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Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Set in 1983, Las Vegas, Sanctuary Row by Lamar D. Vine is a drama that follows the story of a young man on the cusp of adulthood. Thomas Joseph, also known as Joe, grew up in an impoverished family in Iowa. Joe's childhood was influenced by the lifestyle of his neglectful parents, as well as his environment. After the family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, Joe found work in a vintage headshop called Sanctuary Row, where he met like-minded young people who shared his love of recreational drugs. Throughout his teenage years, Joe had a string of girlfriends. However, after one of them moved into his house, Joe left his own home and started couch surfing at his friends. Now, Joe has a daughter whom he must take care of.
Sanctuary Row is a riveting slice-of-life novel. Lamar D. Vine has crafted an engaging yarn featuring a lost young man who is the victim of his upbringing and environment. I found the setting very immersive. It takes you back to the era of 1980s Las Vegas, showing how young people got lost in its charm and vices. Despite his flaws, it's easy to root for Joe. It's primarily a character-driven story where the plot and secondary characters take a backseat, and the narrative solely focuses on the POV of the protagonist. I liked the pacing of this novel. The author has an unhurried approach to telling the story, making sure readers get to know Joe and understand how he turned out to be the flawed man we come to know later in the story. Recommended to readers who love slice-of-life tales.
