The Last Block in Harlem

Below you will find my review for the novel The Last Block in Harlem, which I had previously posted on another blog. I wanted to repost here because the book is gaining steam and attention in its hometown of New York City. Author and publisher Christopher Herz has taken to the streets and is personally selling copies of the book. There is a great article about his efforts, which can be read here. I always find it inspiring to hear when people have left behind conventional success to follow their dreams.
"Inside Central Park there are people dying, men dropping down on one knee to propose, young couples enjoying the simplicity of a passionate kiss, old couples trying to find new paths to walk, single women glancing over the tops of the books they're reading to see if anyone is worth escaping fiction for, joggers trying to tone their bodies enough to look good in a suit come Monday..."

Such is the image of New York City that Christopher Herz vividly paints in his novel The Last Block in Harlem. It is a landscape that I fell in love with four years ago during my first visit to the city, and so eagerly found myself lost within with each turn of the page. From mid-day to midnight subway rides to the everday bustle of a Harlem neighborhood, Herz authentically captures what I can only imagine life in the 'Big Apple' is like, so much so that I felt as if I was reading the book on a stoop of a brownstone rather than on the sandy beaches of the west coast.

The Last Block in Harlem introduces us to a young, male protagonist, whose name is never revealed, at least not that I can remember-- but who I assume has a similar background as the author. Having physically relocated from California, but unable to escape his past misgivings, our protagonist sets out to escape reality by changing the tangible-- the trash that has cluttered his neighborhood.
An act of philanthropy, that begins with a broom and a dust pan, quickly escalates to a neighborhood movement against gentrification. Along the way, Herz introduces us to a handful of characters on the streets of Harlem- from the elderly neighbor Sukal who has an affinity for cats, to the young man known as The Boxer who had fallen from glory only to be resurrected by the movement. These vignettes into the background of each individual infuse life, shape and depth into the plot and novel beyond the narrative voice.
As a twentysomething who is undeniably in the midst of my quarter-life crisis, I found it easy to relate to the protagonist as he struggles to find harmony in his life- whether in overcoming his past, questioning his career, or finding a worthwhile cause to contribute to-- each issue is one which I have faced myself in the past six months. Additionally, as I consider approaching a career in advertising, this novel provided great insight into the corporate structure of the industry, regardless of whether its fictitious in nature or not.
What I found most intriguing was the parallel between the deception of the advertising world and the events that unfold in Harlem. Herz writes, "I didn't mind being tricked because it gave me a comfortable reality." Though it describes his initial attraction to advertising, it is also fittingly foreshadows the rest of the novel.
Herz's writing style and format is very simple and clear cut, which most likely stems from his background as a copywriter, making The Last Block in Harlem a quick read. Nonetheless, it is definitely worthwhile to spend an afternoon and get lost in Harlem with all its unique characters.
For more information, or to purchase your own copy of the novel, please visit www.canalpublishing.com