I loved the way this book felt. It felt like social justice, it looked like compassion , it smelled like a beautiful disaster. Even with the contradictory nature of this book, its other worldliness buttressed against the grittiness of a Harlem reality, or its joy rooted in characters who have clearly come undone, The Last Block in Harlem resonates like a long note in a jazz riff. While I found it problematic to fully empathize with a character who I didn’t fully understand or connect to–I still found this story deeply compelling and lovingly told. It’s a story that has been told many times in the eyes of strangers, and Herz captures it from a position of ousider within with both clarity and conflict. In the end though to me, this book is about belonging and the inter-connectedness of ideas and people. And who doesn’t want to belong? Whether to someone, some place, some philosophy or some time -our true humanity is located in this quest. For me, The Last Block in Harlem is tied to a lovely day in Central Park, with the sun in my eye, a good friend at my side and an open heart.
“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…”
Click to Purchase Your Print CopySuch 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.
A Letter I received from Larry Rood after his purchase of LBIH
“I read The Last Block In Harlem, and enjoyed every second of it. The characters and the setting are vivid, colorful, and alive. Of course I want to live on the block. But it goes further than that. The plot changes where the innocent reader is following the story, and then, suddenly, poof, someone turns the balloon inside out and what you thought was reality now isn’t, and you are in the new reality….. for a while…. What it brought mind was John Barth’s Giles Goat Boy, in which he constantly pulls the plot rug out from under your feet. You are in a grand tradition. Looking to see more in the future.”
Part of this have been deleted as to not spoil certain parts of the story.
-CH
“Christopher-
You may remember me…you introduced yourself to me a couple weeks back at a bench just north of the Planetarium…subsequently selling me your book. I’ve since read it and wanted to offer my thoughts.
Congratulations on a highly emotional and introspective work. I thoroughly enjoyed the read. You could see the neighborhood gel into a family through the clouded eyes of the main character and using the all-encompassing experience of *****(DELETED TO PRESERVE PLOT FROM A SPOILER) was brilliant since it cut through all the racial and ethnic divisions that could otherwise have been there. Very nicely done indeed.
..congratulations and thank you for letting me and all your readers so far into your neighborhood. I’ve lived in NYC all of my adult life, over 20 years now, and I have yet to build the connections that you obviously have in your slice of the city. I wish I could. Perhaps this realization is the first step towards truly becoming a neighbor in my own hood.”
“Hi Christopher,
We met last week at Theodore Roosevelt Park at the AMNH. I bought your book and today, I finished reading it. The slice of life in your neighborhood was a treat to read. The ending wasn’t at all what I was expecting, so kudos on the surprises in store for the reader!
Congratulations on your labor of love. I applaud your hard work in getting this book published and I look forward to reading your work again in the future.
The Last Block in Harlem tells of the experiences of a young urban professional couple in a truly old New York neighborhood. The main character’s perception of this environment is misunderstood given his background. It is a story many can relate with, but may not admit it. It tells a passionate story of how the couple and this neighborhood form a bond through very real urban issues such as gentrification. Not to mention, a very unexpected twist as an end. The realism is palpable. Great read Chris!
I loved the way this book felt. It felt like social justice, it looked like compassion , it smelled like a beautiful disaster. Even with the contradictory nature of this book, its other worldliness buttressed against the grittiness of a Harlem reality, or its joy rooted in characters who have clearly come undone, The Last Block in Harlem resonates like a long note in a jazz riff. While I found it problematic to fully empathize with a character who I didn’t fully understand or connect to–I still found this story deeply compelling and lovingly told. It’s a story that has been told many times in the eyes of strangers, and Herz captures it from a position of ousider within with both clarity and conflict. In the end though to me, this book is about belonging and the inter-connectedness of ideas and people. And who doesn’t want to belong? Whether to someone, some place, some philosophy or some time -our true humanity is located in this quest. For me, The Last Block in Harlem is tied to a lovely day in Central Park, with the sun in my eye, a good friend at my side and an open heart.
BY AMANDA GRAY
“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…”
Click to Purchase Your Print CopySuch 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 http://www.canalpublishing.com
A Letter I received from Larry Rood after his purchase of LBIH
“I read The Last Block In Harlem, and enjoyed every second of it. The characters and the setting are vivid, colorful, and alive. Of course I want to live on the block. But it goes further than that. The plot changes where the innocent reader is following the story, and then, suddenly, poof, someone turns the balloon inside out and what you thought was reality now isn’t, and you are in the new reality….. for a while…. What it brought mind was John Barth’s Giles Goat Boy, in which he constantly pulls the plot rug out from under your feet. You are in a grand tradition. Looking to see more in the future.”
-Larry Rood
Part of this have been deleted as to not spoil certain parts of the story.
-CH
“Christopher-
You may remember me…you introduced yourself to me a couple weeks back at a bench just north of the Planetarium…subsequently selling me your book. I’ve since read it and wanted to offer my thoughts.
Congratulations on a highly emotional and introspective work. I thoroughly enjoyed the read. You could see the neighborhood gel into a family through the clouded eyes of the main character and using the all-encompassing experience of *****(DELETED TO PRESERVE PLOT FROM A SPOILER) was brilliant since it cut through all the racial and ethnic divisions that could otherwise have been there. Very nicely done indeed.
..congratulations and thank you for letting me and all your readers so far into your neighborhood. I’ve lived in NYC all of my adult life, over 20 years now, and I have yet to build the connections that you obviously have in your slice of the city. I wish I could. Perhaps this realization is the first step towards truly becoming a neighbor in my own hood.”
-Greg Raymond
“Hi Christopher,
We met last week at Theodore Roosevelt Park at the AMNH. I bought your book and today, I finished reading it. The slice of life in your neighborhood was a treat to read. The ending wasn’t at all what I was expecting, so kudos on the surprises in store for the reader!
Congratulations on your labor of love. I applaud your hard work in getting this book published and I look forward to reading your work again in the future.
Best,
Andrea”
The Last Block in Harlem tells of the experiences of a young urban professional couple in a truly old New York neighborhood. The main character’s perception of this environment is misunderstood given his background. It is a story many can relate with, but may not admit it. It tells a passionate story of how the couple and this neighborhood form a bond through very real urban issues such as gentrification. Not to mention, a very unexpected twist as an end. The realism is palpable. Great read Chris!