Langside
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3.5 • 2 Ratings
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
Set in the working poor district of West Central Winnipeg, Langside shines a harsh light on the many problems facing inner city residents. Pressured to join the local gang but unwilling to do so, thirteen year old Sky struggles to adapt to the world of guns and drugs around him. Meanwhile, opposing gangs eager to capitalize on the growing demand for crystal meth are on the verge of open warfare. As Sky’s alcoholic parents try to keep the family afloat and a pair of mismatched cops attempt to deal with the rising violence, the story races towards a breathless conclusion that will keep readers in suspense until the last moment. Despite Sky’s prominence as a central character, the book is not aimed at the youth market and is geared more towards adults. Bold and brazen, yet often darkly humourous, Langside is a fast paced snapshot of urban life, both tragic and hopeful, and poignant without being bleak.
Customer Reviews
Promoting awareness or promoting stereotypes?
I eagerly turned the pages on this one, and in true Walter style, it kept the reader engaged and not wanting to put it down. However, this one left me disappointed, it was not the same calibre as Wrong or Up & Down on the Downtown Eastside. Maybe it’s just because this is my backyard, and these are my streets but to me it smacked of cultural appropriation: skimming stereotypes to highlight the city’s racial tensions and gang tensions. The book also deals with the city’s very real tension between the local police and the Aboriginal community. The character Brew is certainly the highlight, Walter delivers him in true style. While his style often gives us just enough about the supporting characters to keep us wanting more, and ask ourselves about the other aspects of their lives that brought them to this point, Langside seems to fall short of that. There seem to be too many characters and the depth of characterization just seems to fall a little short. Racial tensions are real in Winnipeg: this is difficult topic, while Walter has tried to show some perspective on the issues, it is a broad and complex topic. Too broad and complex perhaps, for a fictional work of this length.