The Songbook of Benny Lament Review
By Nic Daniels
TW: Racism (it’s the 1960’s)
Hello, audacious readers!
I hope you’re staying cool as the summer continues to heat up. Last month, we explored being true to yourself while loving someone else in Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa. This month, we’re fast forwarding to a 1960’s New York romance in The Songbook of Benny Lament by Amy Harmon.
Benny Lament was eight years old when he first wrote a song. It came to him almost instantly as he watched his father shake down a local store owner. When his dad explained that he was working for his uncle and that family came first, he understood that loyalty comes with a high price tag. And he didn’t want to pay it.
As an adult, Benny is an accomplished songwriter and pianist for some of the hottest music acts in the country. He’s constantly on the road, never lingering in New York for too long, and he prefers that way. However, life comes to a screeching halt when his dad asks for a favor: Help make Esther Mine, a black singer from Harlem, the next big star. He thinks nothing of it until he hears sing for the first time.
Despite her small stature, her voice is a powerhouse, and her stubbornness to make it big constantly pulls him into her orbit. While it would be easier to return to the road, Esther dares Benny to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight. But this journey is far from easy. With racism, Benny’s mob ties, and a haunting secret threatening everything they work for; Benny and Esther will have to fight for everything they have and there is no turning back.
When I first got this book, I was nervous. When non-black writers create black characters, it can easily turn into a caricature of what they think a black person is supposed to be or make them into a saint, which is only marginally better. It can also be difficult when factoring in tumultuous time periods because there’s nowhere to hide.
To me, this story didn’t do that.
First, it’s told from the perspective of Benny, a tall, Italian white guy. We see not only his first impressions but him becoming aware of the blind spots as he moves tries to establish Esther and her band, which consists of her brothers. And while Esther as a character is stubborn and argumentative, she’s also written with a full spectrum of emotions. We see her happy, witty, vulnerable, and even scared. We also see her bravery in the face of situations that force her to act confident and unbothered, giving us the common emotional duality black women face.
None of this detracts to make a “statement.” In fact, fll of this fuels directly fuels the story, especially the opposites attract trope. Benny’s big, reserved, hesitant but loyal when he knows what he wants. Esther is small, brash, daring, and loyal to a fault. Their arguments, their banter, and their love feels real. There’s nothing “perfect” about their story, but that also means there’s nothing contrived either. Everything that happens feels like it’s properly built up, not just there for drama’s sake (looking at you, third act break-ups).
Because of this, everything that Esther and Benny do feels like a choice. They’re choosing to fight when they can and hold on when they can do nothing else. And in that, we’re able to see how they’re perfect for each other, which makes me root for them every time.
I hope you enjoyed The Songbook of Benny Lament. I'll be sharing all my thoughts and feelings on the upcoming IG live with founder, Jessica Wise. You can also meet up with us in person on August 24th for the Staycation Writer’s Retreat, where I’ll be teaching a class on creative writing! Check out the link for further details and feel free to comment your thoughts on this month’s book below.
Until next time, don’t forget to read audaciously!
