Say Nice Things About Detroit: A Novel [Paperback]

Twenty-five years after his high school graduation, David Halpert returns to a place that most people flee. But David is making his own escapefrom his divorce and the death of his son. In Detroit, David learns about the double shooting of his high school girlfriend Natalie and her black half-brother, Dirk. As David becomes involved with Natalies sister, he will discover that both he and his hometown have reasons to hope.A tough but redemptive tale&What ultimately resonates most profoundly in the novel is Mr. Lassers ode to the city where he was born.Lasser is an economical writer who reveals character and class through details and dialogue&For those who wonder why anyone still lives in the home of the Not-So-Big Three, he provides a rich and satisfying answer.Detroit is autumnal in this quietly moving novel of place&Lasser composes his sympathetic cast into tableaux that are meaningful, even emblematic, but that, even when highly dramatic, arent forced. His restrained portrait of Detroit evokes real pathos.David Halpert returns to his native city and finds a new life and a modicum of happiness, but along the way he also confronts heartbreak and loss&Lassers setting ranges from the dingy hood to the ritzy burbs, so by the end we get to know the city almost as intimately as we know the characters.Readers will savor this fast-paced tale of redemption in one sitting.Starred review. Lassers Detroit may be a troubled city, but it is one whose vibrant soul is writ large in the small actions of its loyal citizens. With a serene and steady hand, Lassers spare but intense tale is a smart, intimate homage to the power of second chances. Put this book in the hands of fans of Richard Ford and Richard Russo.This appealing story may prompt some to hope (Detroit) will receive the chance at redemption that Scott Lasser so generously extends to his characters.Lasser& knows which side of 8 Mile Road matters, and his intimate understanding of the city makes for l³¥