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I'm not going to do it. Nope. I'm not going to waste your time with some blustery little pseudo-intellectual introduction to my review of "Lush Life," Richard Price's latest page-burner masterpiece of a book. No siree, Bob. I'm just going cut to the chase and tell you straight-up that "Lush Life" is one of the best novels I have ever read.
Period.
But don't get me wrong; I'm not trying to convince you that "Lush Life" is classic American literature a la Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" or, say, Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex." But this book is story telling at such a high degree of excellence, I offer no apology for making the comparisons.
Four years in the writing, “Lush Life” is Price’s ode to the lower east side of Manhattan. It is a classic contemporary tale: A crime takes place. The police blow the investigation. Then all hell breaks loose. The plot is so thick you can cut it with a knife and eat it with a fork.
Richard Price’s true genius is dialogue. The characters are so fully rendered and the story so seamless, reading “Lush Life” is like watching a movie on the best high definition television in the world. It has it all: life, death, comedy, tragedy, suspense - and a little sex too.
I must admit it took a few pages for me to appreciate the rhythm of Price’s gifted style. It was a little disconcerting at first, but once I was onboard there was no looking back. I enjoyed every single moment I spent with his book.
I’m going to give it a year or two and then reread “Lush Life.” I look forward to returning to the mean streets of the lower east side and the unforgettable people who live there.
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Raymond Carver - his life and stories.
