SCREWING UP IN NEW YORK
Book Review by Ernest Barteldes
Screwball Comedy/Stories Going Steady
by boice-Terrell Allen
Rattlecat Press, 2006
281 pp, $ 14.95
http:
www.rattlecat.com
n
"Screwball Comedy", we follow one Rayla Sunday, a struggling
twentysomething photographer as she leaves the comforts of her
Pennsylvania hometown to try out a career in the streets of The
Big Apple while also looking for love.
Like with everyone else, beginnings aren't easy
– she juggles menial jobs as a waitress and as a shop clerk while
looking for the real thing. Early on, things seem to shine for her
– she soon finds a job with a local photo studio, but being the
only African-American staffer in the company makes her a bit
uneasy, but things get out of hand when in a celebration of her
first photo shoot a drag queen makes an appearance in blackface.
Finding no other option but to quit, she finds
herself struggling again. To make matters worse, she gets evicted
when her building's landlord discovers her illegal sublet. Without
much of an option, she returns to her mother's home to find a new
strategy and to decompress.
There are some side characters, such as Drunk
Dana, a woman in her late 30s who has given up on love and instead
finds comfort in booze, and Mark, a man who falls in love with her
but after a brief relationship (and some nights of bad sex) she
finds that he can be a better friend than a lover.
These characters – and her mother - are pivotal
to give emotional support for her return to New York after a few
weeks in Pennsylvania – she rooms with Dana and finds comfort in
her newfound friendship, even if Mark is just trying to get close
to her.
With a new job as an assistant photo editor at
a nature magazine, she finds her footing in the business while
still trying to find a soulmate. There will be some major
screw-ups on the way, but as we follow the story, we find
ourselves rooting for Rayla even though we might ultimately find
ourselves a bit disappointed with her life choices.
I found "Screwball Comedy" an interesting read,
but was a bit opposed by the language – as an African-American
writer, the author once uses the "n-word" and other epithets that
might sound a bit offensive to the average reader. Except for
that, the book stands out well and the writing flows seamlessly,
and the author's choice of including pop culture references
throughout the story make the book very accessible to everyone.
Flip the book around and you will find its
addendum, a collection of short stories entitled "Stories Going
Steady", whose "cover" is formatted to resemble a hip-hop album.
That stops the moment you begin reading the stories – they all
have some kind of tragedy associated with them, such as "The
Murder Ballad of My Father", in which the protagonist finds his
progenitor's corpse during a visit home, and the tragic death of a
one-time author in "A Posthumous Introduction". The short stories
have little of the comedic vibe of "Screwball", but they are
catchy and vibrant in their own way.
Jazz and Other Beats:
On March 7th, local band 4dSea
appears at The Crash Mansion in support of their latest
independently-released album. Their sound is a blend of classic
funk with a touch of modern sounds, going through rock, reggae and
r & b influences. The Crash Mansion is located at 199 Bowery (btw
Spring and Rivington). For more information, visit
http://www.4dsea.com
The same date marks the beginning of the
week-long residency of The Wallace Roney quintet at The Jazz
Standard. The trumpetist, who brings post-bop influences while
also going on a more traditional format appears alongside
saxophonist Antione Roney, pianist (and wife) Geri Allen, Clarence
Seay and Eric Allen. Sets are at 9 and 11 PM (extra 12:30 AM set
on Saturday). The Jazz Standard is located at
