Sidik Fofana’s Stories from the Tenants Downstairs instantly appealed to me: a tightly linked set of short stories about the tenants of a Harlem apartment block ticked two of my literary boxes, and that cover sealed the deal. Fofana’s collection sees many of the inhabitants of Banneker Terrace threatened with eviction thanks to the new owner’s plans to gentrify their building and sell the apartments off at a stonking profit.
Is that all the next ten years got in store for us? Is we just gonna be some herbs, smokin roaches and rubbin our hands whenever the heat bill ain’t been paid?
The Rent Manual sets the scene as single parent Mimi counts down the days until her rent’s due coming up with ways to make money while promising herself she’s going to mend her extravagant ways. In The Okiedoke Mimi’s ex, Swan, is disgusted by the trick his two friends pull on the Chinese takeout delivery man, his head full of the hope inspired by a black president in the White House. Ms Dallas sees Swan’s mother, a teaching assistant at a failing school, clashing with the new white teacher who has no idea how to impose discipline on the pupils whose lives he doesn’t understand. Several of Ms Dallas’ pupils seize opportunities to make money: The Young Entrepreneurs of Ms Bristol’s Front Porch sees local boys pulling the carpet out from under Kadese’s thriving business selling sweets while Najee and his pals enjoy themselves dancing on subway trains before passing the hat until tragedy strikes in lite feet. My absolute favourite is the brief Confederation for the Like-minded in which a pavement chess player, moved on by the police, is irritated by the righteous indignation of the tenants’ liaison committee who see only his age.
Mr Broderick went to Harvard. You knew that cuz he say the word five times a minute
Each tenant is given a distinct voice in this meticulously constructed collection, often written in a vernacular which sings out from the page so that you can almost hear it. Fofana explores racism, ageism, poverty, inequality and the assumption of white superiority in stories which are often as funny as they’re poignant. Each of the tenants’ backstories are satisfyingly fleshed out, many of them with ambitions and plans thwarted by happenstance or sometimes each other. For all of them, the urgency of making enough money to get by is a constant, made all the more so by the eviction notices served by a company intent on making a hefty profit from the sale of apartments some tenants have lived in all their lives. It’s an impressive collection, so confident and assured it’s hard to credit that it’s Fofana’s first.
John Murray Press: London 9781529331875 224 pages Paperback (Read via NetGalley)
I’m always tempted by books set on a single street or building. This sounds so powerful and accomplished, definitely on the wishlist!
It’s a clever setting for short stories like these, isn’t it, and so smartly done here.
Sounds like a wonderful collection, and I like the sound of the interlocking narratives. I’d somehow missed this one, so thanks for the heads up!
My pleasure! It would be a shame to miss this one.
I’ll join the list of people excited to read what sounds like an immersive and involving series of stories.
Excellent! Linked short stories are my favourite kind and this set is particularly good.
love the sound of this, thanks!
You’re welcome! I’ve a feeling it’s one of those books that might not get the attention it deserves.
I like that they connect up with each other yet capture the distinctive voices of each tenant. And very pleased to see ageism also addressed, something that is getting more attention now but still not enough.
I was so impressed by the distinctly different voices of his characters. You’re absolutely right about ageism, both in life and literature.
Great review. I have a copy of this and picked it up because I liked the idea of linked short stories.
Thanks, Janet. They’re so closely linked it almost reads like a novel. Hope you enjoy it when you get to it.
As soon as I saw the cover I knew what this book was going to be. I love this structure!
Isn’t it great? Perfect for the book!
This got a lot of deserved love when it came out here last year and in best-of end of the year lists. Definitely an author to follow in the future!
So pleased to hear that! I hope it does as well here. Short stories often don’t get the attention they deserve.
Sounds wonderful, so it’s going on my list. I love story cycles where characters from other stories pop in and out.
This one is so satisfyingly interlinked. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, Annabel.
I didn’t do rankings this past year, but if I had this probably would have been my fiction book of 2022 (I reviewed it for BookBrowse at its U.S. release). I agree with you it’s funny and vibrant, so deftly done it’s hard to believe it’s his first book. I hope it will be in the running for lots of prizes.
I was pleased to hear it had done so well in the States. His characters are wonderful, and he’s so adept at handling sober themes with humour.
Sounds like a really interesting book with unusual and diverse individuals.
It is. Highly recommend it.
A thoughtful read. I liked your comments.
Thank you!
Reminds me a little of Aravind Adiga’s Last Man in Tower, where the proposed demolition of a tower block is used as a premise to tell the stories of the tenants. If this one works as well as that one, I’m not surprised you enjoyed it!
Adding the Adiga to my list. I can certainly vouch for this one!
That sounds like a book I would like, set in NYC.It almost sounds like peeking through the tenement windows.
Lovely way of putting it!