God's Pocket - by Pete Dexter (Paperback)

About the Book

Young Leon Hubbard was arrogant and near psychotic. So when he was killed on a South Philadelphia construction site, everyone who knew him wanted to bury the bad news with the body. All, that is, except two--Leon's mother and the local columnist for the common man.

Book Synopsis

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

In this striking debut from the author of the National Book Award winner Paris Trout, Pete Dexter chronicles a murder and its consequences in the fictional blue-collar Philadelphia neighborhood of God's Pocket.

Leon Hubbard makes other men nervous, talking to himself or anyone who will listen about the things he's cut with his straight razor. So when he crosses the wrong guy on a South Philly construction site and winds up with his head caved in, everyone is content to bury the bad news with the body. Everyone, that is, except Leon's mother--and a local newspaper columnist hoping the story will resurrect his career. Only a mother could love a man like Leon. But only an outsider could expect to change anything in God's Pocket.

Praise for God's Pocket

"Riveting . . . a first-class first novel . . . highlighted by superior writing, dialogue that rings true, and a highly believable background."--Associated Press

"God's Pocket sings, snarls, mugs, wisecracks, buys you a drink, steals your wallet, and takes you home to meet the folks."--Richard Price

"My own favorite among Mr. Dexter's work remains God's Pocket, which I continue to admire for its rich, well-nigh Dickensian mixture of verisimilitude, real-life absurdity, horror and romance."--Robert Stone, The New York Times Book Review

"Rollicking . . . a tough Philadelphia neighborhood comes to life in these pages."--Playboy

Review Quotes

"Riveting . . . a first-class first novel . . . highlighted by superior writing, dialogue that rings true, and a highly believable background."--Associated Press

"God's Pocket sings, snarls, mugs, wisecracks, buys you a drink, steals your wallet, and takes you home to meet the folks."--Richard Price

"My own favorite among Mr. Dexter's work remains God's Pocket, which I continue to admire for its rich, well-nigh Dickensian mixture of verisimilitude, real-life absurdity, horror and romance."--Robert Stone, The New York Times Book Review

"Rollicking . . . a tough Philadelphia neighborhood comes to life in these pages."--Playboy

About the Author

Pete Dexter is the author of the National Book Award-winning novel Paris Trout as well as Spooner, Paper Trails, God's Pocket, Deadwood, Brotherly Love, and Train. He has been a columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News and the Sacramento Bee, and has contributed to many magazines, including Esquire, Sports Illustrated, and Playboy. His screenplays include Rush and Mulholland Falls. Dexter was born in Michigan and raised in Georgia, Illinois, and eastern South Dakota. He lives on an island off the coast of Washington.