The Tenants

Two writers. One Jew-Harry- one black-Willie- live in an abandoned tenamant block and have an antagonistic relationship. Malamud wrote this at the height of the black-jew tensions of the late 60's early 70's and it explores the link between identity and racism-Willie is seeking a definition of blackness that excludes and dominates, whilst Harry seeks love but doesn't know either how to find it or give it,and neither can escape from their never to be finished books. This is typical Malamud fayre;at times bleak, at times humourous and with characters that only destroy themselves or their ambitions. A definate for Malamud addicts.

It wasn't "The Assistant" for me, but it was a pretty good read (the dialogue alone was worth the price of admission). Malamud handled the diversity of characters very well and although I wasn't over joyed at the ending, I didn't expect to be. A sometimes angry, sometimes funny read.

Set in a decaying Manhattan tenement waiting to be condemned, "The Tenants" tells the story of a white novelist desperately trying to finish his novel before the wrecking ball comes down on him. Things get complicated when an aspiring African-American writer moves in and a rivalry begins.