Contenders, Erika Krouse, Rare Bird Books, 2015, 317 pp
Summary from Goodreads: Street-fighter Nina
Black lives by her fists in Denver, stealing wallets and taking
advantage of men who try to take advantage of her. This symbiosis is
upended when one of her marks, a cop and MMA comeback contender, wants
his wallet — and his dignity — back.
Avoiding retribution is difficult enough alone, but it becomes impossible once Nina gets unexpected custody of an orphaned eight-year-old niece she didn’t know existed, accompanied by her long-lost (and ever-vigilant) childhood flame, Isaac. When the situation implodes, only one person can help Nina earn back her life, and prepare her for the fight that might end it.
Avoiding retribution is difficult enough alone, but it becomes impossible once Nina gets unexpected custody of an orphaned eight-year-old niece she didn’t know existed, accompanied by her long-lost (and ever-vigilant) childhood flame, Isaac. When the situation implodes, only one person can help Nina earn back her life, and prepare her for the fight that might end it.
My Review:
"I coulda been a contender." The line I always remember from On the Waterfront. I wonder if Erika Krouse had that line in mind as she wrote this astonishing novel.
Nina Black was not a bum but she lived among bums and other derelicts and made her living by stealing in Denver, CO. Her passion was fighting, trained as she was within an inch of her life in Mixed Martial Arts, MMA. Therefore, she had no need to work in a cubicle or office or retail store and she had no fear of the streets at night or of rapacious men. Except, of course, there was one man about whom she had to be wary.
This novel is full of gritty violence and of a woman's tragic childhood but at the same time explores the heart, longings, and the idea of how one makes a family. It includes a precocious and brave child. Ultimately it is a story of how one woman overcame huge obstacles to find love and to create a family she didn't even know she craved.
In addition to all that there is humor. Erika Krouse's prose is tight and spare, yet she is as at ease with funny, tender moments as she is brilliant when writing fight scenes. She creates unlikable characters only to make you care about and feel you understand them.
Contenders is another novel I received as a Nervous Breakdown Book Club selection. I also listened to a fascinating interview with the author on OtherPeople. She is a private investigator as well as a novelist. Imagine if V I Warshawski also wrote novels!
(Contenders is available in paperback by order from Once Upon A Time Bookstore.)
Tough as nails heroines are becoming the norm lately. I like that.
ReplyDeleteMe too!
DeleteVery interesting. I'm not at all familiar with this writer. Is this perhaps her first book? I guess I could ask Google...
ReplyDeleteWhat did Google tell you?
DeleteIt's her second book, first novel. She also has a book of short stories.
DeleteThat sounds right. Good old Google!
DeleteOh my, this book seems to pack a punch -- so to say. I like the sounds of it: gritty. How unusual to be a P.I. and a novelist. You go!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan!
DeleteI don't know this author but the story seems interesting. Some time ago, I've read a similar novel - Chicago May
ReplyDeleteOh, did you mean the one by Nuala O'Faolain? I have it on my shelf. I love her writing. I read her memoirs and first novel before I visited Ireland some years ago.
DeleteYes exactly...I'm glad you liked it, too
DeleteDear Judy! It's a day off today, yesterday was a bank holiday, so I took the opportunity to update my visits....hahaha...
ReplyDeleteQ.: Did you write a review about The Story of Chicago May??
Judy, if that doesn't bother you, I would love to read your thoughts on Ireland. I've only been to Dublin, but I am very attracted to this country. I think it is partly thanks to the books I've read. Have a nice weekend ; -)
I meant to say that I had The Story of Chicago May on my unread shelf. I bought it because I had loved all of O'Faolain's books so far plus I saw her give a reading and talk about Chicago May, but then I never got around to reading it. And then she suddenly died! So so sad.
DeleteI loved traveling in Ireland. It was during the Celtic Tiger times and the people were pretty excited that their economy was better. Of course, that went by the boards in the 2008 crash. It is beautiful and emotional and sad there, just as it is in many of the Irish novels I have read. My favorite places were the Dingle peninsula and Sligo (home of W B Yeats.) I want to go back. My fantasy is to rent a house for a month on the Dingle and take day trips from there. Fingers crossed!
Oh thank you so much Judy! I hope that your dream come true! As you said fingers crossed! ;) Thank my dear
DeleteOh I forgot to mention that I will try to review Chicago May this month. ;-) I wish you a fabulous weekend!
DeleteLook forward to that!
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