The Ballad of Black Tom (Paperback)

from LisCarey

Tom is a young black man, living in New York City with his father, in the pre-Civil Rights era. Life is not easy, or safe, but Tom has gotten very skilled at presenting a non-threatening front and making money in ways that may not meet his father's high ethical standards, but do meet his looser o...

from xiaomarlo

I like this much better than Lovecraft Country, another book about Lovecraft and the African American experience. This one much more accurately evokes Lovecraft's world. I found the end a bit over-the-top, but not necessarily in the cosmic sense, which would have been a bit more satisfying. But t...

from berthirsch

This is a short novel about a young hustler growing up in the Harlem of the 1920's. Supposedly a remake of an earlier HP Lovecraft work, this is an easy enjoyable read, filled with suspense, mystery with a bit of occultism. It is also the story of a young adult trying to find his way in the face ...

from xiaomarlo

I like this much better than Lovecraft Country, another book about Lovecraft and the African American experience. This one much more accurately evokes Lovecraft's world. I found the end a bit over-the-top, but not necessarily in the cosmic sense, which would have been a bit more satisfying. But t...

from LynnMPK

Written in two parts. Part one I found intriguing, but I wasn't fully sucked into the story until part two...and then it was over. I wanted more of Black Tom! Wonderful writing as always from Mr. LaValle. I'm not familiar with the Lovecraft story that this is based on so I'm sure I missed some th...