Queens Tribune

With everyone clamoring after the new “Harry Potter,” it’d be nice to have something to read while you wait on line for two or more hours. And while you could pick a book out of the oversaturated romance market or another Dan Brown debacle, “Butta’ and the Tower of Bling” by Queens native Corey Burkes may be just what you need.

The first thing you notice about this book is, of course, the title. It would suggest that this book is full of street lingo, rappers, and of course ridiculous jewelry. And while the latter is featured prominently, the book could be called the complete opposite of the title.

Author Burkes describes this as intentional. “The title takes you one way, but the actual book takes you another way,” he said. “I want people to escape with this book, to basically have a good time with it. Not all African American literature has to be about struggle and hard times.”

Burkes wrote “Butta” in part because he was not satisfied with urban literature and its portrayal of African Americans. “I think Butta’ represents a more positive point of view of African Americans in literature. Her strong female character is different from most of what we see in street literature.” Burkes’ Butta’ is loosely based on his mother who he describes as “someone determined to get what they want.”

The novel centers around Butta’, a 24-year-old orphaned thief-for-hire driven by revenge against the evil Lingo Stein, a diamond tycoon and the world’s most valuable man who is also responsible for the murder of Butta’s family. If this sounds like any comics or movies you’ve read or seen, don’t be surprised, Burkes is a huge Japanese animation fan whose influences include Hayao Miyazaki of “Spirited Away,” and “Princess Mononoke” fame. “Butta” is every part “Mission: Impossible” as it is “Kill Bill” and “Oz” making it a dynamic and fast-paced tale.

The dialogue in “Butta” is interesting to say the least. The language of the streets is evident throughout the book but the way Burkes utilizes it makes the characters seem familiar and specific. And while the diction is certainly not Shakespearean, it is engaging enough to keep you reading.

“Butta’ and the Tower of Bling” is out on SkyeLight books on which has Burkes under contract for two more tales. “The Shyster Club” will be out in early 2008, and “Alone” will be released next spring or summer. Burkes said that these next two books will be a little more serious than the serial-like “Butta.”

“My next two books will be focused portrayals of serious issues such as relationships and why people feel alone,” he said. “Like my influences, I don’t want people to just read my work; I want them to feel what is happening in the writing.”