than just the backdrop to this story; the events throw a spotlight on the city's history, its unique neighbourhoods, its housing markets, its people. The reader meets all the larger-than-life characters who crowded the city's streets in the 1980s -- the revolutionary anarchists, corrupt cops, evangelical dope dealers, Satanists and TVs -- "all competing for breathing space in a city without air". It's like going back in time and spending a weekend sat in the lobby of the Chelsea Hotel.

Unlike many innovative, literary novels, Loisaida moves at a fast pace -- as fast-moving as New York City itself. Each chapter is written from a different point of view. With such a large cast there was a danger that the storyline would fragment, but like Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Stein is able to handle these transitions skillfully. She engages the reader's sympathy with the main protagonist, an actor-turned-journalist, and we follow his growing obsession with investigating a macabre murder, his increasing cocaine, heroin and prescription drug use, and the slow disintegration of his personality. Stein writes with candour and a sense of emotional authenticity. Like a singer with perfect pitch, she has a gift for finding the voice for each character and understanding their motivation. She is able to tell a captivating story, and the result is a book that is impossible to put down.

08-13-2010, 10:10 PM	#18
Marioninyc Marion Posts: 62 Karma: 70000 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NY NY Device: KindleDX	Just got a great review from Larry Harrison, the author of one of my favorite books! This is from the Amazon UK site: 5.0 out of 5 stars Loisaida, 15 Aug 2010 By Larry Harrison "woldsedge" (Yorkshire) - See all my reviews This review is from: Loisaida -- A New York Story (Kindle Edition) Marion Stein's stunning new novel, set in New York's Lower East Side (Loisaida) in the 1980s, is largely based on the real life murder of Monica Beere, whose body was rendered into soup and fed to the homeless in Tompkins Square Park. This is noir at its best, a dark tale that explores human frailty among those who pursue justice, as well as among the perpetrators of horrific crimes. In her psychological insights, as well as in the quality of her writing, Stein is a worthy heir to Raymond Chandler. New York is more than just the backdrop to this story; the events throw a spotlight on the city's history, its unique neighbourhoods, its housing markets, its people. The reader meets all the larger-than-life characters who crowded the city's streets in the 1980s -- the revolutionary anarchists, corrupt cops, evangelical dope dealers, Satanists and TVs -- "all competing for breathing space in a city without air". It's like going back in time and spending a weekend sat in the lobby of the Chelsea Hotel. Unlike many innovative, literary novels, Loisaida moves at a fast pace -- as fast-moving as New York City itself. Each chapter is written from a different point of view. With such a large cast there was a danger that the storyline would fragment, but like Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Stein is able to handle these transitions skillfully. She engages the reader's sympathy with the main protagonist, an actor-turned-journalist, and we follow his growing obsession with investigating a macabre murder, his increasing cocaine, heroin and prescription drug use, and the slow disintegration of his personality. Stein writes with candour and a sense of emotional authenticity. Like a singer with perfect pitch, she has a gift for finding the voice for each character and understanding their motivation. She is able to tell a captivating story, and the result is a book that is impossible to put down. Last edited by Marioninyc; 08-16-2010 at 10:11 PM.