Monday, October 15, 2007

Random Acts of Senseless Violence

Jack Womack's Random Acts of Senseless Violence is not a feelgood novel.

The book takes the form of the diary of Lola, a 12-year old girl growing up in the dystopian near-future New York that is the setting of many of Womack's stories: riots in Harlem, the Army dealing with Long Island insurgents, the 14 Street Wall.

The downward spiral of Lola and her family as they run out of first money, then options, is sure to tug on a heartstring or two. Stylistically, the form works well, with Lola's voice getting more and more street-level as things go on.

Desperation, poverty, racism, and yes, violence. Highly recommended.

No comments: