Richard Price's novel 'Lazarus Man' explores aftermath of 2008 Harlem explosion

Richard Price's novel 'Lazarus Man' centers on a devastating explosion in East Harlem in 2008. The narrative follows four neighbors whose lives are transformed by this single catastrophic event. Photographer Felix Pearl experiences the blast firsthand, waking to a deafening noise before being thrown against his bedroom wall. A massive black smoke cloud rises outside his window as he struggles to comprehend what happened. Price meticulously documents how the explosion alters neighborhood dynamics and daily life on the streets. The cause of the incident remains deliberately ambiguous throughout the story. Instead, the author focuses on the community's response during the subsequent weeks of crisis. The novel captures the profound impact of sudden trauma on urban relationships and individual destinies.