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Listen to the Lambs

A Novel

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

"Daniel Black's novel . . . dramatizes the trials and tribulations of a group of homeless outcasts who push beyond their failings to form a family." —Jeffery Renard Allen, author of Fat Time and Other Stories

In Listen to the Lambs by Daniel Black, nothing can convince Lazarus Love III to return to the lifestyle of affluence and social status he once knew. Longing for a freedom of the soul that the world of capitalism cannot provide, Lazarus leaves all that he knows—including his wife and children—to achieve the ultimate level of peace and silence living as a homeless man. When his quest causes him to cross paths with four other wanderers, all of whom later call themselves "the family," a shocking, brutal act leaves Lazarus in a dire position and his newfound family must struggle to save him. By doing so, both families—past and present—are redeemed and consequently learn the beauty of sacrificial love.

"With Listen to the Lambs, Daniel Black once again shows himself to be a writer of great imagination and boundless empathy. Black is a treasure—a beautiful writer who loves his characters and his people." —Tayari Jones, New York Times–bestselling author of An American Marriage

"In Listen to the Lambs, Daniel Black creates a family out of people who are ostracized by society. It is a dark, funny, beautifully written, and heartfelt story about the homeless that is a must read." —Sanderia Faye, author of Mourner's Bench

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    • Kirkus

      December 15, 2015
      An exploration of homelessness by the author of Perfect Peace (2010) and The Sacred Place (2007). Black has said that he wants to "write literature which celebrates the African American presence in America and teaches the world how to be more human." That this is a laudable goal is obvious to anyone who understands the chronic underrepresentation of minority voices in American letters. And it's hard to fault someone whose aim as a novelist is to foster empathy. But a worthy objective doesn't necessarily make for compelling fiction, and this novel is entirely overwhelmed by Black's mission. Protagonist Lazarus Love III leaves a comfortable life--as well as a wife and two children--to pursue a more authentic existence as a man unencumbered by material desires. He creates a new family with people whose homelessness is involuntary, individuals with sad and difficult histories who are drawn to Lazarus' charisma and pride. And then a woman they call The Comforter joins their fragile community, speaking of trials to come. Her words prove true when Lazarus is accused of murder. Each member of his tribe works to prove him innocent even though it means revisiting pasts they had hoped to leave behind. In terms of style, Black has created here a kind of fleshed-out symbolic mode, a mixture of realism and allegory that succeeds as neither. Characterization is both flat and overly detailed--lots of exposition but no real depth. Lazarus' story features a confusing timeline and conflicting descriptions of how he ended up on the street, which makes it difficult to understand him. And a plot built entirely of coincidences might work for a fable or a fairy tale, but it strains credulity here. None of this means, however, that there is no audience for this novel. Readers who look for uplift and inspiration in their fiction will find both here. Good intentions, but that's about it.

      COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Library Journal

      November 1, 2015

      Lazarus Love III forsakes wealth and status (as well as a wife and children) to live without possessions.

      Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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  • English

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