Lazarus Man is a 2024 novel by Richard Price. It was released on November 12, 2024.
 | |
| Author | Richard Price (writer) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Literary fiction |
| Publisher | Farrar, Straus and Giroux |
Publication date | November 12, 2024 |
| Publication place | United States |
| ISBN | 978-0-374-16815-5 |
Synopsis
editAfter the collapse of an apartment building in East Harlem in 2008, the surrounding neighborhood struggles to come to terms with the disaster.
Development
editPrice was inspired to write the novel after the 2014 East Harlem gas explosion, which caused multiple buildings to collapse and killed eight people.[1][2] Price lived several blocks away from the collapsed building and spent time observing the scene.[1] In an interview on NPR's Fresh Air, Price said that he wrote the bulk of the novel during the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
Publication history
editLazarus Man was published in the United States by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.[4] It was released on November 12, 2024.[4]
Reception
editAccording to review aggregator Book Marks, Lazarus Man received mostly positive reviews upon release.[5] Associated Press opined that the novel benefited from Price's screenwriting experience, noting that the character shifts were easy to follow and praising the unconventional story structure.[6] The Boston Globe wrote that the book's characters were diverse and that the novel highlighted the "racial and religious identities" present in New York City.[7] The Los Angeles Times and The San Francisco Chronicle concurred, with the former complimenting the novel's dialogue and the latter naming Price "the bard of everyday life in America."[8][9] The Atlantic was also positive, noting connections between the novel's themes and the philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre.[10]
Laura Miller, writing for Slate, praised the interactions between the characters and noted that the novel's lack of plot allowed for the characters to be explored in more depth.[11] Miller positively compared the book to Deacon King Kong by James McBride.[11] The Wall Street Journal similarly praised the characters.[12] The Washington Post's review, written by Ron Charles, praised the novel's structure and Price's writing for giving each character an individual voice.[13] Kirkus Reviews was positive, positively describing the prose and describing the novel as being "kinder and gentler" than Price's previous work.[4] Publishers Weekly published a starred review praising Price's attention to detail in describing the street life of New York City.[14] Booklist was also positive.[15]
By contrast, The New York Times Book Review panned the book, directing mild praise at the book's characters but criticizing the tone and overall structure of the book for [elid]ing the sense that there's no story."[16]
References
edit- ^ a b Parker, Danielle (2024-11-09). ""Lazarus Man" by Richard Price is a bonus read from the CBS New York Book Club". CBS News. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "Sunday marks 9 years since deadly East Harlem gas explosion". CBS News. 2023-03-12. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ Terry Gross (2024-11-14). "Richard Price explores second chances, and rising from the rubble in 'Lazarus Man'". Fresh Air (Podcast). NPR. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ a b c "Lazarus Man". Kirkus Reviews. 2024-07-10. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ "Lazarus Man". Book Marks. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ Merrill, Rob (2024-11-14). "Book Review: Richard Price returns with another portrait of urban America, 'Lazarus Man'". Associated Press. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ Cain, Hamilton (2024-11-06). "Richard Price's 'Lazarus Man' asks what you'd do with a second chance". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ Haber, Leigh (2024-10-30). "Richard Price returns with a story of urban disaster, grit, hustle and even hope". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ Vognar, Chris (2024-11-08). "Review: In can't-put-down 'Lazarus Man,' the soul of a city is revealed by its weary denizens". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ Harper, Tyler Austin (2024-11-12). "Richard Price's Radical, Retrograde Novel". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ a b Miller, Laura (2024-11-11). "The Great New York Novelist Is Back". Slate. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ Sacks, Sam (2024-11-08). "Fiction: Richard Price's 'Lazarus Man'". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ Charles, Ron (2024-11-07). "'Lazarus Man' is a fast-paced but thoughtful urban thriller". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "Lazarus Man". Publishers Weekly. 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ "Lazarus Man". Booklist. 2024-10-01. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ Lorentzen, Christian (2024-11-15). "Richard Price's New Novel Is Full of Color but Short on Drama". The New York Times Book Review. Retrieved 2024-11-18.