Status Updates From The 42nd Parallel (USA Tril...

Eleanor Stoddard was a fascinating character. Thinly veiled lesbian with a sugar mama who died and left her only a diamond brooch (shaped like a train locomotive in a tenuous tie to Atlas Shrugged). Eleanor is an insufferable snob who lives large and loathes the doting father who pays for it all. Evelina is the breakout character and will enjoy a larger role later. They're Broadway bound as Moorehouse takes stage.

J. Ward Moorehouse's story paralleled Mac's: men getting mixed up with fast girls, except Mac brought his troubles upon himself and Moorehouse was a decent guy played for a sucker by a savvy society girl. Here's hoping things go well for the sap in Pittsburgh (his story resumes later). Interestingly, Ward and Annabelle's meeting on a train reminded me of Burke and Victoria's--and the next chapter stars a Stoddard!

Janey's story appears to be serving as stage setting for her brother Joe's, the young tough and now Navy deserter one AWOL after socking it to an officer. Janey's humdrum life is given oomph by Dos Passos and I was drawn into her world and career as a typist in an office full of characters.

The end of the loathsome Mac's seamy saga and the beginnings of Janey's story, which I hope is more inspiring. I weighed DNF'ing as Mac was giving me shuddering Arrowsmith vibes! Just when you think the man is turning it around, settling down with wife and children, he goes all Rabbit Angstrom and ghosts on home and hearth to join el revolucion in Mexico. Good riddance to Mac.

Mac an uncouth and unprincipled bum. A hard protagonist to warm up to and cheer along. Bill the labor rabble rouser with a sad end another impossible protagonist. The Newsreels and Camera Eye interruptions are increasingly irksome and irrelevant (often Dos Passos' excuse to indulge in doggerel verse). Too early in the three-book saga to contemplate quitting. Committed to completing this opening salvo.

Off to a great start. I wished Dos Passos put a year on the beginning. 1900? There's a ten-year time skip after they arrive in Chicago. The Newsreel interludes are kinda random, but I'm confident at some point they will tie into main narrative. Eager to get back into it!

I was about to give up on this boat, but just read a bunch of great reviews and decided to give in another chance. So far finding it boring and a bit confusing with the “camera lens” and “news reels”. I haven’t found any of the characters particularly likeable. Why so many good reviews? We will see if it gets any better.