Julian's review of Billy Bathgate
Billy Bathgate by E.L. Doctorow
A very enjoyable read--the prose pops off the page, a first-person voice as lively as anything. What I love about Doctorow's novels, however, is entirely lacking here. His ability to reinvent genre, and to question the way we come to view American history, does not resonate via young Billy. Very fun read, but not really a lasting literary effort.
Having said that, I do highly recommend it for anyone trying to write a successful first-person. This is not Mr. Doctorow imagining himself in Billy's shoes, but the creation of a fully-realized multidimensional character.
Having said that, I do highly recommend it for anyone trying to write a successful first-person. This is not Mr. Doctorow imagining himself in Billy's shoes, but the creation of a fully-realized multidimensional character.
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