An indie novel about twentysomething punk squatters in New York City in the ‘90s—where do I sign? I was really excited to read this book but was disappointed by the plot (which does a fair amount of wandering), the characters (which, apart from the coolheaded but hasn’t-found-her-place-yet narrator, never quite stand out), and some lackluster scenes. What Wakefield does really well instead, though, is show the hazards of Brooklyn squatting life (which is a lot more organized than I’d imagined) by capturing the mechanics of garbage disposal and squatters’ rights in ways that feel intricate and real.
Rating:
Where I Got It
Bought new at Quimby’s bookstore in Chicago while on a trip, Summer 2015.
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