Heart of the Old Country

by Tim McLoughlin

Book Overview

--Selected by the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Program

"Stolid suspense from the land of the wiseguys." --Kirkus Reviews

"Sweet, sardonic, and by turns hilarious and tragic." --Publishers Weekly

Heart of the Old Country is a guided tour of the ethnic enclaves of South Brooklyn. Not the Brooklyn of Spike Lee or Matty Rich, but a counterpoint, where the hangers-on--those left behind in the white flight to the suburbs--continue...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1936070006
• ISBN13: 9781936070008
• Release Date: June 2009
• Publisher: Akashic Books, Ltd.
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Great Memories From the Neighborhood

I am 52 years old and actually grew up on 68th and 12th, right across the street from the school yard where Nicky Shades was Namath everyday (I'm sure he was also a great stick ball player). I found Tim's book to be an accurate portrayal of many of the people from the neighborhood, conversely we did have doctors, lawyers, politicians and successfull business people graduate from 69th street and the schoolyard. I found the book's characters very life like and enjoyed mentions of New Corners and Regina Pacis(can you believe the schools closing). I've read several Jim Leher novels and if you enjoy reading Jim Leher, you will enjoy this book. May be it means more to someone who actually lived there that I enjoyed the book so much.

Better than 'Motherless Brooklyn'

I thought this book was better than the highly praised 'Motherless Brooklyn' by Jonathan Lethem (I make the comparison because they have many similarities -- Brooklyn car service setting, fringe mob characters, coming-of-age subplot, etc.). McLaughlin certainly knows his South Brooklyn setting inside-out. And his writing is a lot less cutesy and gimmicky than Lethem's. My only complaint is that the dramatic payoff to the story -- the climax, if we can call it that -- really isn't very satisfying. By the time it arrives the stakes aren't really very high, all of the tension has already been resolved by then, so the ending falls flat. But I still think the characters are very well observed throughout the book. McLaughlin shows a lot of promise as a writer. I hope he has the staying power to follow this up with even more interesting work (a la Richard Price).

A truly remarkable work.

Heart of the Old Country by Tim McLoughlin resonates with the sights and sounds of south-west Brooklyn, the apparent result of Mr. McLoughlin's creative talents and knowledge of his subject. Like many excellent books, Heart of the Old Country can be read on more than one level. I have just finished my second reading and can report that I found it more enjoyable than the first. The book is remisinscent of "Carlito's Way" by Edwin Torres - and just as good. I would not be surprised to see in the near future a film version and a mass paperback edition of this truly remarkable work.

Heart of Old New York

I loved this novel. It has a rocking narrative, a pace that never lets up. The author shows the denizens of old Brooklyn without every worrying about being politically correct or offending anyone. But in the end, the writer's love for the place and its people is overwhelmingly moving. A great summer read.

Old Memories

Just finished Tim McLoughlin's Heart of the Old Country and found it full of old friends and enemies. Being a displaced Brooklynite I thoroughly the read. There are characters that you'll love and characters you'll love to hate.I recommend it HIGHLY.