Set in the middle of New York City in the bustling almost mid ’90s, Syntell Smith’s CALL NUMBERS: The Not So Quiet Life Of Librarians, is an ensemble drama with a big heart. The cast is comprised of nearly the entire staff of the 58th Street New York City Public Library–with a wide range of ages, personalities, and backgrounds. There’s 7-foot tall and unapologetic Gerry, who loves starting fights with rude patrons; head clerk Sonyai, with a no-nonsense attitude and fierce devotion to her employees; and Robin, the latest hire and scrappy college kid with a smart mouth, fast fists, and a heart of gold.
In keeping with the assorted personalities, CALL NUMBERS also pulls together an impressive number of genres. Cloak and dagger office politics rub elbows with humorous workplace melodrama, young romance blossoms in the concrete jungle and the story also tackles a few important (and timeless) social issues. There are even quite a few rounds of fisticuffs and light kung fu action. Smith’s snappy dialogue and diverse cast bring to mind a kitschy, band of movie misfits, but as charming as the characters are, the sheer number of names, nicknames, and complex relationships can get confusing. Smith starts out the pacing as a steady, day-by-day progression, but it quickly accelerates to become erratic at times. This, combined with the sheer number of characters can make it challenging to settle into the narrative.
The chronological flow appears pivotal to the plot, as constant reference is made to how many days, weeks and months have passed, but a better way to ground the story might be to begin each chapter with the date and eschew the sometimes unwieldy in-text references altogether. Those seeking a relaxing read may be a bit overwhelmed by the book’s scope. However, readers interested in a highly stimulating, swift-moving story that flits between perspectives will tear through CALL NUMBERS with relish.
CALL NUMBERS is a snappy, socially conscious drama with serious flair for readers who crave the rapid-fire pacing, charming clichés, and melodrama of early 90s serials and soap operas.
~Lauren Napoli for IndieReader