Monday, May 25, 2015

Teaser/Intro: Upper West Side Story by Susan Pashman


I stood up to face Stephen, a lump swelling in my throat. “It is simple,” I cried. “I can’t stand all this conniving and second-guessing when the truth is perfectly obvious. It’s always some stupid game with you politicians. But they can’t play games with our son, Stephen. That’s just not going to happen!”
I tore down the hall to our bedroom and stared out at the city. Down every street, behind every window, lives were being ruined – choked by greed, poisoned by ambition, obliterated by self-interest. The city stared back at me, a professor of political theory, a stalwart campaigner for a more just world.
Title: Upper West Side Story
Author: Susan Pashman
ISBN: 9781941861035
Publisher: Harvard Square Editions/2015
Pages: 286


The story is about two families, one White, other Black. Bettina is white and Viola is Black. Both forge deep bonds with each other and are good friends. Their sons, Max and Cyrus are in the same school and are very close to each other.

Both had gone to a field trip and Cyrus dies due to an accident. Max is held responsible for it. Bettina gets to read Max's diary and finds great insights about Max and Cyrus's friendship. Hard hitting, thought provoking, loss, racial prejudice and however hard one might try not to be affected by it all, one gets embroiled in the midst of it.

The divide is there, ever present despite best efforts, and unfairness of it all when a boy is wrongly punished for something he did not do. Bettina does not give up. She has to save her son. She also feels for Viola who has lost a son. Her loyalties get torn yet she has to save her son. 

This book grabbed me and kept me enthralled till the end. I felt for both the mothers and the helplessness, the utter loneliness of the characters. Love, forgiveness, redemption, isn't what we want?

This novel covers those and more.....


Posted this review for iRead Book Tours

11 comments:

Suzie Quint said...

I don't think this is for me. Hope you enjoy it though.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

I'd give this one a try. Hope you enjoy it.

Kay said...

Well, I like to try books that include a diary. Somehow, that is a big attraction for me. This book sounds interesting and I'd continue reading. :-)

JoAnn said...

I like the quote you shared!

Anonymous said...

Interesting passage and blurb about it. Racial injustice and divides always pull me in. I don't usually enjoy diary, letters, or journal format but perhaps I would enjoy this one, so thanks!

Vicki said...

Yes, I'd definitely keep reading!

Kim@Time2Read said...

I'm not sure about this one. It sounds like it will be very difficult to get through.

Today I am featuring The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank.

Sandra Nachlinger said...

This sounds like a fascinating book with an unusual story line. I think it might be a difficult story to read, but it sounds like it's worth it.
My Tuesday post features Nobody’s Cuter Than You.

Girl Who Reads said...

Sounds interesting. It reminds me a bit of A Life Apart by L.Y. Marlow. Girl Who Reads.com

Juli Rahel said...

Initially I wasn't quite sure where this book was going but then the blurb and your review sounded really interesting! I think I might have to read a bit more to figure out whether this book is one for me but I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing :) I hope you have a great week and that I see you at ABEA!
My Tuesday post
Juli @ Universe in Words

grammajudyb said...

The cover did not grab me, but your intro surely did. I would read on. I am adding this one to my list of To Be Read! Thanks for sharing.