From the Bookshelf of Around the World in 80 Books…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
No group discussions for this book yet.
What Members Thought
What a great book! I didn't realize that it was based upon a true story until today. The story is about two brothers who grew up in a privileged home on Fifth Avenue. One becomes blind (Homer); and the other, Langley, may or may not be crazy after he obtains an injury while fighting in WWI.
Similar to his other books (e.g., Ragtime and The March), Doctorow takes his characters and uses them to tell the story about what is happening in the world around them and to provide their perspectives in re ...more
Similar to his other books (e.g., Ragtime and The March), Doctorow takes his characters and uses them to tell the story about what is happening in the world around them and to provide their perspectives in re ...more
A fictionalized account of Homer and Langley Collyer, two infamous brothers who turned their Fifth Avenue mansion into a junk-filled health hazard. I remember reading a little about the Collyers as a kid; they were in some book my parents had that listed eccentrics.
It was an unusual step for Doctorow to bring the brothers into modern times, at least into the 1970's, as I believe they actually died in the 1940's. Maybe he thought they died too young, or maybe he wanted to show them as modern-day ...more
It was an unusual step for Doctorow to bring the brothers into modern times, at least into the 1970's, as I believe they actually died in the 1940's. Maybe he thought they died too young, or maybe he wanted to show them as modern-day ...more
I love the way E.L. Doctrow writes and this book is typical of his exquisite gift for language. The story, about New York City's legendary Collyer brothers, was based on a true story but is richly imagined -- which is sort of the problem. Let me say, I loved the writing, I loved the story, I loved the characters, I laughed out loud in places and I felt very, very sorry for these two pitiful, crazy men BUT I wish he had used different names and created an entirely fictitious story rather than use
...more
This book was more fiction than fact, but no matter; it's a fascinating journey through the 20th Century, from the vantage point of our two eccentric hoarder brothers. I have some hoarder tendencies myself, so it was a bit scary to see some of myself reflected in the characters. Now, I'm off to clean out my closets.
I read the Cornell edition; thanks to Cornell for sending me a free copy of the book. ...more
I read the Cornell edition; thanks to Cornell for sending me a free copy of the book. ...more
Doctorow at his best--again. A loving treatment of the Collyer Brothers and their experiences (or rather their house's experiences) from before the Great War through the 1970s. Heartbreaking and hilarious.
...more
If this wasn't a book club selection I would never have finished this book. Depressing ramblings of an old man. I did not like the tone of the book at all - it felt as if the author was using the eccentric characters to comment on different events of our time - but it was really him talking. Glad it's over.
...more
Sep 03, 2009
Summer Rae Garcia
added it
Sep 26, 2009
Isabel
marked it as to-read
Nov 24, 2010
Kat (A Journey In Reading)
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction
Jan 10, 2011
Erica
marked it as to-read
Aug 17, 2011
Laura
marked it as to-read
Jul 18, 2014
Kelli
marked it as to-read
Nov 25, 2016
Daisy
marked it as to-read
Feb 22, 2018
Marcia
marked it as to-read
