"Streets of Gold," by Evan Hunter, is a novel which encircles the character Ignazio Silvio di Palermo who is also called Iggie, Ike, Blind Ike, and Dwight Jamison. This blind pianist was born in Harlem in 1926, one fourth of a century after his Italian grandfather emigrated from a little southern Italian village. He came, like so many others, in order to make his way on and over New York City's "gold paved" streets. The grandfather of this briefly idolized pianist wanted to return home; but Grandfather never managed to journey home to his beloved and often-dreamed-of Italy. He married Teresa and what with the many years and all the babies—along with her family that naturally became his own—La Vicinanza evolved into a close-knit neighborhood in New York City.

Ike, born blind, grew up in a tight and lusty world. The old man's love, Ike's mother with...