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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 29, 2017)
JUNE 29, 2017 // 23 BOOK SHELF // GLIMPSE // WILDLIFE // POP CULTURE // WORDS // Q&A // FOOD // FUN BOOKMONGER Taut crime novel has many layers Black Heron Press is a serious literary press that exists out on the outskirts of Seattle. For a couple of decades now, it has published novels, nonfiction and poetry volumes that, in one way or another, examine the underbelly of the Ameri- can promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Author Leonard Chang is one of Black Heron’s great finds. New York-born, Harvard-educated, and now making a living as a screenwriter in Los Angeles, Chang’s first novel, “The Fruit ‘N Food,” won the Black Heron Press Award for Social Fiction and was published in 1994. Since then, the press has published several more of Chang’s books. The latest is a crime novel called “The Lockpicker.” The title character is Jake Ahn, who lives in Seattle. He works by day in a restaurant and in his off-hours as a profes- sional thief. Against his better judgment, Jake teams up to do a home functional family. burglary with Tommy, a psychopath with an Instead of finding temporary sanctuary amphetamine problem. Their effort begins to with Eugene, Jake only brings more chaos go sideways when Tommy overreacts during into his brother’s disintegrating household. the getaway. It turns out to be impossible to dispose of the Then it gets worse: Tommy pulls a gun past. Hobgoblins always find a way to return and tries to pull a double-cross. Jake resists, to haunt the survivors. and in the ensuing tussle, Tommy gets shot Chang layers suspense, betrayal and in the gut. revenge with the same precision he uses Jake leaves him for dead in a dumpster, to describe casing a joint, picking a lot, and splits to the Bay Area to lie low at his extracting information or making love. “The brother’s place. Lockpicker” is taut and literally gut-wrench- But life hasn’t been treating Eugene Ahn ing entertainment, excellently conceived. so well. He has been working long hours for But it is also so much more. Caught up in a high-tech start-up that is beginning to lose the throes of the action, or distracted by the steam. Eugene’s wife, Rachel, is likewise various specters that wisp through the text, disenchanted with her work as a banker and the reader may not pay attention to the rich is about to quit her job. They are weighed “The Lockpicker” symbolism in this work, or to the essen- down by debt. There is tension in their mar- By Leonard Chang tial framework that Chang quietly begins riage. Black Heron Press Jake’s arrival does nothing to help matters constructing from the get-go, as elemental to 365 pp between the couple. The Ahn brothers hav- human existence as DNA — values such as $16.95 en’t kept in close touch over the years. Eu- compassion, trustworthiness and justice that, gene disapproves of Jake’s criminal activity if not annealed by love, ultimately will fail. and has made it clear he wants nothing to do The Bookmonger is Barbara Lloyd McMi- with it. But Rachel is intrigued, and wants to know more. chael, who writes this weekly column focusing on the books, With Jake, she also probes another topic her husband authors and publishers of the Pacific Northwest. Contact her won’t talk about much — the Ahn boys’ childhood in a dys- at bkmonger@nwlink.com LOWER COLUMBIA BOWL Bowling Parties... because bowling is just fun!!! Cosmic Bowl Friday & Saturdays 9:00 to midnight 503-325-3321 Check out our website: www.lcbowl.com 10 AM - 10:30 PM MON-TH 10 AM - 12:00 AM FRI - SAT 12 PM - 10:30 PM SUNDAY ... is one of the most unique Cafes in the world Located on the Columbia River in the West’s oldest cannery building historic Hanthorn Cannery at the end of Pier 39 Friendly Services • High Quality Espresso Sumptuous Fresh Pastries Unique Breakfasts and Lunches “oooooh...” v “aaaaah...” MONDAY-THURSDAY • 7 AM –4 PM FRIDAY • 7 AM -5 PM SATURDAY • 8 AM -5 PM SUNDAY • 8 AM -4 PM 100 39 TH S TREET #2 A STORIA , O REGON 503.325.6900 TheCoffeeGirl.com
