Book Review: Lush Life by Richard Price

I am a complete literary snob, so I do not exactly dole out accolades for many books that reach the bestseller list in America. Lush Life, is a huge exception. The reason I tend to be lukewarm about many books is because of the lack of character development, mediocre depictions of conversations, or a simplistic plot. Most books seem to have one of the positive sides of those, and at best two of those qualities, but Lush Life has all three. It is the story of a murder of a young aspiring actor in the rapidly gentrifying lower east side, the impact it has on a neighborhood, a police precinct, and the dead man’s family.

At first glance, Lush Life is a gripping, gritty NYC detective story; a “who-dun-it” for the 21st Century, but that is just the momentum of the basic story line. When you weave in Price’s uncanny skill at writing dialogue, his history of the neighborhood, and creating a movie like background for your mind with his words, it elevates it to another level.

Under the surface, what Lush Life is really about is the gentrification of the Lower East Side in NYC. The book has an almost journalistic feel b/c Price offers no opinion on whether or not he is for or against gentrification, he merely takes the imbedded reporter approach as the narrative shifts from the cops patrolling the streets, to the first and second generation immigrants, the hipsters trying to make it at their crafts, and the adolescents who see no options outside of gang life. The best part about the book is the way the story line drifts between the clashing of interests of each group vying for jobs, opportunities, and real estate.

The one thing that held me as the reader back from finishing more quickly was the grittiness of the book. There is minor violence, and although the plot draws you in, and makes you want to stay up late to finish one last chapter, I often found myself putting it down. Not because I was weary of it, but because it was a little like watching Law & Order SVU for way too many episodes in a row. For someone more hardened, than my ’softie’ self, this would likely not be an issue.