The Crime of Being

by Alice Lichtenstein

On a Good Friday in a picturesque village in Upstate New York, the spring weather is unusually warm, and school is closed. It's an ideal day for tanning and partying in the park until Shawnee Padrushky, age 17, drives up in his dad's new pick-up and comes out shooting with one victim in mind—Gunther Smith—the only black student in Shawnee's class, the adopted son of white parents.The Crime of Being explores the effects of a racial incident—how it divides a seemingly homogenous community over the course of a summer and exposes its dark secrets. Tarred by the media as “the most racist town in America,” the people of Lake Village face tangled questions of whether racism or insanity were at the root of a white teenager's violent assault of his black classmate, and whether the community as a whole can be implicated. Until the incident, the Cannons' and the Padrushkys' lives rarely intersected, but in its aftermath, their trajectories run strangely parallel as they are forced to look at how they have managed (and mismanaged) their parental responsibilities. Ironically, Shawnee and Gunther, perpetrator and victim, find themselves sharing the territory of otherness as their definitions of self are changed forever.

Genres: Fiction

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 17, 2019

About the author

Alice Lichtenstein graduated from Brown University and received her MFA from Boston University. She has received a New York Foundation of the Arts Grant in Fiction, the Barbara Demming Memorial Award for Fiction and has twice been a fellow at the MacDowell Colony.

Alice’s new novel, THE CRIME OF BEING, forthcoming from Upper Hand Press, November 2019, has already been called "A brilliant, riveting, and emotionally charged story about the crime of black life." (Jallicia Jolly, UM)

Her first novel, THE GENIUS OF THE WORLD (Zoland Books, 2000), recieved favorable reviews, most notably in The New York Times Book Review and on National Public Radio.

PEOPLE Magazine called Alice's second novel, LOST, (Scribner, 2010), "a great read" and NPR said, "LOST is a novel that delivers much reading pleasure." LOST was a long-list Finalist for the2011 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.

Lichtenstein’s short stories have appeared in several literary journals. Most recently, Revision, in Narrative Magazine (Fall 2018); Dead Friends in Post Road (Winter, 2010) and White Ladies in Short Story (Spring, 2010). These stories were nominated for Pushcart Prize Awards.

Alice lives in Oneonta, New York, where she teaches fiction-writing at Hartwick College, and in Surry, Maine.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't give 5 stars lightly and I don't often write a review. My judgement of a good book versus a great is one that leaves me reeling long after I have finished reading. That is what tipped the scales for me.

This book examines topics that are so very relevant in today's society. The author tackles these topics that are uncomfortable for people to talk about with such dexterity. From the start I could tell that a line would be drawn in the sand and like many of the townspeople, I felt like I needed to pick a side. But by the middle of the book I felt as though I was floating in murky water; I was upset and angry and I wasn't sure who to believe because of politics and money and mob mentality and people who felt they needed to put their two cents in.

I will leave it at this: this book was incredibly thought-provoking and I would highly recommend reading it if you like to be challenged.

[David Krajicek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book--a gripping account of the complex personal and public dynamics that spring from a racially motivated shooting of one high school boy by another. Lichtenstein's plot is drawn from a real-life case in upstate New York, but her telling of the story is fine literary fiction, not mere true crime. Her writing is lovely (she is a master of similes, for one small example), the pace is brisk (with James Patterson-sized mini-chapters), and her insightful observations and imaginings about parenting, race, and small towns are often stunning.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great! Maybe because I know the author, or because I know the event that this book was based on, but probably because this is a well written, engrossing novel. Unlike reading a story in the newspaper and imagining what was going through someone's head when they committed a crime, Lichtenstein actually lets us know what was going on in the participants heads. Sadly, this topic is all too relevant today, but may give you pause in judging those who are involved.

[Paula Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished reading this book this week and literally could not put it down. I actually was in the town where the actual crime took place and there during the time leading up to the trial and beyond.
The before, during and after in this novel covers the power of race, politics and race in A mostly white town in rural upstate New York.
What struck out most powerfully to me as how little we as parents really know about our teenagers inner lives.

[Trudy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I appreciate the desire to tackle a necessary topic. The concept for the book seemed noble, which is what attracted me. Unfortunately, I found the writing style unappealing with extra description for unimportant details, yet not nearly enough depth in the characters. I wanted to know more about what made people who they were. This skimmed the surface.

[Carol Painter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice is such a wonderful writer ...The title is so sadly true. The very disturbing subject of racism as it affects each one of us is ever timely, and definitely something we all need to recognize. Her interview with Tish Pearlman on www.outofboundsradioshow.com is well worth a listen.

[Deborah Chicorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engrossing fictionalized account of a local tragedy. Alice presents the story from multiple perspectives reminding us all, that focusing on the surface, outward appearances are general (always?) misleading.

[Amy Stanton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like the author tried to cram too many issues into this story. The premise is compelling and I get that the author wants to show dimension to the issues, but I feel that it got too convoluted. There were also side stories that were brought up and then not resolved.

[Terra Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this today in the mail and I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read her other books

[Susan Helwig · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Crime of Being is a can't put down- Must Read!

[Rebecca Paterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughtful, sober, and humanizing book that could not be more timely.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really well written. It tells a strong story with real meaning. The characters are well developed and every single one of them is believable, right down to the dialogue. The imagery is vivid without being distracting. It was a fast read and sucked me in immediately.

Enjoy the wonderful examination of racism, mental illness, small town politics, hazing, possible child abuse, and the struggle to be respectfully inclusive. I can tell the author put a lot of work into this, and i think the book is well worth reading by anyone interested in how justice doesn't always serve the victim.