Book Review: Many Mansions

Reviewed by Lauren Hayataka

A raw, impactful story unveiling the harsh realities beneath New York City’s gleaming skyscrapers

Alexis Soleil’s literary novel, Many Mansions, delves into the heart of New York City, where the lives of twins Moses and Isaac unfold in a tale of stark contrast and harrowing circumstances. Sharing a passion for affluence and high-end real estate, the twins promise to start a real estate company when they reach adulthood. However, they are torn apart by parental favoritism, jealousy, and a violent altercation on their high school graduation day, leading to Isaac’s disappearance from Moses’s life.

As an adult, Moses thrives as a successful real estate tycoon while Isaac languishes in the filth and darkness beneath New York City’s subways. Their paths cross once more prompting a reunion fraught with unresolved resentment and fractured bonds. Despite their differences, they unite to form the “Many Mansions” foundation, determined to address homelessness within their city. 

Soleil boldly confronts sensitive topics such as child abuse, domestic violence, sexual deviancy, and homelessness with a raw and unapologetic narrative style. The twins, Moses and Isaac, bear the brunt of their mother Irene and stepfather Calvin’s lopsided cruelty, with Isaac’s albinism exacerbating his suffering as he is shunned and mistreated while Moses is favored and spared from much of the abuse. When physical violence occurs, it is swift and sudden—jarring and surprising. This abruptness is then juxtaposed with scenes of the family going out for ice cream or the twins watching cartoons. This stark contrast can feel difficult to swallow, but it’s a realistic take that you can never get used to. 

The once close relationship between the twins is continually tested by the abuse Isaac endures, particularly on a psychological level. In one disturbing scene, Isaac is plagued by a nightmare and seeks solace from his mother, who remains oblivious to his distress. Fixated on the television screen, Irene never glances at her son, failing to notice his tears as she dismisses him with a curt instruction to return to his room. Repeatedly, Isaac is reminded of his marginalized position and the favoritism Irene and Calvin bestow upon Moses. Despite this, both Moses and Isaac are compelled to shield their mother from Calvin’s physical violence and infidelity. Throughout the narrative, Irene is largely absolved of accountability for her actions and her role in Isaac’s torment.

Even as the twins transition into adulthood, their stagnant character growth remains apparent, perpetuating the same dynamics observed in their childhood. This unchanging portrayal seems to mirror a harsh reality where patterns of abuse and dysfunction persist. However, within the narrative, this lack of progression becomes frustrating, leaving one wishing for more character development. The often stilted and expletive dialogue reinforces this—with Moses and Isaac using the same four-letter words at twenty-nine as they did when they were nine. 

At the same time, Soleil vividly captures the essence of New York City—both its glamorous facades and its dark, neglected corners. The stark contrasts in Soleil’s descriptions are palpable, as exemplified by Bob, one of Isaac’s homeless companions, reminiscing about witnessing the tree lighting in Rockefeller Center and enjoying shopping trips on Fifth Avenue with his wife, all while surrounded by the grim reality of human waste and decaying food scraps. The narrative’s more extraordinary events feel like they detract some from the novel’s authenticity.

In Many Mansions, Alexis Soleil presents a gritty portrayal of life in New York City, juxtaposing the allure of wealth with the stark realities of childhood abuse, domestic violence, and homelessness.

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